- 2023Implementation
- 2024Implementation
Background
In response to evolving educational needs, several initiatives have been launched to enhance teachers' digital competencies and modernise teaching methodologies. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), blended learning, and digital tools in education is crucial for preparing students for the future. These initiatives focus on training educators, strengthening school strategies, and promoting innovative teaching approaches that align with European and national digital education priorities.
Objectives
The key objectives of the policy development include:
- enhancing teachers' competencies in AI and digital education;
- supporting the adoption of blended learning approaches in VET schools;
- strengthening schools' strategic capacities for digital transformation;
- developing and sharing innovative teaching resources;
- establishing self-learning communities among educators.
Description
Towards achieving these goals, several projects have been developed to support teachers in acquiring the necessary competencies, integrating digital technologies into teaching, and enhancing the overall quality of education.
Artificial Intelligence for Teachers (AI4T) (2021-2024)
The AI4T Erasmus+ K3 project, collaboratively developed by France (coordinator), Slovenia, Italy, Ireland, and Luxembourg, aimed to train teachers and school leaders in AI applications for education. With a focus on school mathematics, science, and English for students aged 15-16, the initiative provided training through common online resources (MOOC and Open Textbook) and national learning pathways (webinars, face-to-face sessions, online platforms). In Slovenia, 269 teachers from 76 general and VET upper secondary schools participated. An independent evaluation, using a randomised controlled trial, assessed the impact on teachers' attitudes and practices, supported by contextual data from school leaders and students. A policy recommendation document was also developed within the project. In 2021 and 2022, the AI4T project focused on foundational work such as the preparation of training and educational resources and the design of evaluation instruments. Pilot studies on training and evaluation were carried out across all five European countries.
BlendVET/KIPSI - Blended Learning in VET (2021-2024)
Blended learning, combining classroom activities with...
Towards achieving these goals, several projects have been developed to support teachers in acquiring the necessary competencies, integrating digital technologies into teaching, and enhancing the overall quality of education.
Artificial Intelligence for Teachers (AI4T) (2021-2024)
The AI4T Erasmus+ K3 project, collaboratively developed by France (coordinator), Slovenia, Italy, Ireland, and Luxembourg, aimed to train teachers and school leaders in AI applications for education. With a focus on school mathematics, science, and English for students aged 15-16, the initiative provided training through common online resources (MOOC and Open Textbook) and national learning pathways (webinars, face-to-face sessions, online platforms). In Slovenia, 269 teachers from 76 general and VET upper secondary schools participated. An independent evaluation, using a randomised controlled trial, assessed the impact on teachers' attitudes and practices, supported by contextual data from school leaders and students. A policy recommendation document was also developed within the project. In 2021 and 2022, the AI4T project focused on foundational work such as the preparation of training and educational resources and the design of evaluation instruments. Pilot studies on training and evaluation were carried out across all five European countries.
BlendVET/KIPSI - Blended Learning in VET (2021-2024)
Blended learning, combining classroom activities with digital technology, is increasingly essential in vocational education and training (VET). The BlendVET (KIPSI) project, managed by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training (CPI) in collaboration with partners from Iceland and Norway, aims to support VET schools in effectively integrating blended learning into their curricula. The project provides professional support to VET providers, develops school strategies for blended learning, and trains teachers to use digital tools like H5P, virtual reality, and educational games.
Digital and Sustainable Teacher (2023-2026)
This initiative aims to equip educators with digital competencies necessary for the evolving educational landscape. The project focuses on integrating digital technologies into teaching practices and promoting sustainability and financial literacy. The training of at least 20 000 'digital teachers' is a primary objective, along with fostering self-learning communities among educators. An international conference in October 2023 gathered over 1 000 educators to discuss digitalisation, sustainability, and financial literacy. Workshops covered various digital teaching methods, including interactive learning, project-based e-learning, and animated film creation.
Artificial intelligence for teachers (AI4T) (2021-2024)
By late 2022 and early 2023, a large-scale evaluation of the project began, starting with a pre-test questionnaire for teachers.
