EN spotlight on VET NORWAY 17
VET in Norway spotlight on VET The Ministry of Education and Research has overall responsibility for education and training at all levels. In upper secondary VET, both curricula and the VET system structure are laid down in national regulations, and providers are required to comply with them. The regional county authorities are responsible for general education and VET provision, distributing VET financing provided by the State budget and ensuring apprenticeship placement and supervision. All young people completing compulsory schooling have a statutory right to three years of upper secondary education. Half of them choose between eight VET programmes. Upper secondary VET is conducted both in schools and in public and private enterprises. The county authorities must approve training establishments. The standard two-plus-two model normally includes two years in school, where students also participate in practical training in workshops and enterprises, followed by two years of formalised apprenticeship (training and productive work) in enterprises. The first year of training consists of an introduction to the vocational area. During the second year, VET students choose specialisations and courses are more tradespecific but core subjects are also included. Some crafts follow varying models with three years in school or one year in school followed by three years of formalised apprenticeship. Upper secondary VET is completed by a practical-theoretical trade or journeyman s examination (Fag- eller svenneprøve) leading to an EQF level 4 qualification: a trade certificate (Fagbrev) for industrial and service trades or a journeyman s certificate (Svennebrev) for traditional crafts. The eight programme areas offer about 19 different certificates. There are many possible routes to higher education (HE) via upper secondary VET. With a trade or journeyman s certificate, the options are: (a) via a one-year bridging course in core subjects (påbyggingsår); (b) direct admission to certain specially designed bachelor programmes (Y-veien). Without a trade or journeyman s certificate: (a) five years experience gained in work and/ or education and passing a course in core subjects (for people 23 or older); (b) recognition of relevant formal, informal and non-formal learning for people aged 25 or above who do not meet general entrance requirements; (c) completing the bridge course in core subjects after completing the first two years of a VET programme. Legal rights shape adult VET and contribute to making vocational skills visible. People over 25 are entitled to upper secondary education or training adapted to their needs and life situation. Adults also have a right to have their prior learning assessed towards national curricula, which may result in exemption from parts of training. The experience-based trade certification scheme enables adults to sit a trade or journeyman s examination upon proof of sufficient relevant practice. The candidate must demonstrate comprehensive experience in the trade or craft, normally a minimum of five years. Master craftsperson programmes are VET for holders of a relevant trade or journeyman s certificate with several years work experience. These programmes, which are a public certification arrangement under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, combine general business management, marketing and vocational theory. Programmes are offered by both private and public providers, such as Folkeuniversitetet. Vocational college education (Fagskoler) at EQF level 5 offers a range of short VET programmes for students with an upper secondary education. Providers design their own courses and curricula, but programmes must be recognised by the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT). The comprehensive higher education system has no formal or other distinction between vocational and non-vocational education; they are equal for higher education admission.
VET in Norwegian education and training system TERTIARY LEVEL NON-FORMAL ADULT LEARNING 18+ 13+ ISCED 844 EQF 6-7 EQF 7 Integrated bachelor and master programmes, 5 years ISCED 746 EQF 8 PhD programmes, 3 years Master programmes, 2 years ISCED 747 EQF 6 Bachelor programmes (BP), 3-4 years BP, 2 years BP,1 year ISCED 641 ISCED 641 EQF 6-7 Professionally oriented programmes, 4-6 years ISCED 645, 655 ISCED 756 Competence plus EQF 5 Post-secondary VET colleges,.5-2 ISCED years 5B ISCED 454, 554 Full-time introduction course for refugees and their family members (2 years) Training for employees Training for unemployed and other vulnerable groups POST-SECONDARY LEVEL Master craftsperson's programme EQF 4 Bridge course for higher education access, 1 year ISCED 354 Several years of working experience required 15 (*) 19 18 17 16 14 (*) 13 (*) 12 (*) 11 (*) EQF 4 General programme ISCED 344 EQF 4 Trade or journeyman certificate EQF 3 Apprenticeship eship training, WBL-1% 2+2 School-based years 3+1 years 1+3 years ol-based programme, ramme, no School-based d programmes, WBL--35% WBL, 3 years ISCED 353 ISCED 353 ISCED 353 ISCED 353 15 14 13 1 9 8 EQF 2 Second stage of the integrated primary and lower secondary programmes ISCED 244 SECONDARY LEVEL AGE YEARS in E&T General education programmes VET programmes Programmes combining VET and general education Also available to adults (full-, part-time or distance education) Officially recognised vocational qualifications Qualifications allowing access to the next education level Possible progression routes Prior VET knowledge may be recognised affecting programme duration Entry through validation of adults' prior learning (formal/informal/non-formal). At post-secondary and tertiary level, a minimum age of 25 applies End of compulsory education (*) VET pathway to HE, valid for some specific bachelor programmes Giving access to tertiary education Youth right: a statuatory right for three years of upper secondary education during five years after completing lower secondary education NB: ISCED-P 11. Source: Cedefop and ReferNet Norway.
