Update on
the European VET policy context
NRP meeting - EQAVET
Sophie Weisswange
Brussels, 16/11/2007
 Bruges review of Copenhagen process
 Europe 2020 – Implementation of the flagship
initiatives
– Youth on the Move
– New skills for jobs
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Bruges review
Roadmap
 19 November 2010: adoption of the Council Conclusions
by the Education Ministers of 27 EU Member States
 5 December 2010 (5 pm): DGVT meeting on Draft
Communiqué
 [6 December 2010: Bruges Conference on Quality
Assurance]
 7 December 2010: Informal Council of Ministers –
adoption of the Bruges Communiqué by 33 EU countries
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Sources for the Bruges Communiqué
(and Council Conclusions)
 New strategy “Europe 2020”
(including quantitative headline targets)
 Framework “Education and Training 2020”
(see titles of the strategic objectives)
 Cedefop findings and stock-taking report
(answers to the questionnaire)
 Commission Communication on VET
(June 2010)
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Copenhagen process Priorities
As mentioned in the Declaration (2002):
- European dimension: to facilitate mobility and to
raise the profile of European VET
- Transparency, information and guidance
- Quality assurance
- Recognition of competences and qualifications:
comparability and transferability, validation of
non-formal and informal learning, reference
levels
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Vision on VET in 2020
In 2020 VET should be more:
 Attractive: relevant to the labour market, opening
doors to progression routes in E & T, quality
assured, with qualified T & T
 Accessible and flexible: career-oriented;
permeability between subsystems of E&T
 Inclusive: also for high potentials &
disadvantaged; supported by LLL guidance
 Supporting internationalisation of the economy
and transnational mobility
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1. Enhance attractiveness,
quality and relevance of VET
 Making initial VET an attractive learning option (of the same
value as general education): quality of T&T, relevant vocational
competences, key competences, career management skills, up-todate equipment, work-based learning in all IVET, monitoring
transitions to work
 Fostering quality and excellence: implementation of EQAVET,
national frameworks for QA in VET compatible to EQAVET, quality of
VET professionals (teachers, trainers, etc.)
 Partnerships needed with social partners, other E&T institutions,
other stakeholders…
 Enhancing labour market relevance: better matching of VET
curricula to labour market needs – work-based learning /
apprenticeships
 Progression routes / permeability between I-VET and C-VET, to
HE or school education – dialogue / European tools
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2. Making LLL and mobility
a reality
 Actively promote C-VET for up-dating and up-skilling
of the workforce
 Easy access to VET; flexible pathways = careeroriented and equally accessible to women and men
 National procedures for validation of non-formal and
informal learning; making easy access to E&T or work
 Comprehensive NQFs supporting permeability
between VET and HE; VET on higher EQF levels
 Better integrated lifelong guidance and counselling:
cooperation between actors / information exchange
 Boost mobility in VET: EU mobility programmes and
European tools (EQF, ECVET, Europass)
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3. Enhance creativity, innovation
and entrepreneurship
 Stimulate contacts and partnerships between
VET institutions and innovative enterprises,
design centres, research centres
 More attention for creativity, innovation and
entrepreneurship in VET content and learning
methods
 The use of innovative learning methods and
ICT tools for motivating learners and to prevent
early school leaving in initial VET
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4. Promoting equity, social
cohesion and active citizenship
 More attention for key competences in VET
 “All young people should be qualified” – maximise
the contribution of VET to reducing the number of early
school leavers (see 10% head target in “Europe 2020”)
 Increased participation of low-skilled adults in C-VET
(cooperation with adult learning, flexible pathways)
 “No dead ends in VET” - progression routes from VET –
the role of comprehensive NQF's
 Non discrimination: extra support for disadvantaged
people
 Promote active citizenship in VET
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5. Transversal objectives
 Greater involvement of stakeholders
(e.g. social partners, VET-providers)
 Wider and coherent communication
Indicating the added value of European tools
 Coordinated use and governance of the tools;
synergy with instruments of the Bologna process
 Cooperation between different policy domains:
Employment, Welfare, Youth, Culture … (see Integrated
Guidelines)
 Comparable data on VET for evidence-based EU
policy making
 Make use of EU funds (ESF, LLP …)
+ “EU Governance”: more coordination, please
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EQAVET
Strategic objectives for 2011-2020
 MS should establish quality assurance frameworks in
accordance with EQAVET recommendation
 MS should - by the end of 2015 – establish at national
level a common quality assurance framework for VET
providers
– Which also applies to workplace learning
– Which is compatible with the EQAVET framework
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EQAVET
Short-term deliverables for 2011-2014
 Actions at national level
– Take adequate measures to implement the EQAVET
Recommendation and make progress towards
national quality assurance frameworks for VET
 Support at EU level
– Guidance and technical support for EQAVET
implementation
– Review the implementation of EQAVET in 2013
– Thematic networking of QA projects with LDV
programme
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EU 2020
 5 headlines targets
– R&D
– Employment
– Environment
– Education and training (ESL – HE or equival)
– Social inclusions
 7 flagships inititiatives
– In the field of E&T: YoM + NSNJ
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Youth on the Move
Framework strategy with four action lines:
1. “Modern education and training systems”: actions
to improve schools, VET, recognition of non-formal/informal
learning etc.
2. “Higher education”: specific actions to make higher
education more attractive / effective
3. “Learning and employment mobility”: actions to
promote training + work abroad as a way to gain skills / experience
4. “Youth Employment Framework”: active labour
market policies + reform of labour market rules
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Youth on the Move
Legal texts foreseen
 Copenhagen/Bruges review
 Council recommendation on reducing early school
leavers (2010)
 Council recommendation on the promotion and
validation of non formal and informal learning (2011)
 Council recommendation on promoting the learning
mobility of young people
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Youth on the Move
 Communication on competences supporting lifelong
learning (2011)
 Communication on a new agenda for higher education
(2011)
 Creation of a High level group on literacy
 Quality framework for traineeships
 Publish guidance on the European Court of Justice
rulings on the rights of mobile students (2010)
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Youth on the Move
Other actions Education & training
 5 million young people in Europe should be able
to enrol in apprenticeship training by the end of
2012
 multi-dimensional global university ranking
system
 Propose a multiannual Strategic Innovation
Agenda (2011)
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Youth on the Move
Other actions employment
 Monitor the application of the EU legislation on
freedom of workers
 Create in 2010 a ‘European Vacancy Monitor’
 Establish a systematic monitoring of the situation
of young people not in employment, education
or training (NEETs).
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Youth on the Move
 Propose a European Skills Passport (2011)
 Develop a Youth on the Move card
 Develop a new initiative: ‘Your first EURES job’
 Youth on the Move website for information on
EU learning and mobility opportunities (2010)
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Youth on the Move
Financial support
 Commission will identify the most effective support measures
 Establish, with the support of the PROGRESS programme, a new
Mutual Learning Programme for European Public Employment
Services (2010),
 Encourage the greater use of support to potential young
entrepreneurs via the new European Progress Micro-finance Facility
 Commission will also strengthen bilateral and regional policy
dialogue on youth employment with the EU’s strategic partners and
the European Neighbourhood, and within international fora,
particularly the ILO, OECD and G20.
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Various
 EQF guidance notes
– One on synergy between transparency
instruments
 ECVET thematic networking
 Hungarian presidency
– High level conference on increasing
attractivness of VET
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Various (continued)
 Communication an agenda for new skills for jobs
 Communication on benchmark on mobility and
employability
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