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The working group of the VET Innovation Council, Vocational training development in the Carpathian Basin, mapped future opportunities. The working group carried out the mapping between 2021-22. At its November 2022 meeting, the VET Innovation Council adopted the findings and proposals of the working group. The department responsible for VET development of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation has already started to elaborate the concept for the development of vocational training in...

Creating a unified tertiary system is one of the strategic priorities of the National FET strategy 2020-24. Key stakeholders, DES, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), SOLAS (the national authority for FET), Higher Education Authority (HEA), Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) and the Irish Universities Association (IUA) agreed on an action plan to work towards a more strategic and consistent transitions approach to FET and...

The National FET Strategy defined that CotFs should have the following characteristics:

1. consolidation: CotFs are single integrated colleges;
2. dual outcome focus: the offer of courses designed to facilitate immediate entry to careers and employment and those that link directly to further study in HE, epxloring opportunities for co-delivery with HE institutions;
3. access pathways: supporting a learning pathway from a network of FET providers offering Level 1 to 4 provision;
4. consistent...

Ireland’s Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-25 was launched in 2021 by the Ministers for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Minister of State for Skills and Further Education. The plan aims to expand the types of programmes available and increase the number of apprenticeships to 10 000 per year by 2025. The plan is to ensure equity of access by creating simplified routes to entry, and improved flexibility within the system so that underrepresented groups...

The policy roadmap ‘Green Skills for FET 2021-30’ sets a strategic direction for green skills initiatives throughout the Irish FET sector and points to key areas for the FET Sector in the transition to a green economy. The policy incorporates the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), the Green skills action plan and responds to some other national policies and legislation, e.g. Skills for zero carbon (2021), Future Jobs Irelans (2019) and the Action plan for apprenticeships 2021-25....

The external review is conducted by review teams. National and international external reviewers are selected for their expertise in one or more specific areas, providing perspectives from education and training, quality assurance, learner voice, community and industry. SOLAS and the Adult Learning Association (AONTAS) provide support to the review teams.

The external review examines the following aspects:

Governance and management of quality

The review evaluates the comprehensive...

The Modernisation of VET project is currently being implemented for the period 2022-26 by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI) in cooperation with other public institutions and social partners. It has five components.

Competences and qualifications for the digital and green transitions

The project, in the dialogue with social partners, defines a new development period for VET in Slovenia in the direction of greater connection with the labour market, the needs of the...

The key activities of the project Climate goals and contents in education are:

1. preparation of a model for identifying occupational competences for sustainability;
2. work with 15 schools and guide them to become ‘sustainable schools’ on three levels: institutional, educational and with relevant activities within their local community (encouraged to cooperate with community-based local leaders, families, as well as non-governmental and private sector actors).

An important factor...

The SkillsPoland competition consists of:

1. development of organisational and substantive assumptions for the PolSkills competition at the regional and national level;
2. conducting study visits as part of professional competitions in other countries;
3. implementation of a promotional campaign for SkillsPoland competitions;
4. conducting regional eliminators for competitions in 30 sectors;
5. organising of three nationwide SkillsPoland competitions in 30 sectors;
6. participation of representatives...

The main objective of the activities of the combined National Europass and Euroguidance Centre is to implement Decision (EU) 2018/646 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 April 2018 on a common framework aimed at providing better quality services in skills and qualifications (Europass). The National Europass Centre (NEC) deals with coordinating the issuance of Europass documents and promoting the Europass initiative, in particular for career counselling and information...

In Poland, the activities of the EPALE platform are the responsibility of the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science.

The European EPALE platform has been operating since October 2014. From the beginning, it has been available in the Polish language. The current contract for the implementation of the project by the EPALE national office covers the period from April 2022 to the end of 2024.

In 2021, the Foundation for the Development of the Education System began providing organisational services to the Team of Experts for Vocational Education and Training (EVET) nominated by the Ministry of Education and Science. The Action Plan of the Team of Experts is an integral part of the Erasmus+ Work Plan.

The objectives are implemented through organising consultations, seminars, conferences, workshops, training sessions, lectures, debates, study visits and analytical work, as well as...

Sectoral skills centres (branżowe centra umiejętności) are to be technologically advanced education, training and examination centres in a given industry.

