Agenda
Tuesday, 30 June 2020
(Programme in Brussels time)
13.00-14.00 |
Introduction of participants to the virtual event |
14.00 – 15.00 |
Session 1. Opening remarks Jürgen Siebel, Executive Director, Cedefop and Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Blaženka Divjak, Minister for Science and Education, Croatia Anja Karliczek, Federal Minister for Education and Research, Germany Niki Kerameus, Minister for Education and Religious Affairs, Greece Chair: Jürgen Siebel, Cedefop |
15.00 – 15.30 |
Break |
15.30 – 16.10 |
Session 2. Key findings from the Riga 2015 – 2020 cycle of European cooperation in VET George Kostakis, Coordinator VET policies and systems, Cedefop; Georgios Zisimos, Senior specialist in EU education and training policies, ETF Short testimonies from Croatia and Germany on how EU cooperation helped VET reforms at national level Nino Buić, Assistant Director, Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, Croatia Sabine Schueller, Policy officer, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany Chair: Irina Jemeljanova, Cedefop Co-host: Iraklis Pliakis, Cedefop |
16.10 – 16.30 |
Break |
16.30 – 17.00 |
Session 3. Discussion: What do we make out of the Riga findings? Chair: Irina Jemeljanova, Cedefop Co-host: Iraklis Pliakis, Cedefop |
17.00 | End of Day 1 |
Wednesday, 1 July 2020
(Programme in Brussels time)
9.00 – 9.30 |
Participants accessing the virtual event |
9.30 – 10.00 |
Session 4. Looking ahead: challenges and opportunities for VET in the next decade Mara Brugia, Deputy Director, Cedefop Anastasia Fetsi, Head of Operations Department, European Training Foundation Chair: Antonio Ranieri, Cedefop Co-host: Loukas Zahilas, Cedefop
Guidance for the workshops Irina Jemeljanova, Cedefop |
10.00 – 10.15 |
Break |
10.15 – 11.45 |
Session 5. Looking ahead – Discussion in four parallel workshops Following the discussion on their topics, participants of each workshop will propose up to two key messages (suggestions for action) to feed into the European cooperation in VET in the coming years.
Workshop 1: Transparency and permeability for stronger VET Speaker: Eduard Staudecker, Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, Austria Speaker: Külli All, Ministry of Education and Research, Estonia Transparency and permeability measures and tools contribute to learners’ smooth transition in the education and training systems and to the labour market. The European cooperation to develop common tools and instruments has improved understanding among Member States on how their (vocational) education and training systems are organised and function. The comprehensive national qualifications frameworks implemented across the EU improved access, progression and mobility and supported recognition of VET qualifications, while their impact is growing. Effective validation arrangements help citizens identify their skills, have the outcomes of their non-formal and informal learning recognised, and motivate them to up-/reskill. Countries have reinforced their work in this area including a stronger focus on CVET to address the challenges they face. VET systems across the EU have increasingly less clear-cut borders between VET for young people and adults, initial and continuing training; this calls for a stronger focus on a lifelong learning perspective and effective interaction between all sectors of education and training systems Chair: Anastasia Pouliou, Cedefop Co-host: Nikolaos Georgiadis, Cedefop
Workshop 2: VET for labour market integration and social inclusion Speaker: Mladen Perazic, Chamber of Economy (CEM), Montenegro Speaker: Mary Lyons, SOLAS, Ireland As the most heterogeneous type of education and training, VET is best suited to reach a wide range of learners. Provision of skills for the labour market goes hand in hand with engaging more people in training, reskilling and upskilling. The lifelong learning perspective calls on VET systems to accommodate training of adults, people with disabilities and vulnerable groups in their core business. Upskilling and reskilling, lifelong guidance and validation, improving access to VET, equal opportunities, and NEETs should be primary targets in inclusive VET systems. Apart from developments in Member States, there is evidence that partner countries also address the labour market integration of young people, particularly looking into the potential of skills development for addressing social vulnerabilities. Chair: Cristina Mereuta, ETF Co-host: Lidia Salvatore, Cedefop
Workshop 3: VET and skills for the Green Deal and new digital age Speaker: Sigrid Tani, KHK, Estonia Speaker: Alptug Calik, Public employment service Adana, Turkey Speaker: Stelina Chatzichristou, Cedefop The success of the EU becoming a climate neutral economy by 2050 is strongly associated with the development of its human capital. The Green Deal in times of digital transformation is more than a political commitment towards a more sustainable economy and society. It is about developing a highly skilled workforce that will drive the transition and enable European businesses to expand and maintain their competitiveness. A greener and more digital future can go hand in hand. VET can be in the driving seat of this transformation. It takes new partnerships at national and international level, upgraded VET curricula to accommodate the development of skills and competences for digitalisation and greening of economy, advanced skills intelligence systems and feedback loops. Such transition would need flexibility for changes in occupational and qualification profiles. Working in sectors, we can study the impact of digitalisation and other global change drivers, including climate, on skills demand. Promotion of digital skills and learning contribute to a more smooth transition to digital economy. The COVID19 crisis has accelerated these developments. Chair: Arjen Deij, ETF Co-host: Dmitrijs Kulss, Cedefop
Workshop 4: Excellence and attractiveness of VET Speaker: Sampo Suihko, OMNIA, Finland Speaker: Ilze Buligina, Ministry of Education and Science, Latvia The EU vision for VET by 2030 puts excellence in the forefront. Excellent VET is attractive, inclusive, responsive, flexible and innovative. Individuals acquire skills, competences and qualifications that improve their employability, adaptability, personal development and active citizenship from a lifelong learning perspective. Excellent VET is provided in modern infrastructure, using up-to-date standards and curricula and by competent and motivated teachers and trainers. It is based on strong cooperation between the world of work and the world of education, between VET schools and enterprises, between teachers in schools and trainers in companies. Centres for vocational excellence, an important component of the EU VET agenda, demonstrate their potential for supporting this cooperation and adding excellence to the VET system. Strengthening work-based learning, including apprenticeships, and expanding VET to higher levels diversifies learning pathways and makes it more attractive. Social partners play an active role in shaping and making decisions about VET. Chair: Irene Psifidou, Cedefop Co-host: Georgios Zisimos, ETF |
11.45 – 13.00 |
Lunch break |
13.00 - 13.30 |
Session 6. Skills agenda and new EU policy on vocational education and training Manuela Geleng, Director DGEMPL, European Commission Chair: Loukas Zahilas, Cedefop Co-host: George Kostakis, Cedefop |
13.30 - 14.15 |
Session 7. Panel discussion: The way forward Dana-Carmen Bachmann, European Commission Katarina Grgec, Ministry of Science and Education, Croatia Peter Thiele, Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany Antonio Leite, Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, Portugal Barbara Dorn, Confederation of German Employers' Associations, Chairperson of Cedefop Management Board Ludovic Voet, European Trade Union Confederation Giuseppina Tucci, Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions Chair: Loukas Zahilas, Cedefop Co-host: George Kostakis, Cedefop |
14.15 – 14.30 |
Session 8. Closing remarks Margaritis Schinas, Vice President, European Commission Jürgen Siebel, Executive Director, Cedefop Cesare Onestini, Director, ETF |