Vocational education on the global stage: the ETF panels

During the European Vocational Skills Week taking place in Helsinki, 14-18 October, the European Training Foundation is taking a leading role in the session on Vocational Excellence within the “Vocational Education and Training for All – Skills for Life” conference on Thursday, 17 October. Discussions will centre on how effective approaches to vocational excellence can respond to current and future skills challenges, and mobilise VET provision modernisation.

The session will build on examples identified in the mapping studies undertaken by the European Commission and the ETF identifying different approaches to vocational excellence. Consideration will also be given to the Commission’s initiative to establish Platforms of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE), providing insight to ensure an effective added value for EU level support, and ways to take the initiative forward.

Six thematic sessions will be held in parallel. Other sessions will focus on; upskilling and reskilling; career guidance and validation; future-oriented policy-making; the changing role of teachers and trainers; and vocational education and training for entrepreneurship.

The subsequent session in the afternoon, “VET in and for the World” will focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, vocational education and training for local development and inclusion, international mobility of learners and staff, international qualifications and standards, and international cooperation on VET Research.

All sessions relate to the ETF’s mandate for supporting vocational education and training in the EU’s neighbouring regions. The ETF’s role in the European Vocational Skills Week is particularly relevant due to this year’s focus on the international dimension of vocational skills in light of the European Union’s role as a global actor.

BACKGROUND

The fourth annual European Vocational Skills Week is taking place in Helsinki on 14-18 of October. It is the biggest showroom of vocational education and training in Europe involving more than 45 countries and featuring more than 1,216 events. This huge celebration is also an opportunity to share good practice on vocational education and training.