Timeline
  • 2024Implementation
ID number
46066

Background

A brief overview of the context and rationale of the policy development, explaining why it is implemented or why it is important.

In the past, it has been unclear whom - in a VET institution - apprentices should contact if they experienced sexual harassment, bullying or abuse in the company where they do their apprenticeship training.

Objectives

Goals and objectives of the policy development.

The objective of this policy development are to ensure that students and apprentices know their rights, what they can do and where they can get help if they experience sexual harassment or other offensive actions.

Description

What/How/Who/For whom/When of the policy development in detail, explaining its activities and annual progress, main actors and target groups.

The Danish Agency for Education and Quality (STUK) took a series of actions (e.g., preparing guidance material for apprenticeship learners, VET providers, teachers and administrative staff at VET schools) as part of an information campaign on the rights of apprentices who have experienced offensive actions, including bullying and sexual harassment.

As part of this campaign, all relevant information is available at all VET schools in Denmark. Through QR codes on posters, students and apprentices can find digital guidance material that informs them of their rights in cases of sexual harassment. The guidance for students and apprentices is supplemented with a guide for school employees that equips them for conversations with students and apprentices who have been or are exposed to offensive actions. The purpose is to create safer learning and training environments for students and apprentices to also promote inclusiveness and well-being in VET. Furthermore, the guides provided by STUK help VET staff deal with such sensitive issues.

2024
Implementation

In 2024, the Danish Agency for Education and Quality (STUK) prepared an information campaign for apprentices and students in VET to inform them about what they can do if they have been subjected to offensive actions, including bullying and sexual harassment in their apprenticeship company. Also, STUK prepared a guide and a poster for VET staff (teachers and administrative staff) with advice on how to deal with students and apprentices who experience offensive actions.

Bodies responsible

This section lists main bodies that are responsible for the implementation of the policy development or for its specific parts or activities, as indicated in the regulatory acts. The responsibilities are usually explained in its description.
  • Ministry of Children and Education
  • National Agency for Education and Quality (STUK)

Target groups

Those who are positively and directly affected by the measures of the policy development; those on the list are specifically defined in the EU VET policy documents. A policy development can be addressed to one or several target groups.

Learners

  • Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices

Education professionals

  • Teachers

Entities providing VET

  • VET providers (all kinds)

Thematic categories

Thematic categories capture main aspects of the decision-making and operation of national VET and LLL systems. These broad areas represent key elements that all VET and LLL systems have to different extents and in different combinations, and which come into focus depending on the EU and national priorities. Thematic categories are further divided into thematic sub-categories. Based on their description, policy developments can be assigned to one or several thematic categories.

Supporting lifelong learning culture and increasing participation

Lifelong learning refers to all learning (formal, non-formal or informal) taking place at all stages in life and resulting in an improvement or update in knowledge, skills, competences and attitudes or in participation in society from a personal, civic, cultural, social or employment-related perspective (Erasmus+, Glossary of terms, https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/programme-guide/part-d/glossary-common-terms). A systemic approach to CVET is crucial to ensure adaptability to evolving demands.

This broad thematic category looks at ways of creating opportunities and ensuring access to re-skilling and upskilling pathways, allowing individuals to progress smoothly in their learning throughout their lives with better permeability between general and vocational education and training, and better integration and compatibility between initial and continuing VET and with higher education. Individuals should be supported in acquiring and updating their skills and competences and navigating easily through education and training systems. Strategies and campaigns that promote VET and LLL as an attractive and high-quality pathway, providing quality lifelong guidance and tailored support to design learning and career paths, and various incentives (financial and non-financial) to attract and support participation in VET and LLL fall into this thematic category as well.

This thematic category also includes many initiatives on making VET inclusive and ensuring equal education and training opportunities for various groups of learners, regardless of their personal and economic background and place of residence – especially those at risk of disadvantage or exclusion, such as persons with disabilities, the low-skilled and low-qualified, minorities, migrants, refugees and others.

Ensuring equal opportunities and inclusiveness in education and training

This thematic sub-category refers to making VET pathways and programmes inclusive and accessible for all. It concerns measures and targeted actions to increase access and participation in VET and lifelong learning for learners from all vulnerable groups, and to support their school/training-to-work transitions. It includes measures to prevent early leaving from education and training. The thematic sub-category covers measures promoting gender balance in traditionally ‘male’ and ‘female’ professions and addressing gender-related and other stereotypes. The vulnerable groups are, but not limited to: persons with disabilities; the low-qualified/-skilled; minorities; persons of migrant background, including refugees; people with fewer opportunities due to their geographical location and/or their socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances.

European priorities in VET

EU priorities in VET and LLL are set in the Council Recommendation for VET for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, adopted on 24 November 2020 and in the Osnabrück Declaration on VET endorsed on 30 November 2020.

VET Recommendation

  • VET promoting equality of opportunities

Subsystem

Part of the vocational education and training and lifelong learning systems the policy development applies to.
IVET
CVET

Further reading

Sources for further reading where readers can find more information on policy developments: links to official documents, dedicated websites, project pages. Some sources may only be available in national languages.

Country

Type of development

Policy developments are divided into three types: strategy/action plan; regulation/legislation; and practical measure/initiative.
Practical measure/Initiative
Cite as

Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Apprentices' rights if they experience sexual harassment: Denmark. In Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Timeline of VET policies in Europe (2024 update) [Online tool].

https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/tools/timeline-vet-policies-europe/search/46066