Just published! Outcomes of the Riga cycle 2015 - 2020

This joint Cedefop and ETF report "Enhancing European cooperation in VET: Outcomes of the Riga cycle. Progress in common priorities for 2015-20" shows that considerable progress has been made in the candidate countries, as well as EU member states, on the Riga mid-term deliverables since 2015 in the priority areas for VET: work-based learning, quality assurance, access to VET and qualifications, key competences, and teacher development.

Individual reports by ETF for each of the candidate countries Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey are also available on our website.

In the joint report Cedefop and ETF have overseen the monitoring and analysis of how national VET poli­cies have incorporated the Riga recommendations. The report flags common trends across countries and aims to support their co­operation towards a common ambition for VET. Despite differences across countries, VET systems have moved forward so that VET can be a credible first choice. 

Taking stock of changes, analysing what has worked and what needs to be im­proved, is an important piece of evidence to help shape the way forward for the new cycle of EU cooperation in VET and related priorities for the post-2020 period.

Key points to emerge include:

• Steps have been taken to develop and expand apprenticeship and dual systems, systematise school-business cooperation, and establish wide-scale graduate tracking and training needs anticipation.

• The retraining of individuals has grown, especially those from a growing number of vulnerable communities, and awareness of the need to develop key competences has been raised. Considerable attention is now given to teaching in vocational education and training within efforts to boost the attractiveness of VET and strengthen teacher and trainer professional development.

• Overall, the findings show that the progress achieved towards reaching the medium term-deliverables has reinforced the 2020 vision for VET.

• The ETF’s information and reflections on freeing VET from many restrictions in its partner countries provides input to the international dimen­sion of future EU policies and the framework of cooperation for the period after 2020.

Background

Within the EU’s Education and Training 2020 Strategy, VET is recognised as a vital component of education and training, employment, and social policies, promoting economic growth, social cohesion and personal development. Initiated by Copenhagen Process (2002), and followed by the EU’s Bruges Communiqué (2010), the Riga Conclusions (2015) led to the commitment of the candidate countries to implement the Riga five mid-term deliverables by 2020 in the field of VET.