Editor's note
International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Saturday, 30.11.2024, 17:49
Business and training in post-COVID period
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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.
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
