European Training Thesaurus (EET Thesaurus)



Annex 13 Introduction to EET (European Training Thesaurus) - CEDEFOP

Table of contents

1. Subject 1

2. Semantic relationships and symbols used 2

1.1 Belonging to a field 2

1.2 Hierarchical relationship 3

1.3 Synonymous relationship 3

1.4 Associative relationship 4

1.5 Language equivalence relationship 4

1.6 Scope note 4

3. Structure and layout of the new edition 4

1.1 Use the alphabetical index 5

1.2 Consult the hierarchical presentation 5

1.3 Consult the main alphabetical presentation 6

4. Form, spelling and hyphenation of the descriptors 6

5. Languages 6

6. Standard 7

7. Users 7

Subject

The European Training Thesaurus contains more than 2,500 terms (descriptors and non-descriptors) related to vocational education and training (VET). It is an essential working tool of Cedefop’s Library and Documentation service, currently used to index and retrieve information from Cedefop’s databases, i.e.: bibliographical database VET-Bib, ETV News database, European Research Overview database, European Training Village website.

The European Training Thesaurus ensures a double function: it is a link both between Cedefop’s users and its documentary resources, and a link between these different resources.

The European Training Thesaurus covers education and training vocabulary and focuses on the VET systems and programmes, on policy, on economical and social aspects and on training related EU actions.

The European Training Thesaurus has been designed with an eighteen-field structure:

1. Training

2. Education

3. Learning

4. Sciences and technology

5. Information and communication

6. Labour

7. Enterprise

8. Occupations

9. Economic activities

10. Economy

11. Administration

12. Society

13. Population

14. Countries and regions

15. European Union

16. International organisations

17. Document type

18. Auxiliary terms

A full description of the thesaurus is available at the following address:

Semantic relationships and symbols used

The European Training Thesaurus was elaborated according to the ISO 2788 and ISO 5964 standards. It comprises the following semantic relationships:

o belonging to a field (FD)

o hierarchical (BT, BN)

o synonymous (UF, USE)

o associative (RT)

o language equivalence (FR)

o scope note (SN)

1 Belonging to a field

Each descriptor belongs to a field (Training, Education etc). The relationship between a descriptor and its field is symbolised by:

o FD (field) to indicate the relevant field

Example:

higher education

FD Education (2)

Education is the field of higher education.

2 Hierarchical relationship

In conformity with the previous issue of the thesaurus, the new edition retains the single hierarchy relationship between generic and specific terms.

The symbols used for the hierarchical relationships are:

o BT to indicate the broader term.

Example:

academic degree

BT certificate

certificate is the broader term for academic degree.

o NT to indicate narrower terms.

Example:

audiovisual aid

NT educational television

educational television is the narrower term for audiovisual aid.

3 Synonymous relationship

This equivalence relationship exists between synonymous or almost synonymous terms. Thus, some terms considered to be too narrow have been designated as non-descriptors of broader terms, preferably kept as descriptors.

The symbols used for synonymous relationships are:

o UF (use for) to indicate non-descriptor terms.

Example:

aptitude

UF ability

ability is a non-descriptor of aptitude.

o USE to indicate descriptor terms.

Example:

accreditation of prior learning

USE validation of non formal learning

validation of non formal learning is the descriptor corresponding to accreditation of prior learning.

4 Associative relationship

An associative relationship links two descriptors pertaining to two distinct categories, but whose meanings, though different, can be related to the same idea. This relationship between two descriptors is an additional indexing aid to direct the analyst towards other descriptors of pertinent added value.

The symbol used for an associative relationship is:

o RT (related term) to indicate associative terms.

Example:

grant

RT economics of education

grant (field 10) and economics of education (field 1) are related.

5 Language equivalence relationship

The language equivalence relationship between two terms provides the translation of a descriptor into another language.

The symbol used for a language equivalence relationship is:

o FR (French term) to indicate the French equivalent of the English descriptor.

Example:

correspondence course

FR cours par correspondance

6 Scope note

A scope note clarifies the intended use of a descriptor: either by defining this descriptor itself or by explaining the descriptor’s meaning in case of semantic ambiguity.

The symbol used for scope notes is:

o SN (scope note) to introduce a scope note.

