What is the state of vocational education and training in Europe? That’s what VET2Sustain project partners asked in a survey of 160 education professionals in 18 European countries conducted between May and August 2024. VET2Sustain project conducted a comprehensive research and analysis regarding the status of VET in Europe. The research tells about the challenges, experiences and visions of how VET should be developed in the future, and it has revealed both challenges and opportunities in European VET systems.
The survey findings indicate that while VET institutions generally provide high-quality practical training, they face significant challenges. They struggle to keep pace with rapidly changing workforce requirements and maintain strong business partnerships. The research also highlighted a persistent perception gap, with general and higher education still being considered more valuable than vocational training in many countries.
Finland demonstrates strong performance in VET implementation, particularly in teaching resources and student-company integration, with Italy showing similar positive results. Both countries, despite their achievements, continue to address ongoing challenges in digitalization, sustainable development, and student engagement. The study found that successful VET institutions share common characteristics, including active use of social media and strong community engagement. Schools with sufficient student applications typically employ multiple communication channels and maintain strong connections with local businesses.
Findings suggest several key factors for improving VET’s attractiveness, including strengthening ties between education and industry, enhancing the social status of vocational education, and modernizing teaching methods and curricula.
Do you want to know more? Read the full report on the VET2Sustain website under the section “Work package 2: research and analysis of the status of VET in Europe” https://vet2sustain.eu/project-results/ . You will also find different articles about it in English, Finnish, Dutch, German and Italian.
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The project VET2Sustain https://vet2sustain.eu
The VET2Sustain project aims to enhance collaboration between VET schools and working life across Europe. We want to find ways to promote employment and professional skills and competences in different European countries. Our main objectives are to increase the attractiveness of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Europe and to create a strategic approach to maintain the high quality of VET. We also ensure that digitalisation, inclusion, green transition, and internationalisation are core elements in the implementation of VET. The project involves a wide network of VET schools and companies from various European countries.
A big partnership: Omnia, The Joint Authority of Education in Espoo Region (Coordinator), MUOVA / Research and development centre of Vaasa University of Applied Sciences, Kainuu Vocational College, VAMIA, Brahe Education Centre, Vocational College Samiedu, Luovi Vocational College, ThingLink Oy, Alfa-college, MBO Raad, Aventus, BBS-Syke, BBZ Dr. Jürgen Ulderup, HWK Hannover, Learning Digital Srl, ENAC.
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ᝰ🖋️ Author of the article: Vet2sustain dissemination team
