The meeting was chaired by the French Minister for Education, Xavier Darcos. Win Harris, director of the DCSF/DIUS/DWP Joint International Unit represented the UK. The meeting focused on co-operation in vocational education and training for 2008-10.

Ministers adopted the Bordeaux Communiqué which laid out the vocational training objectives for Europe up to 2010. Based on conclusions adopted at the 21 November Education Council, it outlines four priorities in this field:

implementing the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET), together with the future European Quality Assurance Reference Framework;

attracting students into vocational training;

improving links between vocational training and the labour market;

improving European co-operation in this field, in particular by increasing peer-learning activities.

The full Communiqué is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/education/news/newsl087_en.htm

Ministers noted the "Copenhagen process" launched in 2002 had resulted in the development of the tools outlined in the communiqué. Such tools enabled comparability of vocational education qualifications, and flexible learning through credit transfer. As a consequence, many education systems now measured learning outcomes rather than inputs, and the numbers of vocational education students were rising.

An exchange of views on future skills requirements in Europe highlighted the challenges of long-term changes to employment structures, the increased mobility of individuals, and demographic change. Better anticipation of skills needs would allow both education systems and employers to respond effectively to the needs of the labour market.

The afternoon session of the meeting was chaired by Valérie Pecrésse, French Minister for Higher Education. Following discussion, Ministers endorsed the European Universities Association's "Charter on Lifelong Learning"—a publication outlining ideas for universities and Governments to increase universities' contribution to lifelong learning.

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