The opening up of the European Union to new members and the accession of new countries  the creates great pressure for action when it comes to harmonizing education, training and employment. All European countries with their their longstanding tradition of educational structures are now confronted with the following question: how can education and training be interlinked in a better way and how can vocational training, employment and the development of labour markets in the different countries be coordinated better?

Our network “E2-VET” attempts to deal with these questions. It defines itself as a forum of experts whose goal it is to initiate and support cross-border cooperation in vocational education and qualification in the context of employment policy and regional development. Therefore, the following countries have become partners in this network:
 

• Old and new EU-member states with a common border, as well as countries bordering on the Baltic Sea:
  Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Lithuania

• Accession candidates for the next round: Bulgaria and Romaina

• Countries taking a great interest in this project: Switzerland

 
Initially, the network focusses on IT and Mechatronics. These are “globals sectors” with contents relevant for the development of European job profiles in numerous areas - ranging from industry, the crafts, the service sector to agricultural production and processing. Therefore, IT and Mechatronics are likely to generate substantial impacts on the economic, structural and employment development in the participating countries, as well as their border regions. The network “E2-VET” actively contributes to implementing goals to which the European Union, too, has given high priority. These are:
 F   Transparency:
        we give a description of individual courses of education, qualifications and contents
        in the fields of IT and Mechatronics in our countries.
F    Common educational opportunities and cross-border cooperation:
        we present institutions from our countries specializing in IT and Mechatronics  interested in European cooperation.
F    Adaptability:
        we present didactical materials and qualification models which can be adapted to other countries and contexts.
F    Impact/Sustainability:
        we transfer the results and experience gained from the activities within our network to our  countries and work
        environments, thus supporting the transfer of European methods  into national practice.