On 7 and 8 June, the European Commission took a step towards bringing policy makers and the business community closer together: it organised the first European business forum on vocational training. The forum, dedicated to "challenges and trends in skills and career development of the European workforce", was focused on companies' approaches to skills development of both adult workers and young people.
Speaking on the implications for policy making, Cedefop’s Acting Director Christian Lettmayr stressed that vocational education is now more likely to lead to employment than general education. Citing the popularity of Europass, the passing of ECVET into the national implementation phase, and the inclusion of EQF levels in all diplomas as of next year, he pointed out that the common European tools for vocational training, which Cedefop has helped to develop, are fast becoming part of the employment and training landscape.
The Forum is intended to be a recurring event where executives responsible for strategic HR in European enterprises meet with national and European policy makers to exchange ideas on the challenges of skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The proceedings of the Forum will help shape European policy-making.