Following teacher training sessions in Slovenia (February-March 2023), a post-test questionnaire was administered to participating teachers, along with contextual questionnaires for school leaders and students. This was followed by interviews with teachers and school leaders in June and July 2023. Subsequently, data analysis and several dissemination events took place, including an event that brought together teachers from all participating countries to share their experiences.
At the end of 2023 national evaluation reports were prepared in all participating countries, as well as an international report.
BlendVET/KIPSI (2021-2024)
A national conference held in May 2023 in Trbovlje brought together 115 participants, focusing on digital transformation in education. During the event, the results achieved so far were presented, providing insights into Slovenia's digital transformation strategy and the enhancement of digital competencies in education.
Participants had the opportunity to explore and interact with a range of modern teaching equipment, including motion sensor suits, virtual reality goggles, robotic controls, and industrial robotic arms.
A key highlight of the conference was the roundtable discussion, which focused on developing a pedagogical approach that integrates digital learning technologies systematically into VET teaching.
Digital and sustainable teacher (2023-2026)
The project organised an international conference held from 23 to 24 October 2023, attended by over a thousand teachers and headmasters from all levels of education in Slovenia. The conference aimed to enhance digital competencies and explore key concepts in computing, sustainability, and financial literacy. Its diverse programme included lectures, workshops, and a roundtable discussion.
Over the two-day event, participants attended 11 lectures, 14 workshops, and engaged with a knowledge marketplace, an interactive event featuring booths and stands where stakeholders exchange good practices and showcase successful examples from the field of vocational education and training). Both national and international lecturers shared their knowledge with the participants. The conference concluded with a round table on an integrated approach to the digital and green transition in education.
In November and December 2023, the project organised four teacher trainings through the Academic and research network of Slovenia (Arnes). Using a digital learning platform provided by Arnes, online classrooms were offered to teachers on topics like ,My digital identity, ,Safe use of internet and devices, and ,Interactive content H5P.
Artificial intelligence for teachers (AI4T)
In 2024, all project results and deliverables were finalised. The final conference in Luxembourg in January brought together educators, policymakers, and researchers from across Europe to discuss the project's achievements and explore AI's role in education. The event highlighted key findings from the project and showcased practical AI applications that can enhance teaching and learning. In 2024, updated resources were published, including the AI4T MOOC and an expanded Open Textbook, both adapted to address new AI tools like generative AI. These resources, available in multiple languages, were designed to improve teachers' knowledge of AI and inform policymakers.
At the end of 2023 and early 2024, policy recommendations for the sustainable and ethical use of AI in education were published, along with national and international evaluation reports. The project deliverables demonstrate a clear commitment to empowering educators, addressing ethical, practical, and pedagogical considerations for integrating AI in education. In this regard, the project results align with the European AI Act, supporting the safe and responsible use of AI in educational contexts.
Blendvet/KIPSI
In March 2024, the hybrid final conference of the KIPSI project entitled ,Innovative, blended, successful, was organised ;in Ljubljana with 171 participants. It was intended for head teachers, school managers, and, of course teachers in vocational educational programmes, as well as other interested participants.
The participants were informed about the results of the project, focusing on innovations in blended learning for VET. The conference featured plenary sessions and workshops, allowing participants to share knowledge and best practices to enhance teaching and learning in the field.
Digital and sustainable teacher
In spring 2024, teachers training sessions continued, covering topics such as personalised learning, ICT in education, learning through play, project-based e-learning, animated film creation, geometric visualization on digital devices, and climate change awareness.
During the first half of the four-year project, over 15 000 educators, teachers, and lecturers from 410 educational institutions participated. The focus was on training multipliers, who acquired new competencies and transferred them to their colleagues.
At the end of October 2024, a second international conference, The Big Bang of AI and Its Effect on Education, Sustainable Development, and Financial Literacy: Where Are We Today and How Do We Move Forward?, gathered over 400 participants. National and international experts discussed AI's role in education, sustainability, finance, and daily life.
