Vocational education and training (VET) comprises all organised or structured activities which aim to provide people with knowledge. skills and competencies necessary to perform a job. This synthesis report provides a comprehensive overview on the state of VET research in Europe, on the main theoretical and conceptual approaches, empirical findings and implications for decision-makers and researchers.

This document contains 23 papers on European trends in vocational education and training (VET) and the development of occupations and qualifications. The following papers are included: "Vocational Socialisation and Competence Development: The Historical Dimension" (Walter R. Heinz); "European Trends in the Development of Vocational Education and Training Systems and Provision" (Tom Leney, Andrew Green, and Alison Wolf); "Competence Development and the Environment: the Contribution to Job Creation" (Catherine Gay); "The Local and Regional Dimension: Qualifications and Skills Needs Analysis as a Basis of VET Planning" (Mario Gatti, Claudio Tagliaferro, and Maria Grazia Mereu); "Low Skills--How the Supply Is Changing across Europe" (Hilary Steedman); "Trends in Occupations and Qualifications: Upgrading Versus Bumping Down" (Lex Borghans and Andries de Grip); "The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on the Development of Occupational Skills and Training Needs" (Lazaro Gonzalez); "Foreseeable Developments in Occupations and Qualifications against the Background of New Information and Communication Techniques" (Werner Dostal); "The Structuring of Vocational Qualifications in France and Germany: Institutional Coordination Systems" (Martine Mobus and Eric Verdier); "The Acquisition of Skills and Qualifications for Lifelong Learning, Trends and Challenges across Europe" (Graham Attwell, Alan Brown); "Continuing Vocational Education and Training--Initial Responses to Trends in Occupations and Qualifications" (Hartmut Seifert); "Trends in Competence Development in European Companies" (Barry Nyhan); "Skill and Competence Needs of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and for the Creation of New Companies" (John Konrad); "New Developments in Qualification Strategies for Sectoral and Regional Innovation" (Loek F.M. Nieuwenhuis); "Trends in Learning Foreign Languages within VET, the Leonardo da Vinci Programme and the Acquisition of Foreign Languages" (Sieglinde Gruber, Jean-Claude Lasnier, Bernd Ruschoff, et al.); "Surveys and Analysis Projects of the Leonardo da Vinci Programme: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of the 1995, 1996, and 1997 Calls for Proposals with a Special Attention to Projects on 'Anticipation of Qualifications and Competencies'" (Marc Ant and Jeff Kintzele); "Anticipation of Qualifications and Competencies--Main Outcomes of Selected Leonardo da Vinci Projects" (Burkart Sellin); "Prospects and Possibilities for European VET-Research" (Michael Kuhn and Erhard Schulte); "Strategies and Scenarios for the Development of (Continuing) VET" (Fons van Wieringen); "Aims, Working Methods and Subjects" (Stavros Stavrou); "Current Activities and Outcomes" (Burkart Sellin); "Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on Occupational Competencies and VET" (Mara Brugia); and "Learning in Microenterprises, Some Sectoral Aspects" (Tina Bertzeletou). Many papers include substantial bibliographies. (MN)