This initiative comprises the following main activities:

1. announcement by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE) of a competition for the establishment and support for the operation of 120 sectoral skills centres implementing the concept of centres of vocational excellence (CoVEs);
2. construction of a new...

The aim of the competition is to select the best teachers from vocational education in Poland in the 100 fields covered by the competition, who can serve as role models for other teachers, by their commitment and passion in their work; support for the professional interests of learners, including gifted learners; recognition as authorities by their schools and local environments; and special teaching and/or educational achievements in VET.

Winners and featured participants receive the title...

As a result of the armed conflict in Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science issued six regulations in response to the need to provide adequate education and care for Ukrainian children and young people migrating to Poland.

The regulations allowed:

1. the head of a unit of the education system in the area of selected districts (poviats) of the eastern border to suspend all or individual classes (with the consent of the body managing the unit and the body exercising pedagogical...

The strategy update was coordinated by the ministry responsible for family, labour and social security. The final version of the document was adopted in 2019. The strategy is implemented by 15 different institutions, including the ministries responsible for education, digitalisation, labour, health or justice. 

The implementation of the strategy goals includes strategic projects outlined in the Strategy for responsible development, and supplementary projects grouped in two areas: social...

The action plan includes the following five specific measures:

1. implementing the integrated skills strategy through the development of professional skills in formal and non-formal education, including skills related to green and digital transitions;
2. provision and professional development of staff for the VET system;
3. the development of career guidance and promotion of VET;
4. implementation of innovative and durable mechanisms of cooperation at national and international levels in VET,...

The contractor, in the context of the implementation of the contract, is expected to examine various factors and, more specifically, to produce:

1. a study on the relation of study programmes to labour market needs: existing specialisations are to be assessed in terms of their relevance to the labour market. The contractor should also produce an analysis on the employability rates of MIEEK graduates;
2. an evaluation report on the adequacy of the curriculum (and the overall teaching design)...

MIEEK offer programmes of study that cover growing sectors of the economy, aiming to meet the high demand in the labour market for modern occupations. Therefore, there is a great need for cooperation with instructors from industry with knowledge of specific subjects compatible with the requirements of each sector: there are subjects relevant to the study programmes, Culinary arts, Maritime studies, Computer and communication networks, Electrical installations, and Organic crops. To provide...

Various projects have already been initiated and launched in recent years that serve to achieve the stated objectives. With the National implementation plan (NIP), these activities were bundled and intensified in 2022.

The sub-projects included in the bundle of measures 'Green transition' are the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and, as far as apprenticeship training is concerned, also of the Ministry of Labour and Economy (BMAW) and the Austrian...

In addition to the activities of schools and the Public Employment Service, the Chamber of Labour (AK) and the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO) are important providers of services and tools for the vocational orientation of young people.

The Vienna Chamber of Labour (AK) has included the continuous development of its guidance services in the national implementation plan (NIP) 2022.

This includes the following measures.

Expansion and partial shifting of educational and career orientation...

Qualification in the use of digital production tools should be introduced step by step via relevant BMHS curricula, UAS study programmes and other contemporary qualification methods and be designed in a practice-oriented manner. The particular areas of product life cycle management, digital twin, internet of things, big data, predicted maintenance and augmented reality will be addressed.

Specifically, the following measures will be pursued within the framework of the initiative, starting in...

In 2019, an extensive evaluation of the NOST system took place. It was published in 2020 and formed the basis for further improving the semester-based education system. In 2022, the legal foundations were laid for the reform of upper secondary education to a ‘semester-based upper secondary education’ (SOST). The SOST system thus replaces the predecessor model NOST and is applied from the 10th grade onwards at general and vocational schools, with the exclusion of the apprenticeship system. In...

The Erasmus+ VET Team Austria, located at OeAD, the Agency for Education and Internationalisation, plays an essential role in pursuing these goals. This is a network of professionals with expertise in European VET topics and Erasmus+. OeAD, in cooperation with BMBWF, has defined the following procedure in connection with the above objectives.

Activity 1: Status quo survey and feedback from practitioners

In the course of this activity, interviews with practitioners from Boards of...

Eight priority areas were identified in relation to the achievement of the objectives, five of which explicitly target VET, two target lifelong learning in parallel with VET ((f) and (h)) and one targets interlinking general education and VET (e):

1. centres of excellence in VET;
2. in-company training centres;
3. higher VET transformation;
4. quality assurance in IVET and CVET;
5. prevention of early school leaving;
6. basic skills;
7. individual learning accounts;
8. a new system of lifelong learning...

