Knowledge, Skills and Competence in the European Labour Market: What’s in a Vocational Qualification?

For the free movement of labour across the European Union, establishing transparency and comparability of qualifications across member states is vital. This book examines how qualifications, knowledge, skills and competences are understood in different national contexts and trans-nationally and reveals a complex picture of differences and similarities both within and between countries. Against the background of [European Union] EU policy initiatives, and in particular the European Qualifications Framework, an important focus is on the prospects and difficulties of establishing cross-national recognition of qualifications. The book draws on case studies of particular sectors and occupations in England, France, Germany and the Netherlands.