IVET can support technological innovation by providing relevant skills.
At medium level of education, IVET produces graduates in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) which are of considerable importance to technological activities and progress across the EU.
The indicator below is defined as the number of graduates from upper secondary vocational education (ISCED 3) who successfully completed their studies in STEM subjects, expressed as a percentage of all graduates from upper secondary vocational education. EU averages are estimated from available country data.
Figure 20: STEM graduates from upper secondary IVET (% of total)
Source: Cedefop calculations based on Eurostat data/UOE data collection on education.
Key points
It is estimated that, on average across the EU, 30.8% of graduates from upper secondary VET obtained a qualification in STEM subjects in 2015. The highest share was found in Cyprus (57.6%). Romania, Bulgaria, and Malta also report percentages above 40%. Spain and Finland had the lowest shares (below 25%).
Among the two non-EU countries for which data are available, Norway (at 34.3%) had a percentage of upper secondary VET graduates in STEM subjects above the EU average, while the share in Switzerland (at 25.4%) was lower than the EU average.
Table 20: STEM graduates from upper secondary IVET (% of total)
Arrows ↗ or ↘ signal a positive or negative trend based on more than two data points and of magnitude 0.1 per year or more. Trends based on more than two data points but of smaller magnitude are indicated by →; trends based on two points only are marked ▪. Trends are estimated by means of regression models.
The UOE back reconstruction of the 2010 values based on ISCED 2011 is not yet available.
The EU28 values are based on 25 countries (missing: IT, HR, UK).
(b) Break after 2010. Therefore baseline data not included. (u) Eurostat: "low reliability". (z) Eurostat: "not applicable". (e) Eurostat: "estimated".
Source: Cedefop calculations based on Eurostat data/UOE data collection on education.
Data insights details
