Can skills benefit everyone?
In today's dynamic world, the significance of skills for growth – at individual, institutional, economic and societal levels - cannot be overstated. With millions of jobs at risk in carbon-intensive sectors and the urgent need for green and digital skills in economies that must adapt and compete in new and emerging sectors, continuous lifelong learning, career guidance and skills development is needed like never before.
By developing new skills (reskilling) or improving existing skills (upskilling) people have the chance to transform their lives through career change, professional growth, greater personal and civic engagement in the world around them, and the personal satisfaction that goes along with these achievements and overcoming the fear of change.
Skills development does not occur in isolation, however. It requires a nurturing ecosystem which engages a broad spectrum of stakeholders representing and reaching out to everyone in society. Special measures are needed so that vulnerable and marginalised communities and individuals such as migrants, youth, have the access and opportunity to engage in learning and skills development and benefit from the advantages they bring.
Qualifications signal the knowledge and skills that people possess as stepping stones to future professional endeavours. The reciprocal referencing of qualifications systems, and the validation of non-formal and informal learning are part and parcel of the flexible systems required to make this happen.
By investing and maximising the potential of their employees, companies can achieve better outcomes benefitting economies and societies. The structured engagement of business intermediaries and trade unions in connecting SMEs and education and training in the context of the twin digital and green transitions is a vital step for the implementation and scaling of initiatives. Strengthening the link between vocational education and training (VET), and particularly higher VET with continuing vocational training is a key component in building innovative systems to spur economic growth.
Engaging civil society as an important partner in policy dialogue, implementation, monitoring and assessment on skills development is fundamental for a healthy and equitable skills development ecosystem that ensures progress and growth for all.
Building on the momentum of the European Year of Skills the European Training Foundation is working to support skills for growth at multiple levels and with tailored approaches that contribute to evidence based policy advice in partner countries. Various methods and tools are used to support context sensitive future-oriented solutions, including the profiling of good practice.
This edition of Learning Connects shines a spotlight on some of these activities: the engagement of civil society in skills development policy dialogue which featured in the recent 9th Western Balkans Civil Society Forum; ensuring the skills component within innovative financing arrangements of banks and international financing institutions; and highlights of the winners of this year's ETF Green Skills Awards. ETF Director, Pilvi Torsti also gives her thoughts on ETF's work supporting learning and skills development in the current geo-political climate after her first 100 days in the position.