Andrea Lombardi (UNISER CEO, Italy) on behalf of EfVET introduced the new position paper “A new generation of VET Mobility Programmes” to a Stakeholder Meeting at the European Parliament, hosted by MEP Emilian Pavel and organised by the Youth Intergroup, on the topic “Erasmus+ 2021-27 Pupils Mobility and VET”.
Andrea Lombardi started his introduction addressing a few words about who VET learners are as a target group “pupils which failed in school education, kids with difficult social and economic background, young people with fewer opportunities and at risk of social exclusion. Although, we all agree and work toward a “VET as a first choice”, for many learners today still VET is the only possible choice, and Erasmus the only way to live a mobility experience”.
The position paper outlines the main results provided by EfVET online consultation on VET Mobility Programmes and it focuses on the elaboration of the surveys collected from EfVET members, active in VET mobility, representing through their networks:
- 276 VET providers and 23 Mobility providers
- 17-member states
- Over 4.000 VET learners and staff mobilities a year
“A new generation of VET Mobility Programmes” presents a series of recommendations to ensure that future mobility programmes will be inclusive for this wide part of VET learners, by considering short term mobility as important as Erasmus Pro. With regards to budget issues, EfVET paper propose the possibility to separate the two budget lines, “ensuring that the minimum individual support will be sufficient to cover all the costs of the experience, in order to avoid financial burden on participants which would prevent their participation into the programme”, as Lombardi explained at the European Parliament.
VET charter
The VET charter is an essential part of the position paper, and EfVET is glad to see that this approach would be followed. The VET Charter is proving to be a first step to make mobility a regular part of VET curricula. As EfVET recommends for the future programme a smooth renewal process for charter holders as well as the flexibility to allow those organisations to include other schools and as multipliers of mobility opportunities thanks to the experience they developed.
Mobility Consortia
Lombardi shared EfVET vision for a future “where mobility opportunities will be available in any VET school in Europe and pointed out Mobility Consortia as a model to push forward in order to make it happens”. Additionally, he suggested “to substitute in the programme guide the word “intermediary organisation” with “Mobility providers”, as is mentioned at EfVET position paper.
As a result of EfVET consultation, Lombardi explained, “that we see that the use of external support from professional organisation is a relevant phenomenon, which more and more VET providers decide to go for. To adopt a technical name would be a first step to highlight the need for experience and precise quality standards from organisations wishing to provide these services”.
Reactions
Michael Teutsch, Head of Unit of Schools and Multilingualism, DG- Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, European Commission) agreed on the need to encourage Mobility Consortia, making sure they can be open to wide to newcomers along the time.
Angel Gudiña, Don Bosco International Executive Secretary, stressed the importance to recognize Mobility providers, remarking that in their network too there is a need to support VET centers with the growing numbers of incoming nobilities.
Next steps
The “Erasmus+ 2021-27 Pupils Mobility and VET” stakeholder meeting represented another step forward in the pathway to improve VET mobility in the next Erasmus programme.
At least but not last, EfVET Annual Conference 2018, will represent a unique moment to gather stakeholders and institutions together to talk about the future of Vocational Education and Erasmus+ programme.
