Description
Country
Focus area
The IBEFE is a network of local authorities (10 in total, one being in Brussels) which enable and supply vocational training as well as education programs to address the needs of the specific local regions (Basins). Among its activities, local IBEFEs provide analysis, data reports, project developments, and opinions/recommendations on the respective local labour market situation.
Link
Reference/weblink
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
Regional
For the Wallonia region + Brussels
Local
Through specific local Basins
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
Established via a cooperation agreement between the French Community, the Wallonia Region and the French Community Commission (the IBEFE Cooperation Agreement): http://bassinefe.cible.be/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Accord-de-coop%C3%… (in French)
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
Operational as of 2015
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
Both - the initiative provides analytical and forward looking reports since 2014 for each respective local Basin. Additionally, through its work, the IBEFE develops thematic reports (common themes) on the labour market situations for the Basins on a yearly basis.
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded by regional government
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Other
As with the types of skills the initiative delivers, the mismatches that the IBEFE seeks to address is dependent on the local analyses that are conducted and identified as necessary on a case by case basis. Through this, the skills mismatches can vary between regions, years and labour markets and can come in any of the forms listed below
Skills matching focus
How does the initiative address skills mismatches?
By conducting local labour market studies and analyses, the IBEFEs at local level are able to develop reports which provide the skills mismatches that need to be addressed or worked on within different sectors. The IBEFE initiative therefore, does not target one specific types of skills mismatch but it is tailored to address arising mismatches that are identified on a case by case basis
Skills delivered
What types of skill does the initiative deliver?
Note: The skills that the initiative targets depends on the analysis that each local authority conducts for its labour market. As such, any of the skills listed below may be relevant at any given time and within any given Basin depending on their local labour market situation. It should be noted, therefore, that the IBEFE is not focused on a specific type of skills such as green skills, or digital skills, and it has a very broad/general coverage in terms of skills to be addressed
General employability skills (team working, communication, etc.)
Job search skills
Career management skills
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Each local Basin is given the duty of conducting labour market analysis as according to article 9(2) of the IBEFE Cooperation Agreement (in French: http://bassinefe.cible.be/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Accord-de-coop%C3%A9ration-20-mars-2014.pdf). Accordingly, this should be done by collecting, synthesising, fact checking, and updating data/information provided by: administrative bodies, institutions involved in vocational training, education and employment assistance as well as scientific and methodological experts. Most of the methods presented below therefore, may be used as deemed necessary for each local Basin
Skills forecasting
Employer surveys
Skills foresight
Expert panels
Real-time labour market information (e.g. big data analysis of job advertisements, CVs)
Other
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
The LMI used by local IBEFES since 2015 has enabled each local IBEFE authority to develop annual reports with consideration of VET programs and the outcomes that these provided. Furthermore, local IBEFEs provide recommendations and opinions as to which trades. professions and skills should be focused on for the future
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
Regional agency
French Community of Belgium (Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles, FWB); the Wallonia Region (la Region Wallone) and the French Community Commission (La Commission Communiautaire Française)
Regional PES
Le Forem (Wallonia PES)
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
39 other institutions and bodies are involved (as per article 1 of the IBEFE cooperation agreement: http://bassinefe.cible.be/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Accord-de-coop%C3%A9ration-20-mars-2014.pdf) to provide assistance for the general functioning of local IBEFE authorities, in data collection, and to implement measures of solutions based on reported analyses
Regional ministry
IBSA
Regional agency
CBCES; Competence Centres; CESBRBC; CESW; Pilot commission for the education system; SFPME/EFPME; SFMQ; MIRE; IWEPS; IPIEQ; IFAPME; FEBISP; CTA; CSEF; CPMS; Consortium for the validation of competences; Councils for specialised training, for social promotion training; and general local training; Consultation committees; CCFEE; Brussels Professional Training Institution
Regional PES
ACTRIS (Brussels PES); Forem (Wallonia PES)
Training Providers
Brussels Formation; CEFA; organisation for social promotion vocational training; organisation for secondary vocational training; Pôle academique (academic centre for higher vocational training); EFT/OISP; Qualified secondary vocational training centres
Other
Local bodies/branches: Thématique Commune (centres addressing IBEFE common themes); workplaces; affiliated professionals; sub-regional committees
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Other
The IBEFE does not have a targeted set of beneficiaries. Due to its mechanism of developing Basin specific approaches and reports, the beneficiaries can vary on a case by case basis.
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
The interaction between stakeholders and data collection by the IBEFEs has enabled the creation of numerous informative analyses and reports with varied recommendations and projects that have been implemented at a local level which ultimately seek to address local labour market issues
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
Policy evaluations and impact assessments do not seem to have been conducted yet, neither for the general overarching IBEFE network nor the local IBEFE authorities. Despite this, yearly activity reports are always made available which provide an insight on the specific progress made by each local IBEFE
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
No
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
Each local IBEFE has, at free disposal to the public, reports on their activities which covers different elements from local discussions, reconsideration of past reports, missions and goals, projects and recommendations. The most updated available document which provides insight into the effectiveness of IBEFE is provided here: https://epale.ec.europa.eu/fr/blog/les-instances-bassins-enseignement-f…. Therein, it is identified that in the first 2 years of its implementation, the IBEFE has enabled better dialogue between relevant stakeholders, information exchange, better data collection and assimilation to the benefit of relevant actors
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
As a kinetic initiative that responds to developments on a year-by-year basis, the IBEFE and its local branches is a very sustainable option for the region of Wallonia. By relying in numerous varied stakeholders and institutions, there is no doubt that the progress the IBEFEs have been making will continue
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