Developing WBL and practical training includes the following measures:

1. VET and higher education development programme PRÕM+, empowering professional associations and enterprises to provide WBL and apprenticeships and expand WBL;
2. quality assurance of WBL and practical training.

In order to develop the competences of teachers, trainers and heads of school, the following measures are foreseen:

1. building the capacity of schools to develop the content of VET, including curriculum development and in-service training for vocational teachers;
2. pedagogical-methodological in-service training courses (including special pedagogy and andragogy) for VET teachers, in-service training in digital pedagogy for vocational teachers;
3. field-related training for vocational teachers,...

This development exemplifies the fourth and fifth objectives of the 2022-24 Strategic plan for vocational education and training , lifelong learning and youth and is also part of the Greek National implementation plan for VET recommendation and Osnabrück declaration. It contains the main actions/activities comprising the digital transformation and modernisation of infrastructure and equipment.

Development of a digital platform for VET

The digital platform for VET is expected gradually to...

Educated Romania underlines the commitment to adjusting the education system to current and emerging challenges. Education and skills-related measures and actions are to be implemented with the support of State budget and EU funds. The strategy foresees adopting a legislative package ensuring implementation of the vision and goals.

The National Centre for TVET Development, responsible for the organisation and implementation of IVET, contributes to the implementation of the goals set at...

Internationalisation continues to gain importance, also in VET. Skills in globalisation can be developed in the (often multicultural) school context, but only if the education staff have already acquired these competencies themselves. It is even better if learners and teachers are immersed in an international learning work experience. For instance, the Erasmus+ traineeship for VET learners will positively affect the attractiveness of VET in Flanders, but mobility of educational staff should...

The XR action plan was concretised into four closely-intertwined actions:

Action 1. Practice-oriented research: an innovation can only be sustainably embedded if it can rely on (scientific) evidence about its effectiveness. Does this innovation actually contribute to achieving a certain objective? But also: what works in day-to-day educational practice and in what circumstances/with what support? Additional scientific research is also needed for XR in general. It is a living theme,...

That the Digital education action plan (Digisprong) will have important consequences for many schools is beyond dispute. Strategic objectives and concrete actions were formulated for each challenge. Those include:

ICT infrastructure

1. provide every learner in secondary education with a device;
2. provide ICT equipment for teachers through the school:
3. bolster the ICT infrastructure within the school;
4. facilitate the use of connectivity and telecom services with special attention to security...

On 30 October 2020, the lifelong learning partnership was established, to stimulate the participation in lifelong learning through working out a joint approach across sectors and policy areas. This partnership is composed of representatives from the Socio-Economic Council of Flanders (SERV), education and training providers, the private training providers, the Lifelong Learning Committee of the Flemish Education Council (VLOR) and a higher education expert from the Vlerick business school.

With the Excellence Initiative for VET policy projects are combined into an overarching agenda. Individual activities will be launched successively during 2022 to 2026. Over EUR 750 million have been earmarked for this purpose.

In order to give new impetus to VET, the Excellence Initiative focuses on three central fields of action.

Improving individual opportunity support for talents in VET, to ensure that skilled workers and young people can develop their potential in the best possible...

The government is investing in the development of a skills-oriented labour market. This entails describing the required knowledge, skills and behaviours for the performance of activities in terms of skills: a common skills language, called CompetentNL, is being developed for this purpose. CompetentNL is an online skills dictionary in which all possible skills are categorised and described and which is linked to the complete and continuously updated VET qualification structure. CompetentNL...

There are different kinds of initiatives and events to promote and disseminate VET:

Professional Education and Training Campaigns (Campanha de Educação  e Formação)

The campaign targets young people who are in the ninth grade (13-15 years old) when taking an informed and well-guided choice is of the utmost importance. Civil society, and particularly parents and guardians of young people in the third cycle of basic education are also target groups. It will promote vocational education...

Citizenship education plays a vital role in preparing students for full participation and functioning in society. In the Netherlands, this means fostering a culture of mutual respect, upholding democratic principles and the rule of law, and recognising and respecting individual freedoms. It also means empowering people by strengthening their civic and social skills, and enabling them to develop critical thinking and functioning in society. This includes understanding one's rights and...

