In 2024, the Ministry of Education and Research launched a call for introducing innovative programmes in VET. In response, VET providers submitted an unexpectedly large number of ambitious proposals aimed at meeting the changing needs of the labour market and equipping learners with skills in emerging industries, focusing on smart technology, digitalisation, sustainability, and collaboration with industry experts.
Notable programme proposals included ’Construction and maintenance of smart house technical systems’, ’Industry 5.0 digital technician’ and ’Autonomous vehicle technologies specialist’. These and other programmes will ensure that learners acquire practical, in-demand skills, while also improving their general competences, including 21st century skills. All proposals received feedback from the ministry, including content refinement suggestions for the ones approved.
In addition, VET providers started revising the existing VET programmes to incorporate technological competences and interdisciplinary approaches, and to accommodate the extension of compulsory education age to 18 – to be completed by 2025/26 – aiming at increasing the relevance and attractiveness of VET for basic school graduates.
The updated curricula will offer greater flexibility, allowing learners to specialise in areas aligned with labour market needs and their own interests. The updates will also contribute to raising the education and training level of the population and strengthen Estonia's workforce for the future.
The call is jointly financed by the government and the European Social Fund. It focuses of developing quality programmes and materials, and improving the digital and engineering programmes in VET and higher education.
| Please cite this news item as: ReferNet Estonia, & Cedefop (2024, October 29). Estonia: call for innovative VET curricula to meet future workforce needs. National news on VET. |