Cedefop’s work and the future of vocational education and training (VET) were presented at a conference organised by the Research Institute of the General Confederation of Greek Workers (KANEP/GSEE) in Athens on 26 September.

The conference discussed ‘technical vocational education and training: alliance for education, work, development and social cohesion’.

Cedefop Head of Department for VET Systems and Institutions Loukas Zahilas outlined the agency’s priorities for the period to 2020 and presented early research findings on the changing nature and role of VET.

Mr Zahilas stressed: 'Technological change, ageing population, climate change, globalisation, migration, work organisation and its content, changes in the labour market, all have an impact on how VET will be perceived, designed and organised in the future. The design of VET programmes and qualifications should allow young and adult learners to engage in a variety of connecting pathways to develop skills, to have them recognised and obtain qualifications referenced to European levels and open to progression.'

The event took place in the Acropolis Museum and participants included Greek Deputy Minister of Education Dimitrios Baxevanakis, GSEE President Yiannis Panagopoulos, GSEVEE (SMEs) President George Kavathas, and many members of the Greek Parliament. International participation featured representatives of the Aarhus Tech School in Denmark and the Ahrweiler Vocational Education and Training Centre in Germany.