Teachers and trainers are the backbone of high-quality vocational education and training (VET). To deliver excellence and care for inclusion, they need continuous opportunities to update their technical, pedagogical and transversal competences. Cedefop supports the implementation of European strategic objectives for accessible, high-quality professional development for all VET teachers and trainers.
Teaching professionals and leaders in VET: who are they?
Across Europe, VET is delivered by professionals with diverse profiles — from school-based teachers to company trainers and mentors. While the titles for professionals working in VET may vary according to the context of VET provision in each country, different categories can be identified in initial vocational education and training (IVET).
It seems more important to define the teaching and training staff in terms of function and tasks rather than trying to come up with a single term for each group. For more information see here.
Why does the professional development of VET teachers and trainers matter?
VET teachers and trainers ensure that learning remains relevant, inclusive and future-oriented.
They work in an environment shaped by technological change, digitalisation, the green transition and globalisation, all of which demand new skills and approaches.
European policy recognises committed and competent teachers, trainers and other VET professionals as key agents for high quality VET in several Key policy documents including the Council conclusions on European teachers and trainers for the future (2020), the latest Herning Declaration on attractive and inclusive VET (2025), and the new VET Teachers and Trainers agenda (2026).
Within this European policy framework, Member States are encouraged to ensure that all VET teachers and trainers have access to high quality and relevant initial and continuing professional development, preparing them to embrace new roles, challenges and developments.
Cedefop's work
Cedefop supports the European Commission, Member States and social partners in strengthening the role and professional development of VET teachers and trainers through:
Comparative research mapping national approaches to, and opportunities for, initial and continuing professional development of VET teachers and trainers in both school and work-based settings in 29 countries (EU-27 plus Iceland and Norway);
- See here country reports. Updates are planned for 2026-2027.
- Download the comparative synthesis report.
Thematic analyses on:
- qualifications and continuous professional development;
- well-being and job satisfaction,
- skills to promote inclusion, to design inclusive (school and work-based) learning environments and support learners at risk and early school leavers;
- digital and green skills;
- pedagogical skills to apply innovative and learner-centred pedagogies in VET;
- building stronger bridges between schools and businesses.
Download highlights of latest research findings.
Cedefop tools for VET practitioners
Offering learning providers practical support, Cedefop launched the VET toolkit for tackling early leaving in 2017 and the VET toolkit for empowering NEETs in 2021 and has been constantly updating and enriching their resources since then. The toolkits are designed to support not only VET teachers and trainers, but also policymakers to:
- help young people at risk of dropping out to remain in education and training and qualify;
- help early leavers and NEETs to reintegrate into education or training and the labour market.
The toolkits aim to help VET practitioners to school disengagement and tackle early leaving from education and training at every stage: from identifying learners at risk to prevent early leaving, to supporting the reintegration of early school leavers and NEETs into education, training or the labour market.
How can I get involved with Cedefop tools for VET practitioners?
- Access the VET toolkit for tackling early leaving and the VET toolkit for empowering NEETs and discover discover hundreds of resources based on analytical work and drawn from European countries.
- Become an ambassador by joining our community of ambassadors actively contributing to tackling early leaving from VET in Europe.
- Submit your own good practices and tools to be considered for wide dissemination through our toolkits.
- Contact the team to give feedback on the toolkits or to send your enquiries.
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