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Centre for Study and Research on Training and Qualifications
Centre d’étude et recherche sur les qualifications (Céreq)

UNEVOC Centre (National Body) since 2020

The French Centre for Research on Qualifications is a public body under the aegis of both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry for Labour, Employment and Social Affairs. As a public centre of expertise at the service of the key players in education, training and employment, Céreq provides advice and proposals intended to clarify choices in the area of education and training policies at regional, national or international level.

Mission

Since 1971, the Céreq has been a center of study and research for professionals, for decision‐makers, the social partners and more broadly for those involved in training, work and employment.

Its mission is to better appraise and understand the links between training, work and employment, to enlighten policy makers and stakeholders at large by drawing recommendations from research outcomes, to accompany and equip them in the implementation of public policies appraisal and evaluation.

The Céreq conducts field studies and research work, builds statistical surveys and disseminates the knowledge acquired by promoting its work towards a wide national and international audience.

Objectives

The Céreq operates on the basis of a multi‐annual “objectives and performance agreement” signed with the two supervising ministries. In addition, it negotiates a mid term 4‐years research programme. Years 2019‐22 research programme articulates over three priorities:

1. “Between blurring of frontiers and mobility issues, how are the routes of individuals designed?”. Referring to education‐to‐work trajectories analyses, characterisation of the movement of accountability/empowerment of the individual.

2. “From the transformations of trades to the "skills needs" of companies, how are changes in our society shaping the work of tomorrow?”. Referring to the issues of competencies

building and professionalisation of individuals, the aging of population, the ecological transition, the digital transition.

3. “Towards a new mode of regulation of public action in the field of training?”. Referring to Céreq’s expertise on the analysis of the implementation of IVET, CVET and certification policies: new forms of coordination between the actors, (re)structuring of the training market, role of the regions and territories, new policies and regulations.

Regular tasks

Céreq analyses from different angles the relationship between training, employment and work, as such, it provides expertise on the state of the art of the French qualifications system also playing an important role in the State’s committees of experts dealing with the evolution of French initial vocational and training system. Besides its long experience in the application of a wide array of quantitative and qualitative research methods, CEREQ has competence in relation to the identification of emerging skills needs. The centre led or concurred to French skills needs analysis projects on occupations and professions in many different economic sectors, collaborating with branches’ tripartite governance bodies. In addition, several studies have been carried out non‐formal and informal competences certification and recognition, mainly characterized in France by the VAE approach (Validation des Acquis de Competences).

Céreq plays an important role in France by producing first hand statistical data on the first job insertion of graduates at all level of education analyzing job/training trajectories towards stable occupation (Generation Survey). On the other hand, it produces key data on companies’ continuing education policies, adults training, and lifelong learning system (DEFIS survey). It participates to European Continuing Vocational Training Survey (CVTS) data production for France.

Focus and interest