A parallel programme featured presentations of best practices and workshops on topics such as digital leadership for head teachers, dynamic geometry applications, and sustainable food production in the context of climate change.
Bodies responsible
- Ministry of Education
- Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training (CPI)
Target groups
Education professionals
- Teachers
- Trainers
- School leaders
Entities providing VET
- VET providers (all kinds)
Thematic categories
Modernising VET offer and delivery
This thematic category looks at what and how individuals learn, how learning content and learning outcomes in initial and continuing VET are defined, adapted and updated. First and foremost, it examines how VET standards, curricula, programmes and training courses are updated and modernised or new ones created. Updated and renewed VET content ensures that learners acquire a balanced mix of competences that address modern demands, and are more closely aligned with the realities of the labour market, including key competences, digital competences and skills for green transition and sustainability, both sector-specific and across sectors. Using learning outcomes as a basis is important to facilitate this modernisation, including modularisation of VET programmes. Updating and developing teaching and learning materials to support the above is also part of the category.
The thematic category continues to focus on strengthening high-quality and inclusive apprenticeships and work-based learning in real-life work environments and in line with the European framework for quality and effective apprenticeships. It looks at expanding apprenticeship to continuing vocational training and at developing VET programmes at EQF levels 5-8 for better permeability and lifelong learning and to support the need for higher vocational skills.
This thematic category also focuses on VET delivery through a mix of open, digital and participative learning environments, including workplaces conducive to learning, which are flexible, more adaptable to the ways individuals learn, and provide more access and outreach to various groups of learners, diversifying modes of learning and exploiting the potential of digital learning solutions and blended learning to complement face-to-face learning.
Centres of vocational excellence that connect VET to innovation and skill ecosystems and facilitate stronger cooperation with business and research also fall into this category.
This thematic sub-category is about the way learners learn, how the learning is delivered to them, and by what means. Programmes become more accessible through a combination of adaptable and flexible formats (e.g. face-to-face, digital and/or blended learning), through digital learning platforms that allow better outreach, especially for vulnerable groups and for learners in geographically remote or rural areas.
Teachers, trainers and school leaders competences
Competent and motivated VET teachers in schools and trainers in companies are crucial to VET becoming innovative and relevant, agile, resilient, flexible, inclusive and lifelong.
This thematic category comprises policies and practices of initial training and continuing professional development approaches in a systemic and systematic manner. It also looks at measures aiming to update (entry) requirements and make teaching and training careers attractive and bring more young and talented individuals and business professionals into teaching and training. Supporting VET educators by equipping them with adequate competences, skills and tools for the green transition and digital teaching and learning are addressed in separate thematic sub-categories.
The measures in this category target teachers and school leaders, company trainers and mentors, adult educators and guidance practitioners.
This thematic sub-category is in line with the EU policy focus on the green transition and sustainability, and refers to professional development and other measures to prepare and support teachers and trainers in raising learners’ awareness of the green transition and sustainable development, and teaching and training them on skills necessary for the green transition. It also covers the development and availability of tools and resources on sustainability and green transition for teachers and trainers.
This thematic sub-category is in line with the EU policy focus on the digital transition, and refers to professional development and other measures to prepare and support teachers and trainers in teaching their learners digital skills and competences. It also covers measures and support for them to increase their own digital skills and competences, including for teaching in virtual environments, working with digital tools and applying digital pedagogies. Emergency measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic also fall into this sub-category.
European priorities in VET
VET Recommendation
- Flexibility and progression opportunities at the core of VET
- VET as an attractive choice based on modern and digitalised provision of training and skills
Osnabrück Declaration
- Establishing a new lifelong learning culture - relevance of continuing VET and digitalisation
Subsystem
Further reading
Country
Type of development
Cedefop, & ReferNet. (2025). Developing Teacher Competencies through Digital and Blended Learning Initiatives: Slovenia. 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/48409