The ESF project Support for reducing early school leaving (PUMPURS) aims at reducing the number of learners leaving education and training early. The project promotes the creation of a sustainable cooperation system between the municipality, educational institutions, educators, support staff and parents or representatives of the learners, in order to identify learners at risk of interrupting their studies and provide them with personalised support.

Educators are given the opportunity to...

This development consists of an eight-year programme in which all 113 education institutions in upper secondary vocational education (MBO, HBO and WO) and higher education (post-secondary and higher education) cooperate. They are joining forces to enable system transformation in education. The programme is led by the education ministry and is funded by the National Growth Fund. It has a budget of EUR 560 million. In the programme four action areas are created.

Transformation hubs

A...

At the end of 2020, the Education Development and Quality Office (URKI) with the Ministry of Education, prepared the document Overview of the challenges of the education system in Slovenia. The purpose of the activities during the preparation of the document was to identify the key challenges in the education system. These challenges were identified through content analysis, contributions from the ministry's internal organisational units, and proposals from public institutions and the school...

The programme for 2017-19 was established by Resolution 108/2017 of the Council of Ministers of 19 July 2017. According to the programme evaluation, performed by the Educational Research Institute, positive results for both pupils and teachers were observed. Teaching aids and equipment purchased in the programme are fully used in the schools. However, primary and secondary schools still suffer from a shortage of modern ICT equipment. The evaluation results also recommended the extension of...

If they meet specific conditions, the changes enable vocational HEIs with a vocational higher education institution (uczelnia zawodowa) status, to:

1. offer courses preparing future teachers for the teaching profession without entering a cooperation agreement with a university, which has scientific achievements in the respective course discipline;
2. use the words practical academy (akademia praktyczna) in its title.

Changes to the pedagogical supervision and control of schools, including VET, have been introduced by the draft Act amending the Education Law, the Act on the Education System and other acts, and the regulation of the Minister for Education and Science of 1 September 2021 amending the regulation on pedagogical supervision.

The draft Act introduces changes in the following areas by:

1. strengthening the role of pedagogical supervision (regional education authorities);
2. strengthening the...

The Accessibility Plus programme indicates the following actions for vocational education:

1. developing, testing and implementing the financial and organisational model of individual support for pupils with special educational needs;
2. creating a system of specialised, continuing support for teachers, including support for adapting schools to the needs of pupils with disabilities.

The Strategy for persons with disabilities 2021-30 involves the following education measures including VET:

...

The policy document describes actions and goals in the short, mid and long-term perspective that will serve the development of Polish society, economy and science in the area of artificial intelligence (AI). It is organised into 6 policy areas, one of which is education, including VET. The actions in this area will include updating curricula and supplementing teaching programmes with AI information and solutions, increasing access to education tools (including online tools) for AI and...

The programme includes the creation of a motivation system for talented pupils and students to develop their competences, and a system for non-formal advanced digital competence building. This will be achieved by organising intensive education trips, team contests, teacher support and motivational actions. It will be implemented through two thematic pathways: championships in algorithmics and programming and championships in computer game development.

Teachers of the teams participating in...

The National strategy for regional development 2030 (NSRD) was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 17 September 2019. One of the objectives of the strategy is the development of human and social capital in the following subareas: vocational and higher education, continuing education, labour market and social capital. The strategy outlines several initiatives in these areas:

1. establishing mechanisms to encourage universities to cooperate with entrepreneurs;
2. increasing entrepreneurs’...

The six strategic objectives of the plan are further analysed into sub-objectives that serve the effective implementation of the strategy.

More specifically, the implementation of the first strategic objective, Development and strengthening of VET and LLL with emphasis on quality assurance, is achieved through the following sub-objectives:

1. increasing the attractiveness of VET through the creation of new opportunities;
2. design of VET and LLL programmes and their quality assurance;
3.  ...

LLCS 2030 focuses on four thematic areas: qualification system; basic skills and civic education; lifelong learning and counselling, and motivation of citizens for lifelong learning; and building a system of skills management and identification of lifelong learning needs. It proposes 51 measures divided into 13 thematic units corresponding to topics in need of urgent intervention:

1. second chance education and ‘F-type programmes’ (ISCED 253) for low achievers in lower secondary general...

