Vocational training policy: Community action programme 1995-1999, LEONARDO DA VINCI

This is the final report from the Commission on the implementation of the First Phase of the Community Action Programme Leonardo da Vinci (1995-1999). In this final report, the Commission puts forward a political appraisal of the programme and of the actions required to improve its delivery structured around the most salient thematic aspects. The assessments are based on a) the external evaluation report by the consulting firm Deloitte and Touche, b) the national reports of the Member States and the other countries participating in the programme, and c) the final reports from the Social Partners at European level. This report is presented with a delay of some six months after the date indicated in the Decision because a majority of these external reports were themselves delayed. The main conclusions of the report are that the Leonardo da Vinci programme has been invaluable in the promotion of transnational initiatives and the internationalisaton of best practices in the field of vocational training, in terms of the quality and content of learning, innovation and the addition of a European dimension. However, it is not only the strengths but also the weaknesses of the first phase which must be addressed to create a solid foundation for the second phase of the programme. The problems experienced in the first phase relate not only to the unsatisfactory performance of the contracted technical assistance office, but also to complexities within management at the central level, and to the lack of complementarity with other training-related programmes. The Commission has ensured that the lessons learnt from these experiences are put into practice in the second phase through the simplification of procedures and further decentralisation of the programme management. It also anticipates a clear dissemination strategy for the products and outcomes of the many transnational pilot projects of the first phase.