This proposal is based on research conducted into the problems and tasks of quality assurance (QA) in three Regional Integrated Vocational Training Centres (RIVTCs). Research started in December 2008 and will finish in July 2009. Research is being carried out by NIVE connected to my work in the ENQA-VET project. My proposal is based on the preliminary findings of my research. The purpose is to discover how successful the Hungarian RIVTCs are related to implementing the policy of QA, what are the main achievements and what are the most serious obstacles – if there is any – in the development of QA. According to the recent modernisation of the VET system, a network of integrated regional vocational training centres is under development. By the end of 2006, 16 centres were set up. This will be followed by a further 44 centres by 2013. (M. Benke, 2007) I focus on one of the most important factor of QA in RIVTCs, on the quality of the contact to the labour market. According to the ’mission’ of RIVTCs they operate under a strong co-operation with different stakeholders to meet the needs of the labour market in a higher level. There are some special fields for QA to be examined as the elements of the ’key process’ of effective relationship with stakeholders, namely how to establish such relationships, how to sustain them, what are the elements of the relationship which make it most effective. The main purpuse of the research is to identify the actual level of RIVTCs if we assess their progress in developing such relationships. The research shows the main factors which help the centres to go ahead on the process from the ’interaction’ with the stakeholders to ’integration’ of aims and activities. I search how and where ’contact building’ can be followed by ’structure building’ and finally by ’culture building’. (S. Humpl, R. Ferrandez, B. Whittington, 2007). The report explains the concrete actions, networks, contacts and partnership building which made significant contribution to this process. Since 2006 RIVTCs are obliged to operate Professional Consultative Boards (PCB). Also, the law prescribes that Regional Development and Training Committees (RDTCs) should decide about the goals of regional VET development. My research tries to find out the role of the operation of these bodies in the process of QA in the searched centres.

My research is based on the analysis of documents at governmental, regional level and other relevant research papers, interviews with policymakers and key players in the governmental sector, at regional level and a review of available literature. Within the course of this research I am planning to gather new information and experiences from three RIVTCs especially about the process of quality assurance in the field of contact to the labour market. The experimental part of my research is based on three case studies (from different regions), focusing on the particular characteristics and development processes within the regions. The research concentrates on three RIVTC centres, from different regions of the country, which represent different stages of the development process. The presentation provides a summary of the experience learned from the searched cases and sets out recommendations for further development.

There are uncertaintes how to develop the contact to the labour market. VET experts and the affected institutions agree on the necessity of increasing the role of economy in VET, but they have differences of opinion how that should be done. It is not clear whether transferring more tasks from the local governmental/school sphere to that of enterprises and economic chambers will result in a better co-operation between education and economy. The government had a concept to strengthen regional planning and management in VET, but as the reform of the state administration was taken off the agenda, the government is planning to transform the system in an indirect way. The Regional Development and Training Committees dominated by economic actors can modify the VET profile of regions to a considerable extent. There is worry that the direct connection with the labour market will be replaced by strict connection with the RDTCs.