#EUVocationalSkills kicks-off in Brussels

Vocational education is effective and it’s back with a vengeance! Says Michel Servos, the European Commission’s Director-General for Employment, opening the #EUVocational Skills Week action-packed programme in Brussels. ‘The first Vocational skills week was a big bomb and we are coming to you with a bigger bomb! At the end of the week we are expecting to hit 1500!’

The number was reference to all the events and activities taking place across Europe and beyond as part of the Commission’s initiative, highlighting vocational education as a smart pathway to high-quality jobs. As a key strategic partner, the ETF has been taking it to Europe's neighbourhood, with 35+ events in partner countries Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo*, Serbia, Moldova, Montenegro, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Mr Servos made the comments to the at-capacity crowd of 500+ policymakers, business leaders, vocational students, educators and thinkers gathered to discuss the future of vocational education.

Future-proofing #skills

The fast-changing world of work, labour mobility, sector skills, apprenticeship and digitalisation were among the topics discussed on Day 1. With 65% of children expected to work in jobs that don’t exist yet, the future of technical and soft skills was a hot topic. Speaking on digitalisation, Estonian Education Minister Mailis Reps tuned-in to the conference digitally to discuss how vocational education can meet the digital challenge.

‘Everyone should be able to take part in the digital society and understand how it works.’ She said, noting that skills need to be taught across all levels of education. ‘Young people who enter the labour market have to master many skills … for successful careers. And we need experts who are capable of noticing new digital opportunities.’

Focused workshops were held on the topics of the European Alliance of Apprenticeships (EafA), Education and Training 2020, synergies between vocational and higher education, teacher training lifelong learning, research, sector skills and mobility.

Closing Day 1, European Commission for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility Marrianne Thyssen said in a smart working world, vocational education is a smart choice. 'The perception that VET is the 'poor neighbour' of a university education is mistaken. It is not a poor neighbour, it's an equal! The 2nd European Vocational Skills Week will put a wealth of opportunities and experiences from across Europe in the limelight to show that VET and apprenticeships are a great first choice.’

Business-Education Summit - Day 2.

Commissioner Thyssen returns to open the Business-Education Summit on Thursday 23 November. Tune-in live from 9:45 AM when she is joined by global business leader Etienne Davignon (CSR Europe), European Parliament President Antonio Tajani, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Tibor Navracsics and other guest speakers.

TUNE-IN LIVE: http://europa.eu/!yP43JC.