Changing nature and role of vocational education and training (VET) in Europe

The project work is divided into six separate but interlinked themes:

Starting point for the project

Vocationally oriented education and training in Europe is changing. While traditionally associated with education and training at upper secondary level, VET is currently expanding and diversifying. In many countries, vocationally oriented education and training is being delivered by institutions outside the traditional VET sector, such as higher-level institutions (EQF 5 and above), companies and sectors. Operating at both national and international levels, todays’ VET is increasingly addressing the challenges of lifelong learning.   

Aim of the project

The project attempts to take one step back and gain a deeper understanding of the VET system itself, its characteristics and dynamics, and its relationship to other education and training sectors. It aims to shed light into existing differences across Europe (EU + Norway and Iceland) and improve our understanding of change and developments over the past two decades. The project findings feed into the ongoing debate on European VET cooperation strategies post 2020.

How Cedefop supports the project

Cedefop has organised events on the topic of the changing role of VET, allowing policy-makers and practitioners to compare practices and exchange experiences.

• 2015: Cedefop organised the workshop: ‘The changing nature and role of VET in Europe’ to kick off the project.
• 2017: Cedefop organised the workshop: ‘VET in the 21st century – New pressures and changing expectations’
• 2018: A workshop on future trends and priorities was organised in February and a scenario workshop took place in Vienna (Austrian presidency) on 11 July 2018. A  VET conference in cooperation with the European Commission and the Austrian Presidency was organized  in Vienna, Austria, on 7 and 8 November 2018. The event was linked to the European vocational skills week 2018 of which Cedefop was a partner.

Related projects

The project’s work builds on, and contributes to, previous and ongoing Cedefop work. You will find more information on related projects in the links below:

• Opinion survey on vocational education and training in Europe
• Cedefop conference on the impact of globalisation on VET
• Forecasting skill demand and supply
• Apprenticeships in work-based learning e.g. 'comparative overview of apprenticeship schemes'

Related documents

Presentations

• Vocational education and training in Europe: taking stock and looking ahead - Jens Bjørnåvold, Jörg Markowitsch, Anastasia Pouliou (November 2018)
• The changing role and nature of VET in Europe - Anastasia Pouliou (October 2018)
• The changing role and nature of VET in Europe - Jens Bjørnåvold (July 2018)
• The changing role and nature of VET in Europe: overview and findings from ongoing Cedefop research (ppt with audio) - Anastasia Pouliou (June 2018)
• How do vocational education and training systems respond to change? Initial findings from Cedefop project on the changing role of VET - Jens Bjørnåvold (December 2017)
• Changing jobs work and skills - Konstantinos Pouliakas and Jiri Branka (December 2017)
• Technology Innovation, New Professional Qualifications: the role of EU policies and tools – Loukas Zahilas (November 2017)
• Changing role of VET – Anastasia Pouliou (November 2017)
• The future of VET: 2018 onwards (MP3 Duration: 16:17) - Loukas Zahilas (November 2017)

Notes

• The changing nature and role of European VET: common challenges and their responses  (ACVT Note December 2017)
• The Changing role and nature of VET in Europe: Findings from ongoing Cedefop research (DGVT October 2017)
• The changing nature and role of European VET – implications for European policy cooperation post 2020 (DGVT Note May 2017)

Articles

• VET: from past to future - Loukas Zahilas and Jens Bjørnåvold (Cedefop SkillSetMatch January 2018)
• The European vocational skills week 2018 - addressing the future of VET - Jens Bjørnåvold and Anastasia Pouliou (ECVET Magazine n 33 December 2018 p.4-5)