Briefing note Continuity, consolidation and change

Some 32 countries are busy introducing reforms to improve vocational education and training (VET). They have also made significant progress in developing European tools and principles. These will make it easier to compare qualifications throughout Europe, to set up systems of lifelong guidance and to validate informal and non-formal learning.

But VET reform is far from complete. At Cedefops Agora conference on 16-17 March 2009, policymakers debated whether the current economic crisis will undermine reform or in fact provide a greater incentive to continue work, consolidate progress and change not only what we learn, but also how we learn.