In the daily global challenges of educational and training activities, the importance to help students, mainly young Persons, to develop a personal resilience is paramount. Entrepreneurial, digital skills, and creative thinking are only some of the key competencies required in today’s, and the future, labour market as highlighted in recent EU policy documents, including the EU Skills Agenda in 2016.

As mentioned in the Skills Agenda, an ageing population will impact on European economic growth, increasing the need for higher productivity and higher skills (CEDEFOP, 2016). Global competition is dramatically affecting local markets and the sustainability of many enterprises. Technology is changing habits, consumption, production and ways of working (industry 4.0, internet of things): the future jobs of 65% of children starting their primary school today do not yet exist and will provide goods or services which are not yet requested (WEF, 2016). Innovation has become one of the key drivers for the future sustainability of both societies as a whole and people’s daily life (Chatzichristou, 2017).

Skills are the keystone for the future. The need to rethink VET has come:

• Overcoming current dichotomies between theory and applied training, HVET and academic systems, formal vs. informal or non-formal training. Professional competences, literacy and numeracy and soft skills are all crucial.
• Incentivising a lifelong learning attitude in students and adults, promoting more flexible pathways. “One-size-fits-all” training can be neither effective nor sufficient for a whole lifetime career.
• Strengthening stakeholder engagement, in terms of business-education relationships for internships, apprenticeships, training needs assessment and for promoting “educational pacts”, is crucial to creating quality training for Learners. Stakeholders should include parents, voluntary organisations and institutions, to drive a cultural shift in the perception of VET

Presentations

Rethinking VET for Inclusive Excellence: keynotes

• Melania De Nichilo Rizzoli, Regional Secretary for Education, Training and Labour – Download
• The future of EU VET policy post -2020 João Santos, Deputy of Head Unit VET, Apprenticeships & adult learning European Commission, DG- EMPL – Download
• The bridge between VET & Industry Cristina Cofacci, International Industrial Relations, Multinational Company ENEL – Watch

Outside the EU: cooperation and development for excellence

• Programme
• EfVET Award of Excellence 2018 brochure