European Business Forum

• (1) Jan Truszczyński, European Commission, Director General for Education and Culture
• (2) Christine Antorini, Danish Minister for Education

Workshop 1 – Session 1

Setting targets for competence development – how do companies identify skills needs:
- Identification of current and future skills needs for all levels of staff within a company
- New skills perspectives for developing businesses

Specific questions:

• How can good market information acquired by companies be shared with education and training providers to address immediate and future skills needs?
• What are the advantages of companies cooperating with competitors and small businesses in networks (or other fora e.g. skills councils) which address skills concerns?

Moderator: Anthony Gribben, European Training Foundation
Speakers:

• 1. Minna Rautakoura, Nordea Bank, Denmark
• 2. Carl Blake, Skillnets - Enterprise led learning networks, Ireland

Rapporteur: Daniela Ulicna, GHK Consulting, Belgium

Workshop 2 – Session 1

The use of training in competence development - which strategies companies adopt:
- in-company training vs. outsourcing of training to external providers (public, private)
- collaborative approaches of companies to training
- innovative learning methods (e-learning, virtual learning)

Specific questions:

• Will the trend for competence development over hiring new talent continue?
• Why does formal training generally constitute the smallest percentage of competence development? Is this the most effective approach?
• Are large companies best placed to provide technical training internally or can external providers develop technical training to meet the needs of large enterprises?
• What are the main advantages and drawbacks of the identification and nursing of talent?

Moderator: Ingo Rollwagen, Deutsche Bank, Germany
Speakers:

• 1. Hans J. Müller, ATEC-Academia de Formação, Portugal
• 2. Manfred Meifert, Kienbaum, Consultants International, Germany
• 3. Finn Broendum, Grundfos, Denmark

Rapporteur: John René Keller Lauritzen, Danish Technological Institute, Denmark

Workshop 3 – Session 1

The use of work-based learning for competence development:
- Peer learning
- Mentoring
- Traineeships and apprenticeships
- Competence partnerships with educational institutions

Specific questions:

• Which types of skills are best dealt with in work-based learning? Why?
• Do people really learn by doing – or do they just reinvent the wheel or develop sub-optimal solutions?
• To what extent is the focus on work-based learning fueled by the economic crisis and the need to cut costs?
• What are the most important challenges associated with a competence development strategy focused on work-based learning?

Moderator: Liliane Volozinskis, UEAPME
Speakers:

• 1. Pedro Raposo, Banco Espírito Santo, Portugal
• 2. Damien Schrobiltgen, Goodyear, Luxembourg
• 3. Joseph Montebello / Paul Dalli, Maltese Mentoring Society, Malta

Rapporteur: Gerhard Geiger, 3s Unternehmensberatung, Austria

Workshop 4 – Session 1

Role of companies in promoting youth employment
- examples and approaches to support of apprentices and work-based learning

Specific questions:

• What are the challenges for companies concerning transnational placements of own apprentices? And for companies considering taking on a foreign apprentice for a placement?
• How do economic incentives affect companies’ willingness to take on apprentices?
• Which factors prevent companies from taking on apprentices?
• Which are the most important challenges in the cooperation between companies and vocational schools on apprenticeships?

Moderator: Alison Crabb, European Commission Directorate General Education and Culture
Speakers:

• 1. Ulrich Fuchs, EGOS - The Education Company, Austria
• 2. Krispijn Yperman, Horeca Vorming Vlaanderen, Belgium
• 3. Didier Gelibert, Association Nationale pour la Formation Automobile, France

Rapporteur: Tine Andersen, Danish Technological Institute, Denmark

Workshop 5 – Session 1

Role of the EU in supporting vocational education and training:
- Sector Skills alliances

Specific questions:

• How to strengthen the engagement of companies in EU actions? What are the critical factors, the ‘to-do’ and ‘not-to-do’ aspects?
• What do companies gain from taking part in activities such as Sector Skills Alliances and under what conditions do the benefits out-weigh the costs? Examples?

