Why are skills important for social inclusion?
To understand just how pertinent the topic of skills is for social inclusion, this month's newsletter includes an article on the main findings from a joint survey on wellbeing within the European Union and ten of its neighbouring countries. Undertaken by the European Foundation for Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) and the ETF, the survey reveals not only the number of challenges faced by societies to address social inclusion, especially for groups including women, youth and vulnerable communities, but also the urgency with which these challenges need to be addressed.
Technological change, the greening of economies, globalisation and demographic factors, including migration and displacement due to environmental hazards and conflict, as well as the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 crisis, have profoundly influenced labour markets and the workplace and the skills people need to work and live. Education and skills development are critical to ensure individuals have access to, and remain engaged in, our fast-evolving workplaces and society.
In January and February of 2023, as the European Year of Skills gets underway, the ETF will focus its communication campaign on the importance of education and skills development for social inclusion with highlights, expert discussions and learning points from the EU’s neighbourhood regions at the various levels where the ETF provides support.
This month's newsletter launches this exploration with an interview of Lida Kita, one of the ETF's most experienced senior experts in vocational excellence, social inclusion, and country liaison. In a separate interview, the ETF's Governing Board Member from Sweden, Malin Mendes, provides insight into the priorities of Sweden on this topic as it assumes the Presidency of the European Union in January 2023.
What is the ETF doing to support skills for social inclusion?
To be effective in building more inclusive societies, policies for education, skills development and employment must be integrated and mutually reinforcing. The ETF's policy advice and activities to support partner countries in the EU's neighbouring regions are therefore targeted at the following multiple levels:
- individual learner – primarily through the Creating New learning programme, the ETF supports the development of learner-centered curriculum approaches for technical, digital, personal, social and civic competence development; the continuous professional development of teachers on issues such as multiculturalism and special needs; and career guidance provision;
- learning institution – the ETF’s Network for Excellence of vocational centres encourages the exchange of best practice to enhance visibility, collaboration and support innovative social inclusion practices;
- business and enterprises – as part of the Skills for Enterprises (S4E) initiative, the ETF works to build employee and business adaptability and resilience through relevant training and skills development that respond to market and societal needs, encouraging high-level training provision, and engagement in supportive networks;
- societal and system-level – provision of policy advice on labour market and employment policies and interventions, and expertise support for skills demand analysis and the inclusion of vulnerable individuals and communities, development and implementation of qualifications systems, and support for monitoring and adaptation of policy measures;
- state level – by promoting good governance, as featured in the ETF’s GLAD network, which includes the participation of public and private sector, social partners, and civil society in decision-making and the strengthening of democratic processes;
- international level – by building partnerships, as in the ETF Skills Lab Network, for international cooperation with multiple partners: international organisations, national authorities, research community, digital platforms, social partners, civil society, youth organisations and many others.
The ETF’s work is devised and delivered in the context of the EU’s policies, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, and the EU's external relations priorities in support of the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, quality education and decent work and economic growth, for prosperous, innovative and inclusive societies.
The ETF supports education, skills development and employment in the EU’s neighbouring regions – Western Balkans and Turkey, Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia - within a lifelong learning context reaching out to the most vulnerable in society. The aim is to establish policies and practices that enhance the role of human capital development in sustainability and social inclusion, emphasising its civic, social, and equity dimensions.