Editor's note

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Friday, 29.03.2024, 05:45

Business and training in post-COVID period

Eugene Eteris, BC International Editor, Copenhagen, 09.11.2020.Print version

Labour market needs vocational education and training (VET) as an important instrument in economic and social recovery during post-COVID period. It encourages people of all ages to develop their skills in line with the strategic member states’ digital-green transition.

Presently, the main direction in adapting to changing labour market is on higher VET (post-upper secondary school level) and “ordinary” VET skills for green and digital transitions. In particularly through establishing a culture of lifelong and continuous digital education, promotion of digital learning platforms, as well as in implementation of sustainable VET structures.


The EU supports vocational education and training through its funds in the 2021-27 period by increasing attention with the European Social Fund Plus and Erasmus+, as well as in up- and re-skilling, which shall be a priority investment in the states. It has never been more important for VET providers, companies, trade unions, governments and other partners to deliver relevant skills for lifelong learning.

 

According to the Commission’s proposal on extended VET (July 2020), this kind of training shall be more modern, attractive, flexible and fit for the digital age and the green transition. VET accounts for about half of the upper secondary graduates in the EU and helps in preparation of young people to successfully enter labour market through up-skilling and re-skilling: a) for people in employment to help them to continuously upgrade their skills, adjust them to the changing work requirements or negotiate job changes, and b) for the unemployed to help them acquire the skills needed to re-enter the labour market. More generally, VET empowers “the learners” with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to thrive in their professional, social and personal development.

The situation in VET was further aggravated during pandemic by the fact that practical training – in form of work-based learning and apprenticeships – has been suspended in most sectors. 


See: https://www.cedefop.europa.eu/files/cedefop_community_apprenticeship_experts_synthesis_h ow_are_european_countries_managing_apprenticeships_to_respond_to_the_coronavirus_crisis.pdf  

 

VET proposals were included in other Commission initiatives, such as the ‘European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience” and the Communication on youth employment support as a bridge to jobs for the next generation.

 

The European Vocational Skills Week: six-year history

The European Vocational Skills Week 2020 takes place in the EU-27 states from 9 to 13 November 2020. As part of the VET-Skills Week local, regional and national organisations in the EU states and beyond are hosting virtual events and activities, emphasizing the benefits of VET and its crucial role in lifelong learning. They are providing young learners with the initial skills they need for a fulfilling career and creating the means for adults to build on existing skills (up-skill) and develop new skills (re-skill) throughout their lives. 


Over 781 associated events and activities have already been registered in 38 countries, reaching more than 1.6 million people.


The initiative was launched in 2016 by the European Commission, in the context of the New Skills Agenda for Europe and has since become a platform for VET stakeholders all around Europe to exchange ideas and good practice.


The overall objectives of the VET-Week are to showcase the many ways VET can help young people and adults to “discover their talents” and prepare them for the Europe's economy of the future; and to demonstrate to employers the enormous benefits of investing in human resources by supporting the initial training of young people, as well as the up-skilling and re-skilling of adults.


Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_2029

 

More information in the following links: European Vocational Skills Week 2020 website and European Vocational Skills Week 2020 events map

 





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