Moderator: Ben Butters, Eurochambers
Speakers:

• 1. Stéphanie Le Berre, EURATEX – European Apparel and Textile Confederation
• 2. Isabelle Biais, CEEMET - Council of European Employers of the Metal, Engineering and Technology-Based Industries
• 3. Erik Vandervreken, CLEPA – European Association of Automotive Suppliers

Rapporteur: Flora Giarracca, Technopolis Limited, UK

Workshop 1 – Session 2

Setting targets for competence development – how do companies identify skills needs:
- Closing the skills gap through more developed business-education cooperation
- Policy environment as an enabler for future skills development

Specific questions:

• How can enterprise-education partnership and cooperation be improved to meet future skills requirements?
• What steps can be taken at EU level to ensure better fit between the skills needs of businesses and education/training provision?

Moderator: Anthony Gribben, European Training Foundation
Speakers:

• 1. Peter Plougmann, New Insight Consulting, Denmark
• 2. Ann Bleuzé, Deloitte, Belgium

Rapporteur: Daniela Ulicna, GHKConsulting, Belgium

Workshop 2 – Session 2

The use of training in competence development - which strategies companies adopt:
- in-company training vs. outsourcing of training to external providers (public, private)
- collaborative approaches of companies to training
- innovative learning methods (e-learning, virtual learning)

Specific questions:

• How can fruitful partnerships between stakeholders be established in order to create more effective formal learning for competence development and innovation?
• What could be the role of ICT-supported learning, including the use of social media?
• What can be the role of EU?

Moderator: Ingo Rollwagen, Deutsche Bank, Germany
Speakers:

• 1. Kristel Jalak, Enics Eesti AS, Estonia
• 2. Hans Dijkman, Philips, Netherlands
• 3. Horst Krieger, ipcenter.at, Austria

Rapporteur: John René Keller Lauritzen, Danish Technological Institute, Denmark

Workshop 3 – Session 2

The use of work-based learning for competence development:
- Peer learning
- Mentoring
- Traineeships and apprenticeships
- Competence partnerships with educational institutions

Specific questions:

• How can the HR department best support that work-based learning is effective?
• How can work-based learning be improved by the use of ICT?
• How can work-based learning be improved through cooperation with partners outside the company? Which partners? What type of cooperation?
• What can be the role of EU?

Moderator: Liliane Volozinskis, UEAPME
Speakers:

• 1. Allan Christiansen, Danfoss, Denmark
• 2. Loek Nieuwenhuis, University of Tilburg, Netherlands
• 3. Mikael Anderson, LerniaAB, Sweden

Rapporteur: Gerhard Geiger, 3s Unternehmensberatung, Austria

Workshop 4 – Session 2

Role of companies in promoting youth employment:
- examples and approaches to support of apprentices and work-based learning

Specific questions:

• What can companies do to improve the situation concerning apprenticeships?
• What can schools do?
• How best to overcome the paradoxes related to supply and demands of apprenticeship places
• Which financial incentives should be available?
• What support is needed for in-company trainers?
• What can be the role of the EU?

Moderator: Alison Crabb, European Commission Directorate General Education and Culture
Speakers:

• 1. Christiane Westphal, European Commission, Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
• 2. Robert Mahler, Chairman of Business Europe Youth Task Force, France
• 3. Michael Häusermann, Bucher Municipal, Switzerland

Rapporteur: Tine Andersen, Danish Technological Institute, Denmark

Workshop 5 – Session 2

Role of the EU in supporting vocational education and training:
- Building skills of vocational learners through international learning mobility

Specific questions:

• What do companies gain from hosting mobile trainees and what conditions are needed for these benefits to be felt?
• What communication channels would be most effective to reach companies and convince them to engage in international learning mobility?

Moderator: Ben Butters, Eurochambers
Speakers:

• 1. Risto Virkkunen, KAO - Kainuu Vocational College, Finland
• 2. Enrico Bressan, Cento Produttivita Veneto, Italy
• 3. Philippe Perfetti, APCMA – French Permanent Assembly of Skilled Craft Chambers, France

Rapporteur: Flora Giarracca, Technopolis