Hungary: supporting digital transition of VET

Reducing social differences through digitalisation and responding adequately to the challenges of digital transition are important goals for the 21st century. In response to these goals, which were also highlighted in the Digital education strategy (2016) and the VET 4.0 strategy (2019), several digital development projects were initiated in VET.

Developing digital learning/teaching material

A new 2017 programme focuses on developing digital teaching and learning material, with an estimated budget of EUR 36 million (HUF 13.5 billion). The completed teaching and learning units can be applied to VET programmes in different occupational fields. A digital module can be used in different VET programmes as they are focusing on learning outcomes. The modules are going through an accreditation process and the updated final versions are accessible through the Public education registration and study core system (KRÉTA), which is the Hungarian school administration system, used by all IVET institutions.

The first phase will be completed at the end of 2022, although most of the e-learning materials have already been produced. An overview of the finished digital learning and teaching documents is given in the following table:

In the coming years an additional budget of EUR 97.2 million (35 billion HUF) is available to develop digital learning and teaching scripts and contents further. The second phase is planned to be finished in 2025, and the third and last phase in 2027.

Developing the teacher’s platform Vocational training set of curricula

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a sudden demand evolved for digital learning and teaching materials, online teaching support including digital content in VET programmes. In response to these needs, the knowledge sharing platform for teachers Vocational training set of curricula was set up in the second quarter of 2020. The main goal was to create a well-structured, easily accessible platform which could operate as a long-term solution for educators. By the beginning of 2022 the information provided on this platform had doubled and by March 2022, 37 883 teachers had already registered.

Developing digital competences for adults

The aim of this digital training project is to narrow the digital gap through improvement of digital skills and competences of adults. The project was implemented from 2015 to the beginning of 2022. The main target group were those disadvantaged, digitally low-skilled adults in need of digital upskilling. The following training programmes were offered and are also intended to be offered in the future:

• basic digital skills concerning the use of digital tools, internet, e-mails;
• higher digital skills concerning the use of digital tools, internet, e-mails;
• cloud solutions, online calendar usage, e-administration;
• data literacy, safe downloading, digital solutions, automatisation.

These training programmes last 35-50 hours and are based on the Common framework of reference for infocommunications. During the lifespan of the project, 264 369 adults finished the training and 98% of them passed the exam. The total cost of this project was EUR 61.1 million (HUF 22.9 billion).

Creating innovative contents for vocational education and preparing for digital transformation will also be a priority for VET in the future. The implementation of programmes which support digitalisation is essential in terms of learners’ upskilling and successful entrance into the labour market.

Read more

• VET 4.0 strategy (English)
• Digital education strategy of Hungary (English)
• Digital development projects mentioned in the article (Hungarian)
  • GINOP 6.2.4: Quality and content development of the 21st century VET project 
  • GINOP 6.2.8: Digital curricula development and IT training for structural change project (partially digital study material development project) ;
  • GINOP 6.1.2: Narrowing the digital gap project
• Information about the Common framework of reference for infocommunications (Hungarian)