The Government of the German speaking community decided to equip teachers and secondary learners (including apprentices) with laptops to guarantee good functionality of online classes. The Ministry of the German-speaking Community is responsible.

The Integrated student evaluation system (ISES), which includes formative assessment and diagnosis of student needs, is in place since the 2019/20 academic year. Based on the operating regulations of secondary education, semester core exams have also been implemented.

Through actions compatible with the framework of teachers’ professional development on formative assessment, alternative forms of student evaluation and modern teaching methods, teachers are supported in implementing ISES.

COVID-19 caused a delay in studies for many students. To recover from these delays, the Dutch government has made EUR 8.5 billion available for a national education support programme for recovery and perspective (Nationaal Programma Onderwijs: steunprogramma voor herstel en perspectief, NPO), of which EUR 2.7 billion has been reserved for measures in upper secondary vocational education programmes. Over the next 2 school years (2020/21 and 2021/22), VET colleges may choose from a menu of...

During the period 2022-24, the reform focuses on the following areas and activities:

1. introducing a unified teacher competence profile determining the professional prerequisites and competences of teacher training graduates. The competence profile will help the faculties to focus their training better and to be able to evaluate and gradually improve its quality;
2. transforming practical training of undergraduate teacher trainees, improving its quality and linking teaching practice more...

The financial support provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT) will, at the same time, contribute to the transformation of educational content. Schools will build their own supply of mobile digital technologies and will be able to lend them. However, this should not lead to an unjustified acquisition and accumulation of technological equipment which is actually not needed.

Under Component 3.1 Innovation in education in the context of digitisation, funding is provided...

Section 3 of the plan, Education and labour market, proposes the following reforms and measures in education and training:

Transforming HE institutions to adapt to new forms of learning and changing the labour market needs by 2026:

The plan foresees measures to increase the ability of higher education (HE) institutions to adapt study programmes to new forms of learning and new fields, particularly digital expertise, in line with changing labour market needs.  It includes especially...

There are three national programmes with VET as their focus, not all starting in the same period. All these programmes are managed by the VET Directorate of the education ministry:

National VET programme

The programme aims to support improvement in the quality of VET provision and the labour market relevance of VET by providing schools with state-of-the-art equipment, update and/or developing, for the first time, curricula and study programmes, e-learning material and VET teacher training.

The initiative is funded by the ESF under the operational programme (OP): Human resource development 2014-20, and is implemented through two components.

Component one has been implemented by the labour ministry and component two by the national employer organisations. A unified toolkit has been developed in component 1, including methodologies and requirements for job research and identification of the digital skills required for the development of digital skills profiles in key positions...

The creation of centres of excellence in VET (CeEVETs) is determined by the Lifelong learning and counselling strategy for 2021-30 adopted by the government on 24 November 2021. According to the strategy action plan, a pilot phase of transforming some of the existing centres of VET into CeEVETs should already start in 2022, co-funded from ESIF (specific objective 1.4 ‘Developing skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship’ of Operational programme Slovakia...

The strategy is focused on strengthening and improving Norwegian participation in Erasmus+ and the European Education Area, in order to provide more learners, youths and students, teachers and staff with opportunities for intercultural learning and exchange in Europe. The quality of education and training is to be further developed through international cooperation.

The government also wants more Norwegian interests to be able to cooperate with the best environments in Europe in order to...

The government has decided that Norway will participate in several EU programmes in the period from 2021 to 2027. Some programmes are a continuation of existing cooperation, but the country also plans to join new programmes. The EU's major investments in digitalisation and green priorities are important factors in the programmes Norway has chosen to join.

These priorities are nationally important and affect several areas in the society, as well as vocational education and training.

Norway...

The platform for education on the environment and sustainable development, created following the 2007 National Nature Conservation Plan, enables networking by professionals involved in education on the environment and sustainable development who are now cooperating in relation to the objectives of the 2030 agenda. It is intended for non-governmental organisations, local administrations, and institutions active in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), but also for teachers and trainers...

The VET agreement is to be a common ground of a tripartite understanding, between the government and the social partners, in the following areas of intervention:

1. regulation and governance of the vocational training system (framework and regulation, regulation model and financing sources and quality improvement);
2. further development of the system’s instruments and responsiveness (improve the flexibility of the SNQ, strengthen responses to sectoral needs and dynamics and improve incentives...

