Title: Mechatronics in Finland and The Netherlands: the responsiveness of VET compared

Authors: B.G. Doornekamp, J.N. Streumer, L. Heiskanen

Addresses: University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' Kuopio Vocational Adult Education Centre, Vuorelankatu 5-7, 70300 Kuopio, Finland

Abstract: In Finland and The Netherlands, developments in the metal industry and its consequences for vocational education and training have been studied. In this paper, attention is paid to the core problems and the key qualifications of the employees related to ||mechatronics||. Both countries have undergone comparable developments in the metal industry and ||mechatronic|| companies in both countries agree on the key qualifications their employees need. Vocational education and training has responded differently in both counties to ||mechatronics||. In Finland, ||mechatronics|| has become integrated in existing qualifications, while in The Netherlands a new qualification for the mechatronic engineer is desired (in 2000).

Keywords: vocational education and training; mechatronics; metal industry; core problems; key qualifications; flexible workforce; Netherlands; Finland.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2004.004576

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2004 Vol.14 No.1/2, pp.79 - 92

Published online: 21 May 2004 *

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