Trainers – Key Actors of Lifelong Learning

Lifelong learning strategies and policies have redirected the focus towards trainers as key actors to make lifelong learning a reality. Consequently, the European Commission has in recent years launched a series of studies and programmes that focus on VET teachers and trainers as a target group. Those studies seek to address and assess trainers’ work, skills, status, professional profile, the recognition of their work and trainers’ continuing professional development, among other aspects.

The newly started Network to Support Trainers in Europe funded under the European Leonardo Lifelong Learning Programme seeks to link and integrate the results of these different initiatives and studies. The main objective of the network is to establish an innovative platform that can link the different studies and support a structured exchange between stakeholders. Based on multilingual sites the platform will combine the presentation of research results and recent developments in policy and practice with making available practical tools for practitioners and the training of trainers. The platform will further feature an innovative communication forum for practitioners, experts, policy makers and multipliers.

The work of the network is structured along a series of joint network activities involving the continuing review and synthesis of existing material, a small-scale European survey with training practitioners, an elaboration on programming and policies in the area of trainers and the organisation of two e-conferences.

Ten international partners are responsible for the creation of the network with the Institute Technology and Education (ITB) of Bremen University, Germany being the network coordinator. It is planned to gradually extend to all the 32 European countries and beyond. Already at the start of the network there are about 100 to 150 associated members, who will support the different network activities in various ways. With information being available in several languages and a structured ‘bottom-up’ approach the network particularly seeks to address and involve the communities of training practitioners.