The symposium continues a tradition of ECER-symposia that focus on the contribution of transnational cooperation projects to joint European knowledge development in the field of research on vocational education and training (VET). The pattern of cross-project dialogue (with joint reflection on the perspectives for knowledge enrichment) was developed in the symposia of ECER '97 in Frankfurt am Main. The heading "Growth of knowledge in European VET research" was first used in the symposium at ECER '99 in Lahti, Finland. The more recent symposia on "Growth of knowledge" have combined the aspects of thematic knowledge development via networking, overarching frameworks that support knowledge enrichment and facilitating resource environments for knowledge sharing and reflective re-processing. The central theme for this symposium is critical rethinking of the above mentioned aspects in the light of changing preconditions for European cooperation (and for joint knowledge development) at the European level. The main presentations provide insights into different transitional situations regarding European research cooperation and regarding new preconditions and challenges for joint knowledge development. In this respect the presentations reflect upon the previous phase of cooperation (and related initiatives) in order to draw conclusions for the forthcoming period. The opening paper of Pekka Kämäräinen examines the changing preconditions for European cooperation from the perspective of the support measures of an intermediate agency. The presentation gives an account of the emergence of a new strategy to promote research cooperation and joint knowledge development on the basis of "networking the networks". The presentation analyses the evolution and the main achievements of the said approach and the reasons for the closure of respective activities. The presentation is concluded by questions concerning the prospects for developing similar activities that draw upon the said experience. The paper of Alan Brown analyses the changing preconditions for European cooperation in different programme frameworks. On the one hand the paper reflects upon collaborative projects that are based on knowledge sharing between communities of practice. In this context the paper poses questions on the role of research in promoting joint knowledge development. On the other hand the paper reflects upon new approaches on the "European dimension" in the shaping of new programmes. In this context the paper draws attention to the possibilities to promote networking across existing national research programmes as a new perspective on "European added value". The paper of Graham Attwell analyses different initiatives to support research-related dialogue, collaborative knowledge processing and reflective knowledge development with virtual platforms. The paper presents a picture on the evolution of such initiatives from the earlier virtual communication environments to further development of more sophisticated interactive platforms for knowledge sharing and knowledge development. The paper also analyses the contradictions between the promises of such initiatives and the actual development of patterns of communication and uses of virtual platforms in European research communities. All three papers are based on critical re-examination of developments and initiatives in which the authors themselves have been involved as active contributors. At the same the papers are explorative studies that try to provide insights into future models for promoting joint knowledge development in the context of new frameworks for European cooperation. The invited discussants will reflect upon the presentations on the basis of case studies and theoretical discussion of network-based innovation promotion (Angela Nobre) and on the basis of accompanying research that focuses on networked learning initiatives in working life (Peter Dehnbostel). 2. Abstracts of individual papers Paper 1 Pekka Kämäräinen Development of vocational education and training (VET) as a challenge for European research cooperation: Lessons from the Cedefop-related activities 1995-2002 The paper starts from the transitional situation in European cooperation programmes in 1995 and from the related repositioning of Cedefop as an intermediate agency. In this context the paper presents the evolution of a new strategy to promote knowledge development and to provide conceptual support for European research cooperation. The new strategy was based on research that examined core structures for European VET research, bridging concepts to support cross-cultural dialogue and conceptual interfaces that could promote Europe-wide knowledge transfer. All these aspects were related to the principle of 'networking the networks'. The paper draws a picture of the achievements of the activities in terms of conceptual progress and shaping of new frameworks for research cooperation. In this context the paper discusses the contradictory perception of such results and achievements - on the one hand from the perspective of research community and on the other hand from the perspective of an intermediate agency. This analysis provides the basis for discussing the closure of such activities as agency-based measures and a possible transition of similar activities to new contexts. Paper 2 Alan Brown In search for the "European dimension" of knowledge development: Insights into the role of communities of practice and into networking across national programmes The paper starts with a critical examination on the role of research in promoting knowledge development within practice-related developmental initiatives. The paper analyses the potentials and limits of the involvement of research on the basis of an example (the career guidance network). The case provides the starting point for further reflection on the relevance of current European programme frameworks for promoting similar initiatives on a Europe-wide basis. These reflections are linked to analysis of recent experiences with efforts to promote such 'Europeanisation' with virtual platforms. These experiences are linked to subsequent discussion on the underlying assumptions on 'European innovations' (to be promoted by 'European projects' that are chosen as the 'survivors' among the fittest within complex selection procedures). As an alternative approach to 'European added value' the paper outlines the perspective of networking across existing national programmes. The paper illustrates this alternative perspective with examples on recent initiatives to promote European research cooperation within such settings. Paper 3 Graham Attwell The role of virtual platforms in promoting European knowledge development: Reflections upon previous initiatives and conclusions from related experiences The paper starts with a problematisation of different functions of virtual platforms in European research cooperation (communication platform, resource environment for collaborative working and learning, dissemination environment). These functions have different relevance in the respectively different evolutionary phases of research themes. In this respect it is possible to perceive themes that may have different life-spans or that may experience different phases of specialisation with related conceptual transformations. Likewise, these functions have different relevance in different evolutionary phases of European research communities in the field of VET. In this respect it is possible to identify a specific founding phase with a general interest to exchange information on broadly accessible platforms. Then, it is possible to specify a subsequent step towards more specialised platforms that have reached their saturation points. The current phase can be characterised as a general regrouping and reorientation without clear coordinates for the development of common virtual platforms. On the basis of these reflections the paper presents some open questions concerning the future development.