ETF Yearbook 2012: Evaluation and Monitoring of Vocational Education and Training Systems and the Role of Evidence-Based Policy in Their Reforms

The "ETF Yearbook 2012" continues the tradition of highlighting a thematic field of particular importance to the work of the European Training Foundation (ETF). The theme of this yearbook is evaluation and monitoring of vocational education and training (VET) systems and the role of evidence-based policy in VET reforms in ETF partner countries. As always, most chapters are written by ETF staff and provide deeper reflections on the challenging operational work they carry out in the countries. Contents include: (1) Introduction: Concepts and Methodologies Underpinning the ETF's Analytical Reviews and Policy Facilitation (Soren Nielsen); (2) The Torino Process: Concepts, Approach, Methodologies and Findings (Marie Dorleans); (3) The Torino Declaration and Key Messages from the Torino Conferences (Peter Greenwood and Dagmar Ouzoun); (4) The Torinet Case (Madlen Serban); (5) From Policy Analysis to Policy Facilitation, the Key Is Capacity Building (Manuela Prina); (6) From Analysis to Understanding (Evelyn Viertel and Soren Nielsen); (7) Understanding Vocational Education and Training as a "System" (Manfred Wallenborn); (8) Evidence-Based Policy: The Right Category in Education? (Jean-Marc Castejon, Lida Kita and Soren Nielsen); (9) Vocational Education and Training Policy in Practice--The Role of VET Agencies in Evidence-Based Policy (Margareta Nikolovska and Vincent McBride); (10) Data, Benchmarks and Policy Indicators as Tools for International Comparisons and for Advising National Policymakers (Jens Johansen); (11) Knowledge Management in a Time of Turmoil--The ETF's Role as a Knowledge Broker for Policy Learning and Facilitation (Ian Cumming); (12) The Use of Web 2.0 Technologies in Policy Development in Vocational Education and Training (Danijela Scepanovic); (13) Accountability: Measuring Institutional Performance (Xavier Matheu de Cortada); (14) Methods and Instruments for the Evaluation of Vocational Education and Training Systems--Requirements of Practitioners and the Claim for Evidence (Philipp Grollmann and Birgit Thomann); (15) Evidence-Based Policy Learning--The ETF Context (Cesar Birzea); (16) Providing Evidence to Improve Vocational Education and Training Policies--The Role of Research (Philipp Gonon); (17) Knowledge Production and Political Decision Making: The Controversy Over Mode-1 and Mode-2 Research (Jens Rasmussen); (18) Evidence-Based Policy: Importance and Issues for Development Countries (Anis Zakhary); and (19) Concluding Chapter (Soren Nielsen and Peter Greenwood). Individual chapters contain references. (Contains 5 figures, 13 tables and 83 footnotes.