ERIC ED455365: Mobility in the European Tourism Sector: The Role of Transparency and Recognition of Vocational Qualifications. CEDEFOP Panorama Series.

115 Pages·2001·1.3 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
CE 081 975
ED 455 365
Richards, Greg
AUTHOR
Mobility in the European Tourism Sector: The Role of
TITLE
Transparency and Recognition of Vocational Qualifications.
CEDEFOP Panorama Series.
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training,
INSTITUTION
Thessaloniki (Greece).
TI-37-01-073-EN-C
REPORT NO
ISBN-92-896-0049-7
ISBN
ISSN-1562-6180
ISSN
2001-00-00
PUB DATE
114p.; For related studies in the Panorama Series, see CE
NOTE
081 989-990. Study carried out by European Association for
Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS) with support from the
European Travel and Tourism Action Group (ETAG).
CEDEFOP, P.O. Box 22427, GR-551 02 Thessaloniki, Greece
AVAILABLE FROM
(#EN5110). Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], e-mail:
[email protected]. For full text:
http://www.trainingvillage.gr/download/publication/panorama
/5110/5110en.pdf.
Evaluative (142)
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Information Analyses (070)
PUB TYPE
MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Academic Standards; Career Change; Case Studies; Comparative
DESCRIPTORS
Analysis; Credentials; Educational Certificates; Educational
Policy; Educational Trends; Employment Experience;
Employment Opportunities; Employment Patterns; *Employment
Qualifications; Foreign Countries; Foreign Workers;
*Hospitality Occupations; International Cooperation;
International Programs; Labor Market; Labor Turnover;
National Standards; *Occupational Mobility; Overseas
Employment; Policy Formation; Promotion (Occupational);
Recognition (Achievement); *Student Certification; Tables
(Data); *Tourism; Transfer of Training; Trend Analysis;
Vocational Adjustment; *Vocational Education
*European Union; United Kingdom
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
The extent of cross-border mobility in the tourism sector of
the European Union (EU) was examined, along with its relationship to the
the
transparency and recognition of qualifications. The study focused on
policies
current and historical levels of mobility in the tourism industry,
and existing and desired
on transparency and recognition of qualifications,
the key
European qualification standards in tourism. The following were among
(1) levels of labor mobility in the tourism industry vary widely by
findings:
(2) labor mobility in the sector has
industrial sector and EU member State;
(3) an estimated 12% of the
increased twofold to threefold in recent decades;
(4) because of the
EU's tourism labor force consists of foreign workers;
tendency to recruit staff at lower levels, many migrants are recruited on the
basis of personal qualities and experience rather than formal qualifications;
few policies on transparency and recognition of qualifications exist; and
(5)
is
(6) pressure to develop European standards for tourism qualifications
relatively low. Nine recommendations are presented. (Nineteen tables and 41
references are included. A case study of labor mobility in the hotel and
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
catering sector in Dublin, Ireland, and statistics regarding overseas staff
employed by United Kingdom tour operators are appended.)
(MN)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
PANORAMA
Mobility in the European
tourism sector.
The role of transparency and recognition,
of vocational qualificationi
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Office of Educational Research and Improvement
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r-I:EST-COPYAVAILABLE
EN
Mobility in the European tourism sector
The role of transparency and recognition
of vocational qualifications
Greg Richards
Cedefop Panorama series
of the European Communities, 2001
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications
A great deal of additional information on the European Union is available on the Internet.
It can be accessed through the Europa server (http://europa.eu.int).
Cataloguing data can be found at the end of this publication.
Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2001
ISBN 92-896-0049-7
© European Communities, 2001
Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
Printed in Belgium
of Vocational Training (Cedefop) established
The European Centre for the Development
of vocational education and training systems,
in 1975, provides information and analyses
policies and research.
Europe 123
GR-570 01 Thessaloniki (Pylea)
Postal Address:
PO Box 22427
GR-551 02 Thessaloniki
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Homepage: www.cedefop.eu.int
Interactive website: www.trainingvillage.gr
Greg Richards
Education
European Association for Tourism and Leisure
Edited by:
Cedefop
Sten Pettersson, Project Manager
Original language version
Produced under the responsibility of:
Johan van Rens, Director
Stavros Stavrou, Deputy Director
Foreword
'Transparency of vocational qualifications'
This report forms part of the Cedefop project on
and reflects the main aim
initiated in 1998. Transparency' in the project title is a key concept
States and the European Commission in creating
of the work which is to support the Member
Transparency of qualifications can
mechanisms for promoting transparency of qualifications.
identify and compare the value and content
be defined as 'the degree of visibility necessary to
national and international levels() and
of qualifications at sector as well as regional,
vocational qualifications more visible throughout Europe. The
expresses the need to make
central regulations towards the needs of individuals to
concept represents a shift in focus from
and their skills and competences when
provide information on the training they have received
applying for jobs outside their country of origin.
Member States is fundamental and a
The right of European citizens to live and work in other
gives citizens greater opportunities to
basic assumption is that real freedom of movement
unemployment. According to European
develop their skills and experiences and to avoid
full economic and social integration and
policy, free movement is also a prerequisite for
and understanding of 'foreign'
efforts to remove obstacles due to lack of information
the Treaty of Rome in 1957. The
vocational qualifications have been on the agenda since
approaches introduced. It covers measures to
transparency approach is one of the latest
to increase the visibility
improve information on existing national arrangements and measures
found in the Council Resolutions of 1992
of foreign qualifications. Its initial legal base can be
and 1996, respectively.
important, there is little
Although issues of mobility and qualifications are regarded as
known about the real impact of
published research on the issue. Therefore very little is
relation between mobility and transparency of
measures at Community level and the
vocational qualifications.
launch three studies focusing on the
In brief, this is the background to the initiative to
three different sectors of the economy. One
transparency issue and its relation to mobility in
this report. Two other reports will
of these sectors, the tourism industry sector, is covered in
the health sector and a separate synthesis report will
cover both the chemical industry and
chosen because it represents an area
summarise all three sectors. The tourism sector was
created. It comprises a wide variety
where many young people work and where 'new jobs' are
increasingly integrated. The sector
of services and a field where new technology is becoming
mobility within the sector with a lot of
is expanding and it is assumed that there is high
different qualifications needed and many of them newly established.
