Future of EU vocational education and training (VET) policy

Key messages

Strengthening the labour market relevance of VET is essential for helping companies to address their skills needs and in helping people to enter and progress in the work place. Promoting VET as a means through which to enhance employability and employment prospects will also help to improve the attractiveness of this learning pathway.
VET has a key role to play in meeting the growing demand for a digitally competent workforce and in the attainment of STEM skills, which are in high demand by employers.
The future VET policy framework needs to support reforms, mutual learning and exchanges. To achieve this there needs to be a strong degree of coherence between this framework, the European semester process, and financial tools, notably the European Social Fund+.

Mutual learning and the exchange of practices at EU level on initiatives that aim to promote digital and STEM skills. This includes learning how to change occupations, qualifications and education and training curricula in an effective manner in response to labour market needs.
Better data collection frameworks at the European and national level as a basis from which to develop policy setting and to guide necessary reforms to education and training systems.
A VET policy framework that fully recognises and respects the role of social partners who are key players on both labour and training markets.