ORGANIZATION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR ADULTS AS CURRENT TENDENCY OF SKILLED WORKERS TRAINING IN EU COUNTRIES (by example of Great Britain)

Abstract

In the article the author by example of Great Britain investigates organization of vocational education for adults in the scales of an initiative of lifelong learning being one of the current tendencies as to skilled workers training in EU countries. The main priorities set by the UK Government for the initiative are considered. These are as follows: developing skills and knowledge for a productive workforce through fostering creativity, innovative thinking and enterprise; increasing and widening participation in learning including basic skills; raising standards in teaching and learning. It is defined that adult education can be undertaken in a community, through voluntary organizations, in companies and businesses, further education colleges and higher education institutions. Most community and leisure learning provision, while it may be part-funded by a body such as the local authority, carries a financial cost to the individual. Government’s general strategy relying on encouraging adults to take up vocational training opportunities, with a strong focus on the learner’s needs rather than on the institutional interest of the providers is analyzed. The strategy includes the following programs: Employer Training Pilots encouraging employers to train low-skilled employees; Individual learning accounts intending to widen participation in learning and encourage individuals to take responsibility for their own learning; Business/company learning accounts to stimulate learning in small businesses by providing them with the knowledge of how to link training needs with business growth; Online information services; Adult literacy and numeracy in Scotland; Training of disabled etc.

At the end the author concludes that every year vocational education for adults receives greater attention from the UK Government; this results in encouraging employers to train low-skilled workers, opening vocational training centres, establishing a range of programs to involve adults in vocational training, and financial support for those willing to acquire qualification.