The Second European Vocational Skills Week took place last week in Brussels. EfVET network was represented by members from countries such as Lithuania, Cyprus, Portugal Hungary, Greece, Greece, Spain, Italy, Romania, Denmark, The Netherlands and United Kingdom.
The Innovative VET Provider Award for the VET provider introducing/using innovative teaching methodologies was attributed to the ROC Da Vinci College the Netherlands, represented by EfVET Dutch Representative Marloes de Vries.
Next EU Vocational Skills Week will be host by the Austrian Presidency of the Council, announced Commissioner M. Thyssen, from 5 to 9 November 2018in Vienna.
The goal of the European Vocational Skills week was to bring together all the social partners and key stakeholders to discuss how we can cooperate all together to make the VET path as a first career option. As Commissioner Marianne Thyssen stressed the EU Vocational Week is part of the effort to improve the image of Vocational Education, as mentioned in the News Skills Agenda.
VET learners usually find a job quicker than University students, and in fact in 2015 more than 10 million pupils were enrolled in VET in the EU, according to Eurostat.
We should take into consideration that 65% of children in primary school will work in jobs that do not exist yet, as Bulgarian DM of Education Denitsa Sacheva said.
Mobility and apprenticeships are seen as a fundamental part of the VET education as both can add to learners’ curriculum an added value. Mobility will support students to leave students conform zone and acquired international experiences. While apprenticeships will give the real taste of work and can be a win-win situation for both learners and companies.
That is why the cooperation between business and education is fundamental. On the second day, the first European Business-Education Summit took place.
The European Commission developed the initiative Pact4Youth two years ago, which EfVE is an active member. Indeed, business is an essential partner to help find out what skills people need and to provide traineeships, apprenticeships & on the job training and the Pact4Youth is working to build this bridge. Commissioner Narvracsics stressed the crucial role of the business-education partnership to promote entrepreneurial mindsets and skills like resilience and empathy. All in all, it’s about attitudes, not only aptitudes.
Commissioner Thyssen, has challenged young people to make VET your first choice! And to companies: offer apprenticeships opportunities!