Since 2017, the KBU has provided thorough professional assessments of Norway's future competence needs. Three comprehensive reports have ensured the authorities and the labour market, both regionally and nationally, a solid basis for both planning and making informed decisions. As part of the government's competence reform, the committee continues the work until 2027. The competence reforms goal is lifelong learning to ensure work.

The Committee on Skill Needs (KBU):

1. analyse and assesses...

In June 2021, the government gave several national authorities involved in education and employment the mission to develop digital services that provide data about education and the labour market, as well as to establish forms for the management of a coherent data infrastructure for the provision of skills and lifelong learning. These authorities shall jointly investigate the conditions for, and begin work on, developing common concepts or translation keys between existing conceptual...

The initiative supports:

1. competence development and continuing education in relation to green transition and climate response EUR 13.5 million (DKK 100.5 million). The education ministry is responsible for the administration of the funding. Activities will primarily take the form of courses and action learning activities for VET teachers and trainers;
2. knowledge centres to develop new materials and teaching courses in the green transition and sustainability, to be implemented in VET and...

Rapid changes in teaching took place: using online methods and new applications to create and develop resources. The pandemic also created the opportunity to develop new types of learning communities by learning from peers or sharing good-practice experiences. New online platforms and support channels (phone lines) were created to support teachers, learners and parents.

Among other things, the rules made it easier to be promoted into the title of the councillor: for example, all public artistic performances are now evaluated and count towards promotion.

Regulations addressed to schools, including VET schools, in 2020 and 2021 (until February) mainly concerned the temporary closure of institutions and the easing of the transition to distance learning. More than 23 regulations were issued by the education minister for these purposes.

EU funded projects have been implemented aiming to solve problems resulting from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on schools, including VET providers. For example, computers and software were delivered to...

The process of designing the National recovery plan was managed by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy (MFiPR). In February 2021, the document was submitted for public consultation, which influenced its final shape. In May 2021 the plan was officially submitted to the European Commission.

Its main areas of focus are:

1. resilience and competitiveness of the economy;
2. green energy and reducing energy intensity;
3. digital transformation;
4. availability and quality of the health care...

In December 2020, Law 4763/2020 introduces a legal framework regulating VET and LLL and describing the organisation of each school type, the qualifications and the role of their staff (manager, teachers, career/vocational counsellors). The Law also establishes the structure of the Hellenic Qualifications Framework (HQF) and regulates qualifications for NQF/EQF levels 3, 4, and 5.

The law also establishes for the first time a two-year vocational training programme for lower secondary (basic)...

The National recovery and resilience plan sets out a package of reforms and public investments to be implemented by 2026. For programmes at ISCED levels 0 to 5, the component Education for the 21st Century mainly focuses on reforming the curriculum, introducing new education methodologies, and updating textbooks. The main goal of the curriculum reform is to improve learner competences needed for the 21st century (critical thinking, digital and soft skills).

The plan also prioritises teacher...

The amendment of this legislation was initiated by employers' representatives based on the experience of the ESF project 'Dual education and increasing attractiveness and quality of VET'. In March 2021, the education ministry submitted a draft amendment to the Act on VET (61/2015) to public discussion, with the proposed entering into force from 1 September 2021.

In January 2021, the education ministry submitted to public discussion an extensive amendment of the Education act (245/2008), which provoked a heated debate with more than 1 000 comments, of which more than 680 were fundamental. In March 2021, therefore, the revised version was resubmitted for public discussion.

The action plan for the digital transition has three main pillars. Each one comprises three sub-pillars:

1. Capacity building and digital inclusion of people
   1. digital education,
   2. professional training and reskilling,
   3. digital inclusion and literacy,
2. Digital transformation of enterprises
   1. entrepreneurship and investment attraction,
   2. existing companies (with a focus on SMEs),
   3. scientific and technological knowledge transfer to the economy,
3. Digitalisation of the public...

The Long-term plan for education and the development of the education system of the Czech Republic (the Long-term plan) covers the entire system of regional education (pre-school, basic, secondary, tertiary professional education). Decision-making and consulting powers are vested in self-governing bodies: regions (for public VET schools at upper secondary and tertiary professional levels) and municipalities (pre-school and basic schools).

