A new partial certification: Office Assistant

In the Netherlands the WEB and the National Qualification Structure take care of the vocational education at the lower and middle level, for people aged 16+. All courses are described in detail in job descriptions, main tasks, job requirements and partial certification without any duplication of partial certification in different work fields. All higher levels of a particular partial certification do at least cover the lower partial certification of the same module. Field research like interviews with teachers may answer the question in what way practice matches theory.

4.3.1. Lack of education for people with lower capacities

There are four educational levels, from the lowest level 1 (0,5-1 year) to the highest level 4 (4-6 years). However a part of the population of 16 year or older is not able to accomplish the first level, because of a lack of capabilities. As a certification is a very important tool towards a regular job, the Dutch PACE partners discussed which present job profiles could be adapted or joined together to come to a new job description which is recognizable and useful for employers of different sectors.

Our choice would be a job profile combining the ICT and BA work field, as the corresponding tasks may be found in every sector. The new job profile could have the name ‘office assistant’, and refers to an employee who can perform simple tasks as copying, typing simple texts, replacing ink cartridges of printers, and so on. In these days the tasks of the standard secretary are more complex than some years ago, while he or she also has to do the simple tasks. An office assistant can bring some relief for the secretary.

Ecabo and Trigos are the partners of Atrium, with intensive contacts with (sheltered) work companies. In the Netherlands these work companies are forced to prepare their employers for the regular labour market. People in a sheltered work company are working there for a reason:

they are not able or capable of working in a ‘normal’ company yet.

4.3.2. From ‘Administrative employee’ to ‘Office Assistant’

The partial certification of Office Assistant is based on the present qualification Administrative employee (level 1, assistant training), but some elements will be deleted and others will be added. A questionnaire will be set up to get a clear picture of a job profile that is useful for the labour market and is feasible for the target group – lower educated adults.

Ecabo and Trigos both have a lot of contacts in the work field. They will use the questionnaire to come to a well-founded choice of partial qualifications.

5. REFERENCES

Web-sources:

www.dutch-vet.nl www.ecabo.nl www.eurydice.org

www.colo.nl/English%20version/examination.htm

6. APPENDIXES

Appendix 1: National Bodies for Vocational Training (Nl)

In the Netherlands there are National Bodies for Vocational Training, covering different work fields. Cooperation between the labour market and the national body will provide with a practical, workable, useful qualification structure. In some cases there is attention for international certification.

Almost all institutes deal with the following tasks:

 Recruitment, advice and support of apprenticeship companies for vocational training

 Organise a dialog between the branch of industry and vocational training

 Implement and publish labour market research in relation to training needs

 Support companies to set up their training policy

 Formulate diploma-demands for the branch of industry.

 Develop, maintain and distribute practical, relevant exams.

All national bodies in vocational training in the Netherlands are mentioned over here. Most of them offer information in several languages at their website.

 AEQUOR, The National Organisation for Vocational Training in the Agro Food Sector

 Bouwradius, Foundation for Vocational Education in the Construction Industry;

www.bouwradius.nl

 ECABO, National Institute for the advancement of vocational training in the secretarial, business, administration, commercial, logistic, automation, legal and security sectors; www.ecabo.nl (French, Deutsch and English)

 GOC, Center for education and labour market in the grafics and media sector;

www.goc.nl (English)

 Innovam Groep, Training and Qualification Centre for the automotive branche;

www.innovam.nl

 Kenniscentrum Handel, Knowledge Institute for Retail and Wholesale;

www.kchandel.nl (French, Deutsch and English

 KOC NEDERLAND, Hairdressing, Beauticare and Chiropody Training Board;

www.koc.nl (Deutsch and English)

 LIFT Group, Learning, Innovation, Fashion and Textile

 LOBAS, agrocultural sector; www.aequor.nl (French, Deutsch, English and Spanish)

 LOB HTV, Education Centre for the Horeca, Toerism and Food Industry;

www.lobhtv.nl (French, Deutsch, English and Spanish)

 Opleidingscentrum SVS, Centre for Vocational Training for Painters and Plasterers

& Design and Representation Techniques; www.savantis.nl

 OVDB, National Body for the sectors Health Care, Home Economics and Catering, Social Care and Sport; www.ovdb.nl

 SBW, Foundation for Vocational Training in Civil and Maritime Engineering;

www.sbw.nl

 SH&M, The Foundation for Wood Trade and Manufactoring and Carpentry Industry and Furnishing Sector; www.shm.nl

 Kenteq; technical craftsmanship; www.kenteq.nl (Deutsch, English). This organisation consists of a joint venture of three former institutes:

o

Intechnium (Innovation and Education Centre for Installation Technology), o SOM (National Institute for Training Courses in the Metal Industry) and

o

VEV (National Institute for electrotechnical vocational training and qualification).

 SVGB, Foundation for Professional Training in Health Care Technology (handicrafts etc.); www.svgb.nl (English)

 SVO, The Dutch College for the Meat Trade; www.svo.nl

 Vakopleiding Transport en Logistiek, Transport and Logistics Training Board;

www.vtenl.nl (English)

 VaPro- OVP, National Institute for Vocational Training and Education in the processing industry and laboratories; www.vapro.nl (English)

 VOC, Vocational Training Institute in the Vehicle Building and Body Repair Industry;

www.vocar.nl (French, Deutsch, English and Español)

 VOC/BETEX, textile and clothing industry; www.vocbetex.nl (English)

In order to harmonise vocational training with business practice and to aid promotion, the national bodies have formulated a national qualification structure based on the 'WEB', the Adult

& Vocational Education Act (Wet Educatie Beroepsonderwijs). This entails that training is available in all jobs, which are related to the sectors mentioned above. The qualification structures, which have been approved by the Ministry of Education, are all but static. If the industry demands it, new training will be integrated in the structure.

In document Contract number 2003 NL/03/B/F/PP/157323 (Pldal 46-49)