Europe faces significant demographic shifts, while rapid digitalisation and the green transition are reshaping industries and societies, creating both challenges and opportunities in the labour market. To ensure a resilient and competitive economy, the European Union (EU) must invest in equipping its workforce with future-proof skills. At the heart of this transformation are vocational education and training (VET) teachers, who play a pivotal role in preparing students for the jobs of tomorrow.
To meet evolving industry demands, VET teachers themselves must continuously upskill and adapt to new teaching methods and technologies. Ensuring access to high-quality continuing professional development (CPD) is not only crucial for educators but also for the success of their students and the broader socio-economic fabric of Europe.
While the importance of CPD is widely acknowledged, there remains limited comparable evidence across the EU regarding its effectiveness, key drivers, and challenges. To bridge this gap, Cedefop has launched the European Vocational Teacher Survey (EVTS), a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide insights into the opportunities, experiences, and barriers shaping VET teachers' CPD. Beyond enhancing teaching skills, CPD fosters inclusive learning environments where all students, regardless of background, can thrive.
Supporting VET teachers – supporting the future workforce
VET teachers ensure the quality and relevance of vocational education. Recognising their strategic role, EU policies emphasize the need for continuous professional growth and improved working conditions. The Osnabrück Declaration highlights the empowerment of VET teachers as a key pillar of European education and training systems, promoting lifelong learning and innovation. Similarly, the Council Recommendation on Pathways to School Success underscores the importance of strong teacher support to enhance inclusion in education and reduce early school leaving.
For decades, Cedefop has been at the forefront of VET teacher development, conducting research, fostering peer learning, and providing interactive toolkits. Collaborating closely with national and EU stakeholders, Cedefop examines CPD governance across 27 EU Member States, plus Iceland and Norway, mapping national policies and approaches to initial and ongoing professional development. Its research delves into the evolving role of VET teachers, the challenges they face, and the support they require, particularly in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the refugee influx resulting from the war in Ukraine.
From the classroom up: amplifying the voices of European VET teachers
The EVTS aims to deepen the understanding of how VET teachers develop professionally and how their working conditions can be improved. By collecting detailed and comparable data across the EU, the survey will help shape national and European policies, that enhance CPD opportunities, address teacher shortages, and make VET teaching a more attractive career path.
Key insights to be generated by the EVTS:
- participation rates of VET teachers in different CPD activities;
- factors that support and hinder their engagement in CPD;
- variations in CPD participation based on individual, teaching, and school-related factors;
- the impact of CPD on VET teachers' skills, teaching performance, and overall well-being.
The survey will be conducted from October 2025 to June 2026, with initial findings expected in 2027. It will target a representative sample of 14,000 teachers working in ISCED level 3 initial VET schools across 23 European countries. To support the planning and implementation of the EVTS, Cedefop has established an EVTS stakeholder group, composed of representatives from national authorities in participating EU Member States, members of the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), and the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE).
By amplifying the voices of VET teachers, the EVTS will contribute to stronger policies and enhanced professional development opportunities. This initiative will ultimately drive positive change in vocational education, ensuring that Europe’s workforce remains skilled, adaptable, and inclusive in the face of future challenges.