- 2024Implementation
Background
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
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
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.
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
- Ministry of Children and Education
- National Agency for Education and Quality (STUK)
Target groups
Learners
- Learners in upper secondary, including apprentices
Education professionals
- Teachers
Entities providing VET
- VET providers (all kinds)
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.
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
VET Recommendation
- VET promoting equality of opportunities
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
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