The Competence of the social partners and their development needs, motives and forms

ENThe article presents an overview of changes in vocational education and training as well as challenges posed to social partners, by seeking for more efficient organization of vocational training and education. In order to create knowledge, high technology and skilled-based economy in Lithuania, it is necessary to have an effective interaction between training and business and provide not only the professional's ability to compete in the European labor market, but also enable them to ensure quality of life in Lithuania. By this reason, the State involves the stakeholders to vocational training system: employers, trade unions, employers, representatives associations. Since 1994, in Reform of vocational education and training, the social partnership has taken specific forms, and the Lithuanian Republic Law (1997) on Vocational Training defines the competences of social partners in vocational training. Ten years after the adoption of new Lithuanian Republic Law on Vocational Training (2007), the social partners' activities were expanded. Therefore, the main issue addressed in this article - the improvement of qualification needs for social partners, as the competences in their activities do not comply with the required knowledge, skills and abilities by contemporary education and business aspects. The significance of the study is illuminated issue of social partnership in vocational training concerning improvement of qualification needs, forms and motives.