Cedefop,
(I) Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. Glossary, proposed by
January 1999, p.17.
Four main areas are covered by the research:
the current situation on mobility;
(a)
polices in the area of transparency and recognition of qualifications;
(b)
the link between mobility and transparency of qualifications, systems for the recognition
(c)
of qualifications;
(d) European standards.
The report gives a comprehensive picture of these four areas and is, as far as we know, the
first study done of this kind. We hope that the results will be used in different contexts and
mobility and
taken as a point of departure for further and deeper study of the relation between
prerequisites for mobility. As this study shows, there is still a lack of crucial information and
be
data which is needed for further development of the discussions as well as measures to
taken in the field.
Thessaloniki, September 2000
Stavros Stavrou
Deputy Director
Sten Pettersson
Project Manager
7
2
Table of contents
3
FOREWORD
5
CONTEXT OF THE
STUDY
AIMS AND
7
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
11
1. INTRODUCTION
1 1
1.1. DEFINITION OF THE TOURISM SECTOR
12
1.2. EMPLOYMENT IN TOURISM
14
1.3. THE SCALE OF TOURISM EMPLOYMENT IN ME EU
16
1.4. CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISM EMPLOYMENT
17
1.5. THE NEED FOR LABOUR MOBILITY
19
1.5.1. Pensions
19
1.5.2. Housing
20
1.6. FACTORS INFLUENCING LABOUR MOBILITY IN TOURISM
20
1.6.1. Language
21
1.6.2. Seasonality
21
1.6.3. The geographical basis of tourism
22
1.6.4. Low wages
22
1.6.5. Lack of career structure
22
1.6.6. Lack of transparency and recognition of qualifications
23
1.6.7. Lack of harmonisation of qualifications
25
THE TOURISM SECTOR
HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF MOBILITY IN
2.
27
2.1. GERMANY
27
2.2. IRELAND
28
2.3. THE NETHERLANDS
28
2.4. AUSTRIA
28
2.5. THE UK
30
2.6. CONCLUSION
31
MOBILITY IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
LEVELS OF
3. CURRENT
31
LABOUR MARKET
3.1. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN THE TOURISM
32
3.1.1. National analyses
45
3.2. LABOUR MOBILITY BY SECTOR
45
3.2.1. Hotel and catering sector
48
3.2.2. Agency sector
53
3.3. PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL SECTOR
53
3.3.1. Tourist boards
54
3.3.2. Conference and meetings industry
54
3.3.3. Social tourism and youth hostels
55
3.3.4. Conclusions
57
OF
QUALIFICATIONS
POLICIES ON TRANSPARENCY AND RECOGNITION
4.
58
4.1. EU DIRECTIVE ON MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS
60
OF ORIGIN
4.2. MEASURES SUPPORTING THOSE APPLYING FOR JOBS OUTSIDE THEIR COUNTRY
60
4.2.1. The EURES system
62
4.3. STUDENT MOBILITY
65
5. LINKING MOBILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
66
LABOUR MARKET
5.1. RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING NEEDS, CURRENT PERCEPTIONS OF ME
68
5.2. RECRUITMENT POLICIES
69
5.3. TRAINING
.,
3
71
5.4. HUMAN RESOURCE POLICIES ADOPTED
72
5.5. OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOREIGN EMPLOYEES
73
POLICIES ON THE RECOGNITION AND VALIDATION OF FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS
5.6.
74
5.7. POLICIES ON LANGUAGE SKILLS AND COMPETENCES
75
5.8. POLICIES ON AND USE OF WORK PLACEMENTS FROM ABROAD
75
5.9. MAIN BARRIERS TO FOREIGN RECRUITMENT
78
5.10. PERSPECTIVES FOR THE FUTURE
79
5.11. CONCLUSION
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMON EUROPEAN QUALIFICATIONS OR COMPETENCES
6.
81
IN THE TOURISM SECTOR
85
7. CONCLUSIONS
85
7.1. FACTORS AFFECTING MOBILITY IN TOURISM
85
7.1.1. Factors stimulating mobility
86
7.1.2. Factors constraining mobility
86
7.2. HISTORICAL TRENDS IN LABOUR MOBILITY IN THE EU
87
7.3. CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING LABOUR MOBILITY IN THE EU
89
7.4. POLICIES ON TRANSPARENCY AND RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS
90
7.5. BARRIERS TO MOBILITY
91
7.5.1. The need for European standards
91
7.5.2. Future perspectives
93
8. RECOMMENDATIONS
93
8.1. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO THE TOURISM SECTOR
94
8.2. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO LABOUR MOBILITY
95
REFERENCES
APPENDIX 1: A CASE STUDY OF LABOUR MOBILITY IN THE HOTEL AND CATERING
99
SECTOR, DUBLIN
109
APPENDIX 2: OVERSEAS STAFF EMPLOYED BY UK TOUR OPERATORS
111
APPENDIX 3: ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS CONSULTED
9
4