Ana Carrero, Deputy Head of Unit, DG EMPL, European Commission, presents European year of skills – EU update at the webinar Charting the Future of Vocational Education and Training: Insights and Strategies for Tomorrow’s Workforce on 26 October 2023

1. EUROPEAN YEAR OF
SKILLS – EU UPDATE
CHARTING THE FUTURE OF VET– 26/10/23
ANA CARRERO, EUROPEAN COMMISSION, DG EMPL

2. Why the European Vocational Skills Week?
• Launched in 2016, it brings together all stakeholders
– companies, VET providers, trainers, teachers and
students, – to showcase the value, potential and
impact of VET.
• It is an occasion to celebrate the very best practices
in Vocational Education and Training (VET), with a
series of events across the EU.
• VET attractiveness
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EUROPEAN VOCATIONAL SKILLS WEEK

3. During the week of 23 October 2023, key events will
be organised, including:
• 23-24 October: Spanish Presidency Conference on recognition of VET qualifications
in Seville, Spain (in-person event)
• 25-26 October: Meeting of the Directors-General in VET in Spain (event for
representatives from the Ministries in charge of VET from 35 countries)
• 24-27 October: VET policy camp – EVBB, in person in Brussels
• 26 October: EQAVET webinar: Creating a quality culture in VET - Trends and
developments in quality assurance for VET providers (online event)
• 26 October: OECD webinar “Education at a glance” on VET (online event)
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EUROPEAN VOCATIONAL SKILLS WEEK

4. over 90% of jobs require
digital skills, however 54%
of the adult population
in Europe has
basic digital skills
77% of
companies
struggled to
find employees
with the required
skills in 2019
38 occupations,
were classified as
shortages in 2022
adult learning
participation rate
remains low,
around 37%
Skills shortages as a challenge and
skilled workforce as an enabler
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EUROPEAN YEAR OF SKILLS: CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

5. Skills forecast: Where will the European
Green Deal create most new jobs
EUROPEAN YEAR OF SKILLS: CONTEXT AND
OBJECTIVES
Water supply
&
Sewerage
Waste
management
Construction Electricity
Source: Cedefop (2021): The green employment and skills transformation - Insights from a
European Green Deal skills forecast scenario

6. Why a European Year of Skills?
To further promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling
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Investment
Increased, more effective and
inclusive investment
Skills relevance
Strengthening skills relevance
by close cooperation
Matching aspirations
Matching people’s aspirations
and skills-set with labour market
opportunities
Attracting third country talent
Attracting people from third countries with
the skills needed
EUROPEAN YEAR OF SKILLS: CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES

7. Key events
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• 9 May:
The European Year of Skills Festival
• 8 - 9 June:
Making Skills Count
• 26-27 June:
• High-level event - apprenticeships
• 25-26 September:
• Forum of Vocational Excellence
• 23 - 27 October:
The VET week
Upcoming:
• 16 - 17 November:
The Employment and Social Rights Forum
• 23 February 2024:
• Meet the Champions event
• 30 April 2024:
A concluding event
WHERE WE ARE

8. Initiatives
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• Commission
Communication on
“Harnessing talent
in regions”
• Green Deal
Industrial Plan
• Proposal for a
Net-Zero
Industry Act
• Proposal for a Council
Recommendation on the enabling
factors for successful digital education
• Proposal for a Council
Recommendation on improving the
provision of digital skills in education
and training
Launch of the pilot for the European
Digital Skills Certificate
• Launch of the Cybersecurity Skills
Academy
Q1
2023 Q2
Q3
Q4
• Proposal for
a Council Recommendation
on a learning
mobility framework
• Talent Pool
• Recommendation
on recognition
of professional qualifications
of third country national
• Work on the 2020 Skills Agenda actions:
Individual Learning Accounts, Pact for Skills, European Alliance for Apprenticeships, Centres of Vocational Excellence and others
EYS PROGRAMME
• Reinforced
Quality Framework for
Traineeships
Q1
2024

9. 2020 Council Recommendation on
VET
9
6 clusters
for action
Agile
Rapidly responding
to labour market needs
Flexible​
Provides progression
opportunities for all​
Driving innovation
Fit for the digital and green
transitions​
Attractive​
Modern and digitalised provision
Inclusive excellence
Opportunities for ALL
Quality assurance
At all levels of provision
THE EU POLICY FRAMEWORK
The share of
employed
graduates from
VET
82%
Recent graduate
exposed to work-
based learning​ 60%
Learners going for
mobility abroad 8%

10. National Implementation Plans –
priorities (1/3)
All countries focus on:​
Equal opportunities and inclusiveness in VET​
Reskilling and upskilling of adults​
Professional development of VET school leaders, teachers and trainers​
Engaging VET stakeholders and strengthening partnerships in VET​
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Link to national implementation plans:
National Implementation Plans -
Employment, Social Affairs &
Inclusion - European Commission
(europa.eu)
THE EU POLICY FRAMEWORK

11. National Implementation
Plans – priorities (2/3)
Around 2/3 of countries focus on:
modernising VET standards, curricula, programmes and
training courses​
diversifying modes of learning in VET (face-to-face,
digital and/or blended learning; adaptable/flexible
training formats)​
strengthening key competences in VET​
integrating digital skills and green competences in VET
curricula and programmes
work-based learning / apprenticeships​
lifelong guidance​
Centres of Vocational Excellence​
THE EU POLICY FRAMEWORK 11

12. National Implementation
Plans – priorities (3/3)
1/2 of Member States focus on:​
Permeability between IVET and CVET and
general and vocational pathways, academic and
professional higher education
Establishing and developing skills intelligence
systems
Further developing national quality assurance
systems
Mobility of learners and staff
Expanding VET programmes to EQF levels 5-8
Learners’ possibilities of accumulation,
validation and recognition of
learning outcomes acquired
non-formally and informally​
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THE EU POLICY FRAMEWORK

13. CoVEs – Centres of Vocational Excellence
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THE EU POLICY FRAMEWORK

14. Thank you for your interest!
We look forward to collaborating with you to make
the European Year of Skills a success!
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Useful link: European Year of Skills webpage
#EuropeanYearOfSkills
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