Brussels, 09/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) is organising an international conference on the subject "Early identification of skill needs in Europe" in Thessaloniki on 22 and 23 May, under the Greek Presidency, and in collaboration with the German Minister for Education and Research, and with the support of Greek social partners. The Greek Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Dimitrios Reppas, will introduce the conference, objective of which will be to provide information, to discuss various initiatives, to share examples of "good practises", to promote network activities, to identify trans-national co-operation and to translate the results into good practise.
The work will be divided into three parallel workshops: 1) "Good practises"/"different practises"- examples of early identification of skill needs and translation into policy; 2) Early identification in various specific sectors (services, including tourism; technological innovations and new sectors); 3) Identification of skills and transverse qualifications (e-skills; new challenges for low levels of qualifications). A round table on European co-operation in this area, followed by a plenary discussion, will close the work. Info: http://www.cedefop.eu.int.