Macro-efficiency in VET

The act came into force in 2015 and is in the implementation phase. The VET sector is still developing methods to implement the act in practice. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science evaluated its implementation in 2019 and retains the competence to deprive VET colleges of rights if the implementation by VET colleges is unsatisfactory.

The 2019 evaluation of the law on macro-efficiency shows that the impact of the act, particularly for increased regulation of surplus education and student flows, was limited at first, but is now underway.

On 20 June 2019, SBB published the effects of applying the new efficiency method; at the request of the Minister for Education, SBB had applied the method to four popular VET qualifications: artists, desk-top publishing (DTP)/media making, fashion and media design. One of the main conclusions of SBB was that influx reducing measures needed to be taken for these qualifications.

The measure is operational and runs as a regular practice.

The measure is operational. In 2021, the Commission on Macro efficiency MBO published advice on economic and administrative qualifications, due to concerns about their labour market value. Especially at EQF level 2, the labour market value of qualifications is limited. Yet, at higher levels, the qualifications provide better access to the labour market. These qualifications are often used by students for orientation and upskilling, especially by those students who have not yet developed a clear view on the educational and occupational path they want to follow. Therefore, the Minister for Education concludes that, although labour market relevance at lower levels is limited, in all regions these qualifications should remain available.

In 2022, the Commission on Macro efficiency MBO published a new advice on economic and administrative qualifications. This advice includes a preliminary outline of an ideal-typical way to shape education, in order to strengthen equity of opportunity.

Also in 2022, a taskforce called Educating with Opportunities, (Kansrijk Opleiden), was appointed. On behalf of the Cooperation organisation for VET and the labour market (SBB), this taskforce formulated a course of action on macro-efficiency in VET and the labour market. This taskforce identified 5 central points that are needed to face challenges regarding macro-efficiency:

1. offering an entirely practice based ,continuing pathway, from pre-vocational secondary education to higher professional education, as an equivalent route alongside the theoretical route
2. strengthening information and orientation before and during studies, and adjusting of regulations that hinder this,
3. promoting cooperation between schools as well as between schools and companies to continue promising education and better fulfil the duty of care that educational institutions have,
4. reinforcing the use of VET infrastructure that is already in place and
5. further improving of regional cooperation, especially in the field of lifelong learning, to make the existing cooperation more fruitful.

The taskforce developed a four-point approach to address the challenges in education and the labour market:

1. Atlas on educating with opportunities: a comprehensive resource containing facts, figures, research, trends, and developments.
2. long-term agendas: created by sector chambers to outline strategic goals and actions.
3. binding agreements: commitments specifying what each stakeholder contributes based on their roles and capabilities.
4. arbitration mechanism: a process to intervene if stakeholders fail to reach agreements on sectoral commitments or do not fulfil them.

The Board of the Cooperation Organisation for VET and the Labour Market (Samenwerkingsorganisatie Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven, SBB) is tasked with translating the taskforce's advice into concrete actions. The Atlas VET and labour market has already been published, providing essential insights. Additionally, three pilots are underway in sector chambers to develop and implement long-term agendas.

The representatives of the labour market in the board of the Cooperation organisation for VET and the labour market (SBB) informed the minister of their decision to withdraw from the Educating with Opportunities project. They cited the inability to establish cooperative and binding agreements within the SBB board as the primary reason for this decision.

The representatives of VET within the SBB expressed regret over their labour market partners' decision and reaffirmed their willingness to continue the project collaboratively. However, both parties ultimately agreed to end their joint efforts on the initiative. The minister is now assessing the consequences of this decision and discussing the next steps.

Given the decline in enrolments and student numbers, the minister has requested the regions most affected by this trend to develop plans to address the issue. From 2025 to 2027, these regions will receive EUR 90 million to safeguard the quality and availability of VET. The funding can be utilised to improve coordination among VET colleges, strengthen their regional presence, or facilitate mergers with other institutions.