About the project

This project was managed by the European Federation of Building and Woodworkers (EFBWW) and the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) under the Lifelong Learning programme. It was funded by the European Commission, €‎380,000, 2008–2011.

Bricklaying, as a key construction occupation, provides an ideal case to examine the ways in which the mutual recognition of qualifications might be achieved. The European Qualifications Framework (EQF) is intended to promote the mobility of labour and facilitate opportunities for lifelong learning by enhancing the comparability and transferability of qualifications and competences across the Member States.

This project examined the problems likely to be encountered in their implementation and showed how bricklaying qualifications and competences are embedded within their respective customs, laws and institutions and encompass different ranges of activities and knowledge requirements. Mutual recognition may be premised on the establishment of ‘zones of mutual trust’ and a sectoral qualifications framework, both considered in the proposals put forward.

The project involved twelve partners from Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland, including training institutions, social partner (unions and employers) organisations, researchers and academics - all familiar with the construction sector and experienced in VET policy and practice. ProBE were the main scientific partner responsible for scientific coordination, with Linda Clarke and Michaela Brockmann from University of Westminster and Christopher Winch from Kings College London.

Contact

For further information, email Professor Linda Clarke at [email protected].

Outputs

  • Clarke, L., Winch, C. and Brockmann, M., (2014) Der Widerspruch zwischen nationalen Berufsbildungssystemen und dem europäischen Arbeitsmarkt: der Fall der Maurerqualifikationen, WSI Mitteilungen, 1
  • Clarke, L., Winch, C. and Brockmann, M., (2013) Trade-based skills versus Occupational Capacity: the example of bricklaying in Europe, Work, Employment and Society, December, 27(6), pp 932–951
  • Brockmann, M., Clarke, L. and Winch, C., (2013) Implementing the EQF: English as distinct from continental bricklaying qualifications in (eds) Deitmer, L., Hauschildt, U., Rauner, F. and Zelloth, H., The Architecture of Innovative Apprenticeships, Dordrecht: Springer International, pp 257–226
  • Brockmann, M., Clarke, L. and Winch, C., (editors) (2010) Bricklaying is more than Flemish bond: bricklaying qualifications in Europe, Brussels/London: European Institute of Construction Labour Research (CLR)

  • Identified as one of the top 30 Leonardo projects of recent years and its main findings continue to be on the agenda of the European sectoral Social Dialogue and of the European Commission. 
  • Had an impact on policy through modifying the EQF and associated terminology and influencing implementation in terms of sectoral alignment and the establishment of Zones of Mutual Trust (ZMTs).
  • The work was presented to European and national official and government bodies including: 
    • EQF, EQAVET (European Qualifications Assurance for Vocational Education and Training) and ECVET (European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training) Secretariats, 2011
    • CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) conference, 2011
    • German Ministry of Education and Research conference, 2012 
    •  Annual Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) (German VET Institution) conference, 2008 
  • Subsequent European projects have been based on the Bricklaying project framework and methodology, including Bolster-up: Transparency for Upholstering and Cabinet Making Qualifications and Quality in the European Furniture Industry, European Commission, 2012–2014
  • From Trade and Job to Occupation: the changing status of the European bricklayer paper presented with M. Brockmann and C. Winch to 2009 International Labour Process Conference (Edinburgh, 6–8 April) and 2009 Industrial Relations in Europe Conference (Istanbul, 22-24 July)
  • Introduction to Practical Exercise on Bricklayer Curriculum, First Principles of English Vocational Education, Edge Foundation, Royal Academy of Engineering, 19 September 2019
  • Den Europaeischen Qualifikationsrahmen im Baugewerbe umsetzen: Mauren also Fallstudie presentation with Christopher Winch to Bundesministerium füt Bildung und Forschung (German Education and Research Ministry) conference Fortbildung schafft Chancen, Berlin, 20 March 2012
  • Case study Bricklaying, Assuring the quality of VET qualifications: The contribution of EU tools to the definition and re-definition of learning outcomes-based standards, European Qualifications Framework, EQAVET and ECVET Joint Seminar, Bonn, 14-15 November 2011
  • English qualifications in European context: the example of bricklaying, plenary presentation to International Working Party on Labour Market Segmentation, Bamberg, 11–13 July 2011
  • Proposal for establishing mutual recognition of European bricklaying qualifications, Implementing the European Qualifications Framework in the Construction Sector: the example of bricklaying, Final conference, Brussels, 26 November, 2010
  • Bricklayer Project, findings presented to Social Dialogue Committee FIEC-EFBWW: working group on Vocational Training, 25 November 2010
  • Apprenticeship in Bricklaying in Germany and the UK: a case study, with M. Brockmann and C. Winch, The German and UK Training Systems: is the grass greener on the other side?, TUC conference, Congress House, London, 22 November 2010
  • Bricklayer Project, presented to European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Working Group on Lifelong Learning, Brussels, 10 May 2010