International Peer Review Conference, September 28-29, 2009 - Lisbon, Portugal

CECOA Vocational Training Centre for the Trade
R. Sociedade Farmacêutica
31169-074 Lisbon, Portugal 

Peer Review in VET

In the Leonardo da Vinci Projects "Peer Review in initial VET" (2004-2007), Peer Review Extended (2007) and Peer Review Extended II (2007-2009) a European Peer Review procedure for VET was developed. Between 2006 and 2009 25 transnational Peer Reviews were piloted in eleven European countries.

The positive experiences with Peer Review, the demand for a common and cooperative transnational evaluation methodology for VET as well as the potential of Peer Review to contribute to the implementation of the EQARF have triggered various activities within member states and on the European level. So far 18 European countries have been involved in the European Peer Review projects. Since 2008, a Thematic Group has been working within ENQA-VET to develop a structure and process for the sustainable implementation of transnational Peer Reviews. A tentative survey among member states forecast the possible conduct of 250 transnational European Peer Reviews between 2010 and 2013.

In the International Peer Review Conference these experiences and initiatives were brought together, exchange was facilitated and a joint vision for future European Peer Review activities was developed.

In particular, the conference aimed to share good practice from the Leonardo da Vinci project "Peer Review Extended II” and to investigate the further potential of Peer Review as a promising methodology for external evaluation of VET providers in the framework of the implementation of the EQARF.

Participants were representatives of the partners of the LdV Peer Review projects, decision-makers and stakeholders from participating countries as well as from countries not yet participating, multipliers on European level and representatives of the European institutions dealing with vocational education and training.

About 70 participants from 13 European countries attended the conference.

Programme

Click here for the conference programme.

Photos

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Conference Conclusions

Motivation for Peer Review

Peer Review is an external evaluation methodology which is not only in the minds of VET practitioners but also in their hearts. It is an interesting and exciting experience. As a professional evaluation among colleagues, Peer Review complements other forms of evaluation and assessment of VET already in place.

Benefits of Peer Review

Peer Review is tailored to the needs of VET providers and has a high motivating effect on staff and stakeholders. It supports sustainable efforts to quality improvement at the institutional level and creates a quality culture. It puts the learning and teaching processes at the core of external evaluation activities and leads to professional development in the VET sector.

Spin-offs of Peer Review

Networking and exchange between VET providers contributes to innovation transfer and prompts further cooperation like mobility schemes and joint projects within and across VET systems in Europe.

Scope of Peer Review

In the past projects, Peer Review has proved to be a suitable methodology for external evaluation of VET providers in 15 European countries, a wide range of VET branches have been involved.
It can be used in initial VET, in continuing VET and in educational guidance and counselling.
18 member states have voiced their interest in future transnational Peer Reviews starting 2010.

Peer Review and the EQARF

Peer Review contributes to the implementation and further development of the European Quality Assurance Framework (EQARF). If implemented properly, European Peer Review as a practical, tangible and concrete tool to implement the EQARF recommendation has the potential to become one of the main pillars of European VET quality policy in the coming years encompassing all relevant actors – VET providers, social partners and other stakeholders as well as the VET systems of the participating Member States. A Thematic Group within the European Network for Quality Assurance in VET (ENQA-VET) has developed a proposal for a sustainable process and structure for future European Peer Reviews.
www.enqavet.eu

Peer Review 2015

Peer Review, and especially transnational Peer Review between VET providers of different countries, is to continue. By 2015, Peer Review should have been established as a European quality instrument with a sustainable structure and funding. A European Peer Review Network will buttress Peer Review activities.

Outlook for Peer Review

Implementation of Peer Review has started in a number of European countries. The expeditious establishment of a process and sustainable structure on the European level will lead to a smooth continuation of transnational European Peer Reviews which were started in the three Leonardo da Vinci pilot projects between 2004 and 2009. Conduct of Peer Reviews should be accompanied by evaluation in order to ensure further development of the methodology. Special attention must be paid to the impact of Peer Review – first efforts to investigate and clarify the effects of Peer Review on a scientific basis are being undertaken in the LdV Project “Peer Review Impact” (2009-2011).

Programme

Monday, Sept. 28, 2009