Example:

assessment of competences

SN A general term embracing all methods used to appraise/judge performance of an individual or a group.

Structure and layout of the new edition

Throughout the different sections of the thesaurus, descriptors and non-descriptors are introduced in accordance with the standard ISO 2788. The descriptor terms always appear in lower case; the ‘entry position’ descriptors appear also in bold. The non-descriptor terms always appear in italics and lower case, whatever their position in the thesaurus.

Examples:

intensive training (descriptor term)

accelerated course (non-descriptor term)

The European Training Thesaurus is divided into four sections:

1. A hierarchical presentation of the fields, which consists, for each field, of a hierarchical list of descriptors, symbolising their single-hierarchy arborescence.

Example:

level of education (Broader term)

NT1 post compulsory education (Narrower term at level 1)

NT1 post secondary education (Narrower term at level 1)

NT2 higher education (Narrower term at level 2)

NT3 non university higher education (Narrower term at level 3)

NT4 polytechnic education (Narrower term at level 4)

NT3 university studies (Narrower term at level 3)

NT4 postgraduate study (Narrower term at level 4)

NT4 undergraduate study (Narrower term at level 4)

2. A main alphabetical presentation, which provides the alphabetical list of all the descriptors and non-descriptors. Each term set of semantic relationships is presented.

Example:

higher education institute

FD Education (2)

FR établissement d'enseignement supérieur

SN Institution at the tertiary level of education excluding universities and academies.

UF polytechnic

BT educational institution

NT college of education

RT non university higher education

higher education school enterprise relationship

USE university enterprise relationship

3. An alphabetical, permutated KWIC index (Keyword In Context) of all the descriptors and non-descriptors.

How to use the different layouts of the European Training Thesaurus

To efficiently use the European Training Thesaurus, and to effectively identify the descriptors, the indexer is invited to use the methodology described below. After selecting the relevant concepts, the following procedure should be adopted for each concept retained:

1 Use the alphabetical index

The indexer should look for the concept in the permuted alphabetical index (KWIC) that is most appropriate to identify multi-term (pre-coordinated) descriptors.

2 Consult the hierarchical presentation

The layout has been designed so that the hierarchical organisation of the descriptors can be displayed around the descriptor selected.

Consulting the hierarchical list allows the analyst to refine his first selection by choosing the descriptor whose level of specificity seems most pertinent.

3 Consult the main alphabetical presentation

It is essential to refer to the alphabetical list as it enables the indexer not only to go through a descriptor's semantic relationships, but also to be aware of possible explicative scope notes and relevant associated terms.

Form, spelling and hyphenation of the descriptors

The grammatical form of the descriptors is usually in singular form, except in cases where the plural form is the more appropriate.

Example:

mathematics

The hyphen (-) as well as the words AND, OR, NOT, are not to be used as they generate conflicts with the Boolean operators in certain documentary systems.

Example:

research development

eLearning

As for the descriptor and non-descriptor terms in the English version of the European Training Thesaurus, English spelling is preferred (using “s”) over American spelling (using “z”).

Examples:

learning organisation

Languages

The current version of the thesaurus is available in Danish, English, French, Estonian, Dutch and Finnish.

Electronic format available: text and XML

Tags description:

| | |

| | |

|academic degree |Descriptor |

|college degree |Non-descriptor |

|university degree | |

|certificate |Broader Term |

|higher education graduate |Associative Relationship |

|university studies | |

|1.3. Learning |Field |

|Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A Level) is normally awarded at|Scope Note |

|the end of 2 years of post-compulsory general education to pupils who meet | |

|the required standards. It is a qualification for entry to higher education | |

|(Eurydice). | |

| | |

|akademisk grad |Language equivalence relationship |

|academische graad | |

|academic degree | |

|akadeemiline kraad | |

|akateeminen tutkinto | |

|diplôme universitaire | |

|laurea | |

|Approved | |

|Descriptor | |

|2006-07-07 | |

| | |

Standard

The European training thesaurus was developed according to the ISO 2788 and ISO 5964 standards.

Users

Cedefop estimates 50 registered users with 20 concurrent users approximately.

- 2 Cedefop ETT administrators 

- 10 members of the ETT working group

- 25-30 translators / editors for updating the different linguistic versions

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