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Adult education and training for all can be divided into:
l Basic training for people with limited formally recognised skills. Employees can get grants
for work-related training which can give them increased salaries or better working
conditions. At upper secondary level people under the age of 18 enjoy priority but if there
are free spaces, anyone under the age of 25 can apply for studies. People over 25 can
only apply for vocational studies. It is also possible to attend classes in the evenings and
usually the ratio of lessons per unit is only half of what it is in the day-time schools.
Validation of prior learning (VPL) has grown rapidly in recent years and is built on the
idea that people can get skills they have mastered on the labour market validated towards
shortening formal education. Counsellors play a vital role in this respect and assist groups
of students throughout their studies. Adults entering upper secondary schools have access
to the same guidance service as younger students.
l The Lifelong Learning Centres facilitate adult learning in general and offer e.g. courses at
upper secondary or university education, often through distance education. The Centres
offer educational and vocational guidance to people living in their communities. In recent
6. Guidance for adults years, their counsellors have visited workplaces in their vicinity, offering guidance towards
further education and training. This is done in co-operation with the Education and Training
Service Centre which assists the Centres with support and training for their counsellors.
Education and training for adults can be divided into two main categories: training on offer for Companies can also ask for assistance and co-operation when planning their human
all and training specifically aimed at the unemployed. resources development.
l Further education and training for those already with some qualifications. There are
6.1. Employed adults several possibilities for those with vocational qualifications to upgrade their knowledge
The access to lifelong learning courses is supported in labour market agreements between and skills, in universities, the vocational schools mentioned above and in special training
employers and employees. The social partners have signed extensive contracts on the centres operated by social partners. Two main training centres, owned by the social
rights of all employees to education and training, partly funded by specific funds set up with partners, offer continuous training built on a needs analysis among their owners. Both
this aim, from which employers can apply for subsidies towards training and workplaces for places offer extensive guidance and counselling.
offering training programmes for their staff. Both employers and employees contribute to l Training at the workplace. This is a growing field, and only larger companies provide it
these funds. With improvement in technology, distance education has flourished and many regularly as yet. The vocational training funds mentioned above can subsidise such
schools now offer a combination of distance and on-campus education and training. training. Some larger companies have established human recourse development
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