Spain: new VET quality framework launched.

In June 2025, Spain's Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sport (MEFD) launched a new quality framework for VET. This initiative aims to guarantee continuous evaluation of the system to ensure quality in the design of public policy.

Key pillars of the VET evaluation framework

Spanish VET legislation mandates continuous evaluation of the system to guarantee its quality, effectiveness, and alignment with social and labour market needs. The Organic Law 3/2022 and Royal Decree 659/2023 established a unified approach to evaluating VET quality, complementing statistical reports, focusing on the principles of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, social impact and sustainability.

The VET evaluation framework is built on two essential pillars:

• Common framework for assessment and quality assurance - defines the structure, functions and internal procedures of a technical committee. Its role is to ensure continuous and effective evaluation of the VET system, providing a basis for informed decision-making by the competent administrations, through territorial cooperation;
• State system of indicators for the assessment and quality of vocational training - guides systematic data collection and monitors the core actions within the VET system: training, guidance, and skills accreditation. It includes 34 indicators across 12 areas, covering aspects such as labour market integration, equity, digitalisation, sustainability and system quality. These indicators underpin the VET system status report, enabling continuous and informed evaluation.

Published in June, both documents align with international standards, such as the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework (EQAVET). They were developed collaboratively with the active participation of the competent administrations and aim to provide a solid foundation for analysing and continuously improving vocational training in Spain.

Technical Committee for Quality and Evaluation of VET.

The Technical Committee for Evaluation and Quality developed the common framework and the indicators system. This regional cooperation body, coordinated by the MEFD, comprises representatives from each administration responsible for the VET system at national and regional levels, including initial and continuous training. Representatives from the MEFD’s Deputy-Directorate General for Statistics and Studies may also participate.

The Committee meets at least twice a year to:

• develop a common framework for evaluation and quality assurance;
• create the state system of indicators for the evaluation of vocational training;
• define common quality verification instruments and evidence collection for evaluation at the state level;
• agree on proposals for research and evaluation studies on the system.

VET system status report

The VET system status report is a critical tool for monitoring performance. It identifies strengths and areas for improvement, enabling informed and coordinated decisions on reforms.

As set out in Article 112 of the Organic Law 3/2022, two types of report are to be produced:

• biennial report - includes regional data and results from verifications and random assessments carried out by independent bodies. The first biennial report on the status of the VET system, published in March 2025, was prepared by the MEFD’s Deputy Directorate-General for the Evaluation and Quality of the VET System. The next report is scheduled for 2028;
• four-year report - examines the range of training courses available, their alignment with student demand, VET graduate employability, and current and future human capital needs of the public and private sectors. This report builds on the biennial report and includes a study on labour market integration. The first four-year report is scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2026.

Read more:

• Organic law 3/2022 (in Spanish)
• Royal Decree 659/2023 (in Spanish)
• The common framework for assessment and quality assurance (Marco Común de Garantía de Evaluación y Calidad)
• The State system of indicators for the assessment and quality of vocational training (Sistema estatal de indicadores de evaluación y calidad de la formación profesional)
• Quality assurance in VET
• Initial report on the status of the VET system