Lars Espersen

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• Lars Espersen
• Union adviser
• Danish confederation of Trade Unions

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LO Facts

• 17 affliated unions
• 1.2 m members
• 50 of all workers in Denmark.
• Two thirds of all unionised workers are member of
  one of LOs affiliated unions.

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A FEW FACTS ABOUT DENMARK
5.4m inhabitants

• A modern welfare state
• Social welfare financed through taxes
• Free public services in many areas
• High living standards

• The Danish labour market model
• Based on the flexicurity model
• Tripartite co-operation
• High employment
• Gender balanced

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EDUCATION AND THE LABOUR MARKET
The Danish labour force constitutes c. 2.8
million people A high participation rate of
76.6 The unemployment rate is 6.4 Men make
up only slightly more than half of the labour
force I.e. 52.5 About 23 of all employed
people work in public companies, whereas 68
work in private companies
2004
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Danish adult education and training systemPOLICY
OBJECTIVES
Provision of a coherent and publicly funded
education and continuing training system for
adults at all levels Ensure access for
all Ensure possibilities of competence
development (general and work-related) Ensure
recognition of competencies by employers and
society at large, incl. RPL

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MAIN ACTORS
Shared responsibility for provision between
the State (general and vocational, formal) and
local government (liberal, non-formal)
Social partners Cooperation on vocational
education and training participation in
national councils and trade/vocational training
committees
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ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING
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PARTICIPATION
- Actual number of persons participating in adult
education and training
53,907
61,460
17,658
29,437
95,867
152,222
- A total of 410,551 persons, 2004
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ADULT VOCATIONAL TRAINING (AMU)
Main target group Unskilled and skilled
workers on the labour market Duration Each
programme lasts one to six weeks More than
2,000 programmes Each year, approximately
500 programmes are developed or changed due to
changed needs on the labour market
Nationally recognised certificate upon
completion of a course More than 140
providers, who also deliver VET programmes
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FINANCING
Public provision and taximeter funding of
approved education activities Co-financing
by participants or employers through graduated
tuition fees favouring low-skilled, certain
offers being free Publicly financed
support/allowance schemes for forgone earnings
during trainee leave (qualifying courses
only) Training for unemployed purchased by
Public Employment Service
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STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT AND MANAGEMENT
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FVU needs

• Basic skills better life and is necessary to
  take part in society
• About 800.000 have to improve there literacy
  skills
• About 600.000 have to improve there numeracy
  skills (DK labour force 2.8)

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FVU Goals

• 40000 students pr. year
• 2003 20700, 3600 math
• 2006 26000, 5000 math !!!

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FVU challenge

• Everybody agrees goverment, social partners
• The right offer
• But no demand
• Courses at workplace
• FVU closer to the vocationel system?
• Canvassing
• Competence ambassedor??