Our online programme will allow you to explore major policy updates and delve into many relevant topics for the VET WEEK 2022.
14:00 — 14:20
Plenary
Andriana Sukova, Deputy Director-General - Funds, Fair Transition and Analysis, DG EMPL, European Commission
14:20 — 15:30
Introduction: Chiara Riondino, Head of Unit, European Commission
Panel discussion
Moderator: Juergen Siebel, Cedefop
This session offers an opportunity to reflect on Member States steps to implement actions to support VET reforms at national level. These national-level reforms, which impact all aspects of both initial and continuing VET are essential to delivering the EU vision for VET and enabling its role to support competitiveness, social fairness and resilience.
This year’s European Vocational Skills Week occurs in the midst of turmoil and change and places a new, more urgent emphasis on the work and role of Vocational Education and Training (VET). National VET systems and labour markets are still reacting to the impact of the pandemic, as well as the new and emerging demands and opportunities of the digital and green transitions. The people of Ukraine, however, are at the forefront of our minds as we seek to act to protect and support people whose lives and livelihoods have been so cruelly disrupted.
The EU has continually worked to support Member States in their reforms by facilitating coordination and encouraging cooperation between Member States in the area of VET while fully respecting the responsibility of Member States. Work at EU level is guided by the Council Recommendation on VET for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience which defines key principles to ensure VET provides quality learning opportunities for young people and adults. The Recommendation places a strong focus on increased flexibility, reinforced opportunities for work-based learning and apprenticeships, excellence and improved quality assurance. VET reforms are further underpinned by the Osnabrück Declaration, which sets out a commitment to work towards various actions based on the VET Recommendation by 2025, and was endorsed by Ministers in charge of VET in the EU27, European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association and candidate countries, European social partners and the European Commission. EU VET providers’ associations and learners’ representatives have also supported the Declaration.
The commitment and ambition is clear. During this session we will learn what is being done with presentations on national implementation plans for VET reform in a number of countries.Speakers will also present insights on lessons learned from the COVID pandemic and discuss how we can effectively manage the integration of Ukrainian people in VET.
15:30 — 15:45
15:45 — 17:00
Introduction: Georgios Zisimos, Head of Unit, European Training Foundation
CoVE testimonials
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Joao Santos, Senior expert, European Commission
Georgios Zisimos, the Head of Unit at the European Training Foundation (ETF), will introduce this session with a keynote on the work being done by the ETF to develop the international dimension of Vocational Excellence.
The session will continue with the testimonials of two Centres of Vocational Excellence projects, bringing a more practical perspective on the relevance of the initiative for VET internationalization.
The testimonials will be followed by a panel discussion including representatives from the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics, UNESCO-UNEVOC, the Associations of VET Providers, and the Community of Practice on Centres of Vocational Excellence, as well as a representative from Worldskills Europe.
Internationalisation of vocational education and training (VET) is a strategic orientation included in Art 166.3 of the EU Treaty
"The Union and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of vocational training".
The 2020 Council Recommendation on VET and the Osnabrück Declaration, have set ambitious objectives and called on member states and the European Commission to strengthen the international dimension of VET.
VET internationalisation has been pursued through various strands of EU work including the mobility of learners and staff with Erasmus+ support, through cooperation with international organisations such as the OECD, ILO, UNESCO-UNEVOC, and Worldskills, through cooperation with associations of EU and International VET providers including the WFCP and IVETA, through the work of the European Training Foundation in 29 partner countries, as well as through development aid provided by the European Commission and the member states, making the EU by far the largest world donor of development aid in the field of VET.
The recent initiative on Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) supported by the Erasmus+ programme, has brought a new impetus to VET internationalisation by mobilising organisations throughout the world to establish international collaborative networks with the aim of creating local skills ecosystems for innovation, regional development, and social inclusion. These networks have a global outlook learning from best practices all over the world, and then adapting those experiences to local realities by adopting a bottom-up approach to vocational excellence involving a wide range of local stakeholders enabling VET institutions to rapidly adapt skills provision to evolving economic and social needs.
17:00 — 17:15
17:15 — 18:00
Presentation of the nominees and winners
10:30 — 11:00
11:00 — 12:15
Introduction and moderation: Ana Carrero, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission
Inspirational testimonial: Lukas Kohl, WorldSkills Champion
Speakers, representing youth organisations and VET learners, will discuss the role of young people in innovation and accelerating the green transition through VET, and how VET can empower young people to develop the skills and mind-sets they need to manage their careers in the context of the green transition. The session will also offer an opportunity for apprentices to describe their most pressing concerns in the context of the green transition and how sustainability has been integrated in their VET learning experience.
The European Vocational Skills Week coincides in 2022 with the European Year of Youth. No reflection about VET, or the future of VET, can occur without considering the aspirations, views, and concerns of the young people. Europe needs their vision, engagement and participation to build a greener, more sustainable and inclusive future. Young people must be empowered to shape their future and VET offers the skills, opportunities and resilience to build that future. With the European Year of Youth, the Commission intends, in cooperation with the European Parliament, Member States, and young people, to: honour and support the generation that has sacrificed the most during the pandemic; to encourage all young people to become active citizens and actors of positive change; and, to promote opportunities through EU policies for the personal, social and professional development of young people. The European Year of Youth will draw inspiration from the actions, vision and insights of young people to further strengthen and invigorate the common EU project, building upon the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Young people have been an outspoken advocate for a greener, more sustainable way of life and work. Active and vocal VET learners can act as agents of change by questioning existing, environmentally harmful production methods while at the same time proposing new, innovative approaches to develop and to support a sustainable and resource-efficient economy.
12:15 — 14:30
14:30 — 15:45
Introduction: Manuela Geleng, Director for Skills, European Commission
Panel discussion:
Moderator: Jan Varchola, Team leader, European Commission
During this session, representatives from employer groups, trade unions, chambers of commerce and VET providers will discuss what can be done practically to develop the skills needed for the green transition through VET and how we can build skills ecosystems that can viably respond to the needs of the green transition.
The green transition is changing the nature of industry and work leading to new and urgent shifts in skills demands. To fully capture the potential of the transition requires that people have the necessary skills to thrive and manage their careers in the face of a ‘greener’ labour market. The role of skills in the green transition is highlighted in the Commission Communication The EU Green Deal, and within the actions of the European Skills Agenda, which sets out the Commission’s plans to develop useful tools to identify the skills needed for the green transition, and encourage investments through unprecedented levels of available EU funding, channelled through ESF+, RRF or Erasmus+, among others.
Vocational education and training (VET) by its nature is intertwined with the shifts and demands in the labour market and must play a crucial role in equipping learners with the skills they need to be resilient and employable in the context of the green transition. The 2020 Council Recommendation on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience highlights how VET can empower both learners in initial vocational education and training as well as the workforce who need to adapt, upskill and reskill to a green and clean economy. This role can only be enabled by including VET in economic, industrial and innovation strategies linked to the green transition with active involvement of employers, trade unions, chambers of commerce and VET providers.
15:45 — 16:15
Followed by a performance of VET learners