The plan determines the framework of long-term...

The Cyprus Pedagogical Institute (CPI) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth (MoECSY) has introduced Digital competences development for educators (DCDE). The programme is offered through a distance-learning approach and methodology, utilising CPI’s e-learning environment. It consists of an introductory module and 10 learning modules with content on thematic areas that have been defined through a process of diagnosing the needs of teachers but also following European and...

The Catching-up regions initiative, in cooperation with regional authorities, aims to identify challenges and priority areas at regional level to direct investments to. Improving VET programmes in line with labour market needs can foster economic development in regions lagging behind.

The initiative was initially carried out in the Prešov region in 2018. In 2019, a report was published providing specific suggestions on how to improve secondary VET. The cooperation with the Banská Bystrica...

The targets presented in the roadmap and the measures needed to achieve it are based on the state of play in education and research as well as on key factors for changing the education and research environment. Finland's demographic trend is the most significant factor affecting the education system. The birth rate is dropping, age groups are smaller, and people live in growth centres in increasing numbers. The report (roadmap) outlines the guidelines for the future of the Finnish education...

The work plan of the national VET team, to be established in 2021, will focus on:

1. carrying out analysis on the use of EU VET tools in the national context;
2. providing promotional material about EU VET tools (one e-booklet and two newsletters);
3. organising discussions engaging the National Authority and relevant stakeholders on the implementation of EU VET tools in Erasmus+ projects, a monitoring seminar and presentations on the use of EU VET tools in Erasmus+ projects.

In November 2020, the National action plan for entrepreneurship education was presented, the core element of which is the Map of actions for children and young adults in the field of entrepreneurship education.

The plan was developed from a cooperative venture between the Federal Ministry of Digital and Economic Affairs (BMDW), the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and other ministries, including the Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth (BMAFJ) and the...

With the introduction of the Board of Education, which started its operational work in October 2019, a new administrative authority was created in which the administrative tasks of the Federal and State governments are brought together. The nine offices (one in each province) perform uniform tasks throughout Austria that were previously constitutionally based in the offices of the State governments and organised differently from province to province.

Within the Boards of Education, a...

In 2018, a Flemish evidence-based research facility - commissioned by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training - carried out a study to formulate an answer to three questions, together with teachers, directors, business leaders and networks:

1. What are the major technical challenges facing education?
2. Which training needs for teachers are related to this?
3. What does good professionalisation look like to meet those needs?

The resulting policy development consists of three phases:

...

The finance ministry was responsible for preparing the National integrated reform plan (NIRP). Over 100 experts, including analysts from respective ministries and experts from NGOs and businesses, contributed to the identification of milestones, measurable goals and required costs in eight priority areas. The following are the most relevant to VET:

1. education;
2. research, development and innovations;
3. digitalisation;
4. labour market and social sustainability.

The priority area education...

VET provision, curricula, examination

In December 2016, the ESF project ‘Development of sectoral qualifications system for vocational education development and quality assurance’ was launched to develop new occupational standards and modular VET programmes for most of professional qualifications (sectoral qualifications).

In 2017, amendments to the Vocational Education Law specified the legal framework for the modularisation of VET programmes. VET modules were included in the State...

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, and according to the recommendations of the National Public Health Organisation, the education ministry launched several digital tools enabling distance learning as a response to the challenges posed by schools’ closure. Priority was given to the implementation of distance learning in the last year of upper secondary education, but it was also applied at all education levels (including VET). As far as post-secondary VET (IEK) is...

Law 4610/2019 reduces the number of examinations in upper secondary VET programmes offered by vocational upper secondary schools (EPAL) by more than 50% (Article 117). It also changes the type and the method of assessment, including the final assessment, of these programmes and of apprenticeship programmes offered by EPAL. According to the respective Ministerial Decrees, in upper secondary VET programmes offered by EPAL schools some subjects are assessed through a written examination (open...

The teacher portfolio is an online tool developed for teachers to give substance to their professional development. The portfolio enables teachers to keep track of their professional development and competences and record both formal and informal learning. It also features a catalogue functionality with courses, training and other education opportunities. Teachers can build their own portfolio and use the tool as a network to establish contact with other teachers. The portfolio is a...

International mobility programmes have been suspended and, as of 16 March 2020, the education process continued digitally (remote learning, homework and assessment).

