A comparative overview of the status and the main characteristics of vocational education and training (VET) trainers in south-eastern Europe

This paper is a follow-up to the study “VET trainers in public and private training institutions” (EAC/09/06 Studies on Trainers in Vocational Education and Training: key actors to make lifelong learning a reality in Europe LOT 2) that was commissioned by the European Commission to Research voor Beleid (RvB) & PLATO in 2008. The author of this paper - which focuses on the professionalization processes of VET trainers and instructors working in public training organizations in South-Eastern Europe - was involved in the study as a research expert for a cluster of countries that included Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece and Turkey. The paper looks upon current issues of VET trainers’ career paths, their roles and competencies, their qualification and recruitment processes as well as the varied policies and professional development activities for this group of people, from a comparative perspective. The paper concludes with some recommendations for improving access and working conditions, supporting professional development and raising attractiveness of the profession in this part of Europe.