NORWAY Distinctive features of VET Challenges and policy responses At upper secondary level, Norway has a longstanding tradition of close national and regional cooperation between education authorities and the social partners. National cooperation is organised in the National Council for VET (Samarbeidsrådet for yrkesopplæring SRY), nine vocational training councils (Faglige råd), one for each programme area, and national appeal boards (Klagenemnder). Regional cooperation involves county vocational training boards (Yrkesopplærignsnemnder) and examination boards (Prøvenemnder). Tripartite cooperation aims to ensure training provided to Norwegian VET students meets labour market and skill needs. It informs changes in the VET structure, curriculum development, regional structure and volume of VET provision, the framework of examinations leading to trade or journeyman s certificates, and quality control at all levels. At ISCED level 4, the social partners participate in the National Council for Vocational Colleges. In higher education, institutions are requested to set up a consultative council for cooperation with social partners. Norway has a unified education structure with VET integrated as an equal to general education in upper secondary education. Most education at this level is provided by public schools. Since pupils have a right to attend upper secondary education, most choose to do so. Pupils are entitled to enrol in the upper secondary VET programme of their choice. More than half of trade and journeyman s certificates are awarded to people over 23. The main policy measures in Norwegian upper secondary VET concern: (a) increasing the number of apprenticeship placements and increase the competence of vocational teachers; (b) improving post-secondary vocational colleges and the position of their students. Skilled workers with VET qualifications will play an important role in the reorganisation of the Norwegian economy. Figures from the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) show that many enterprises lack these employees and consequently lose assignments. Statistics Norway (SSB) estimates a shortage of almost 1 skilled workers in 35. The government and the social partners are collaborating closely to increase the number of apprenticeship places and so enable more pupils to complete their education. In 15 the government launched a vocational teacher promotion initiative strategy supporting increased vocational teacher competence. The work continues in 17. To make VET more attractive, a new white paper Skilled workers for the future (Fagfolk for fremtiden) was adopted in May 17. It has close to 5 measures aiming at making postsecondary VET a fully equivalent professionoriented alternative to university and university college education.
NORWAY Education and training in figures Upper secondary students (ISCED 11 level 3) enrolled in vocational and general programmes % of all students in upper secondary education, 15 1 8 6 4 26.8 73.2 CZ 49.9 5.1 NO 52.7 47.3 EU-28 57.5 42.5 DK 59.9 4.1 UK VOCATIONAL 61.8 67.2 38.2 32.8 SE IS GENERAL 87.3 12.7 MT NB: EU-28 data is based on estimated data. Source: Cedefop calculations, based on Eurostat, UOE data collection on education systems, date of extraction 2.6.17. Lifelong learning % of population aged 25 to 64 participating in education and training over the four weeks prior to the survey, 16 35 3 25 15 1 5 29.6 SE 27.7 DK 24.7 NB: Break in time series in Denmark. Source: Eurostat, EU labour force survey, date of extraction 2.6.17. IS 19.6 NO 14.4 UK E&T =15 1.8 1.2 EU-28 RO Early leavers from education and training % of the population aged 18 to 24 with at most lower secondary education and who were not in further education or training during the last four weeks prior to the survey, 16 25 15 1 5 9. EUROPE =1 1. 7. 1. 1. 4.8 7.2 7.4 1.7 1.9 11.2 19.6 19.8 NB: Break in time series in Denmark. national target data were not available for NO, UK and IS. Source: Eurostat, EU labour force survey, date of extraction 2.6.17. 16 NATIONAL TARGET LT DK SE EU-28 NO UK MT IS Employment rates of young graduates % of to 34 years old no longer in education and training, 16 1 8 6 4 74.8 83.5 62.6 63.4 59.3 62.8 54.7 5.2 93.6 87.3 MT 92.3 89.1 IS 89.9 83.7 SE 88. 82.6 NO 87.6 8.8 DK 8.9 8.5 UK 78.1 72.4 EU-28 58.7 59.7 EL Upper vocational secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education (levels 3 and 4) Upper general secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education (levels 3 and 4) Less than primary, primary and lower secondary education (levels -2) NB: Break in time series in Denmark. Source: Eurostat, EU labour force survey, date of extraction 2.6.17.
EN spotlight on VET NORWAY Further information The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training (16). The education mirror: analysis of primary and secondary education and training in Norway (in Norwegian). http://utdanningsspeilet.udir.no/ Cedefop; ReferNet Norway (16). VET in Europe report: Norway. http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/publications-and-resources/country-reports/norway-veteurope-country-report-16 Eurydice (13). Norway: overview. In: European Commission (ed.). Eurypedia. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/fpfis/mwikis/eurydice/index.php/norway:overview Information on the vocational teacher promotion initiative (in Norwegian): https://www.regjeringen.no/contentassets/a196e65447d459faa1b1e1879216f3e/kd_ yrkesfaglarerloftet_web_1.1.pdf Information on increasing the numbers of apprenticeships (in English): https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/education/school/innsiktsartikler/the-vocationaleducation-and-training-vet-promotion/id2466567/ www.kd.dep.no www.asd.dep.no www.nfd.dep.no www.udir.no www.siu.no www.kompetansenorge.no www.nokut.no www.ssb.no Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research Norwegian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education Skills Norway National Agency for Quality Assurance in Education Statistics Norway This Spotlight is based on input from the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (ReferNet Norway 17). 8117 EN TI-2-17-936-EN-N doi:1.281/91336 Europe 123, 57 1 Thessaloniki (Pylea), GREECE PO Box 22427, 551 2 Thessaloniki, GREECE Tel. +3 23149111, Fax +3 23149, Email: info@cedefop.europa.eu Copyright European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), 17 All rights reserved. visit our portal www.cedefop.europa.eu