According to the Ministerial Decision of the Minister responsible for VET No SZFHÁT/100762/2020-ITM, published on 10 November 2020, general education (non-vocational) classes and vocational theoretical classes in VET institutions were organised online, as well as those parts of practical training that do not require a physical...

Preparation and elaboration of the programme and outcome requirements (KKK) have been realised with experts, who know both their own profession and the learning outcome-based methodology well. The training programme of the VET institution or adult training provider is developed in accordance with the programme and outcome requirements (KKKs) in case of vocational occupations listed in the Register of Vocational Occupations and PKs in case of vocational qualifications acquired in the...

In February 2019, a new agency was established, the Innovative Training Support Centre (Innovatív Képzéstámogató Központ Zrt., IKK). It also works alongside the National Office for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning (Nemzeti Szakképzési és Felnőttképzési Hivatal) as a state administrative VET body. The IKK supports the implementation of the provisions of the VET Act of 2019 on innovation, digitalisation and related areas. IKK also implements GINOP (Economic Development and...

The provisions of the Act on National Public Education CXC of 2011 allowed electronic filing and storage of school documents. In 2015, work started on the creation of an electronic management system for Hungarian public schools: the Public education registration and study information system - NEPTUN-KRÉTA (Köznevelési Regisztrációs és Tanulmányi Alaprendszer - NEPTUN-KRÉTA). The new system was piloted in 2016/17 and made compulsory in 2017/18 in all public schools. The Ministerial Decree of...

The government has accepted, by government Decision No 1168/2019. (III.28.), the new strategy mid-term VET policy strategy for the renewal of VET and adult education (AE), the VET system’s answer to the challenges of the fourth Industrial Revolution'.

The VET 4.0 strategy is based on three pillars.

1. Attractive career opportunities for learners: learners must obtain competitive qualifications and knowledge required by the economy, which will provide a sound existence and high income. A...

The national approach to quality assurance was reviewed in 2016 and the outcomes of the review have been published. As a result, the Cabinet of Ministers approved new regulations concerning the procedures for accrediting education institutions, examination centres, general and vocational education programmes and evaluating the professional activity of heads of schools. The revision also supported the increased use of EQAVET indicators, including the collection of data on teachers and...

In 2019, a focus group was established to revise the basic funding for VET programmes in line with actual costs. The Union of Local Governments of Latvia, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Culture participated in the group work.

The NAIS follows up on and meets the objectives of the Government Innovation Strategy 2019-30 and is linked to the Digital Czech Republic programme. It was inspired by similar foreign strategic documents concerning AI and support for the digitisation of the industry and services.

The key to fulfilling the NAIS is primarily to support the concentration of excellent Research and development in AI, in particular by supporting the creation of the European Centre of Excellence, Test centre and...

A new Act on VET was adopted in June 2017 and entered into force in January 2018. The focus of the implementation of this latest reform is on the following elements:

1. a single Act on VET, i.e. VET for young people and adults within the same framework;
2. a single licence to provide education and to award qualifications;
3. flexible application and admission systems;
4. a clearer range of qualifications that better meets the needs of working life;
5. a single competence-based approach to...

As a part of the larger and continuous updating of VET qualifications, which is caused by the changes in working life, the Finnish National Agency for Education is preparing optional competence modules for sustainable development, financial literacy and economic understanding to be included in vocational upper secondary qualification requirements.

In March 2018, the Ministry of Education and Culture set up a working group for the preparation and coordination of the expansion of the national framework for qualifications and other competence modules. The task of the working group was to specify in more detail the criteria specified in the Act on the national framework for qualifications and other competence modules (93/2017) and to formulate a proposal for the required legislative amendments.

The strategic goals included in the Quality strategy are to be put into practice by using development measures. The development measures proposed for each VET actor have been set out for the next 3 years (2020-22). The actors are VET providers, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Finnish National Agency for Education, working life committees and the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre. The monitoring and the review of the quality management strategy will take place at the end of the...

The education ministry aims to design compact qualifications, which can be combined in different ways. For example, a teacher will be able to specialise in one subject in primary, secondary and vocational education or in a number of subjects in one education sector, or in a combination of subjects and education sectors. Current and future teachers will be the beneficiaries.

The design of the teacher training courses in a modular system should allow for stacking competences, fitting within...