Cedefop newsletter

The workshop will provide an opportunity to bring together the research community, and individual country experts to:

• Validate the results of the updated projections for the 2026 release.
• Present and discuss the on-going work on labour shortages.

Europe's workforce and workplaces are at a turning point. The EU Competitiveness Compass highlights the critical role of skills in driving productivity, innovation, inclusion, and resilience in Europe. From the European Year of Skills to the newly launched Union of Skills initiative, the EU is strengthening its capacity to equip workers and businesses with the right skills for the twin digital and green transitions.

Registrations are now closed — but the conversation continues online — join us live on YouTube!

The conference will bring together over 250 key EU stakeholders to provide actionable insights on Europe’s evolving skills and education landscape. By leveraging Cedefop’s skills intelligence, discussions will focus on how vocational education and training (VET), upskilling, reskilling, and lifelong learning can reinforce Europe’s economic sovereignty and social cohesion. It will address crucial topics such as the future of vocational education and training, bridging the gap between learning and the labour market, and better skills for EU citizens.

Key Themes and Sessions:

• Next-generation skills intelligence, a vital tool for informing policy and supporting effective vocational training and skills development systems.
• Towards the new EU strategy on VET and skills, from Copenhagen to Herning, the challenges of implementing EU priorities for VET and the outlook on cooperation and key priorities for the next decade.
• Attractiveness of the teaching profession, looking at the key factors affecting the attractiveness of the teaching profession, and strategies to address teacher shortages in Europe, also in the context of the upcoming EU teachers’ agenda.
• The future of European policies and Cedefop’s role, a deep dive into the evolving landscape of European policies, focusing on key challenges and opportunities. 

With keynote addresses from EU Commissioners and Members of the European Parliament, alongside expert panel discussions with social partners and policy makers, this conference is a strategic forum for shaping next-generation policies that connect skills, competitiveness, and Europe's long-term prosperity.

Participants will also have the opportunity to connect with stakeholders and initiatives at dedicated partner stands throughout the venue, including:

• The AILEEN project (Centres of vocAtIonaL Excellence in aErospace & defence for advanced manufacturing).
• The IFAPME Walloon Institute for work-based learning and self-employed training, and small and medium-sized companies.
• WorldSkills & EuroSkills Herning 2025
• PM² Methodologies, developed by the European Commission.  

Registrations are now closed — but the conversation continues live on YouTube from anywhere.
Still want to attend in person? Please contact Catherine Wintrebert to inquire about last-minute availability.

Check out the programme.

_{(*) Due to limited capacity, registration does not guarantee participation in the event. You will receive an email notification once your participation has been approved. Please note that expenses for participation will not be reimbursed.}

The workshop will be informed by key findings from Cedefop’s ReferNet survey, which examined the current state of comparison and recognition of VET qualifications in Europe. The primary objective of the workshop is to investigate the feasibility of developing a methodology for comparing and recognising VET qualifications, with a focus on recognising foreign qualifications for the purposes of employment and further studies.
During the workshop, experts will discuss key topics, including:

• Approaches and criteria for comparing and recognising VET qualifications for learning and work ;
• The use of digitalisation and transparency tools to support comparison and recognition of VET qualifications;
• Recognising foreign VET qualifications for the purpose of employment.

The outcomes of this workshop will contribute to a better understanding of the complexities involved in comparing and recognising VET qualifications and will help shape Cedefop's future work in this area. By exploring the challenges and opportunities related to this topic, the workshop aims to provide a foundation for further research, discussion, and collaboration among stakeholders, ultimately supporting the development of more effective and efficient systems for comparison and recognition of VET qualifications in Europe.
 

Cedefop joined forces with Unesco-Unevoc to support policy makers and other stakeholders navigate the “greening” of VET. In this webinar, Cedefop will present its latest practical guide on Meeting skill needs for the green transition: skills anticipation and VET for a greener future, which comes to complement Unesco-Unevoc’s online platform on Greening TVET for a greener future.

Cedefop experts will explain how skills anticipation and governance can drive greening efforts, and how apprenticeship, upskilling, reskilling, validation, and microcredentials can contribute to a greener future. Experts from Unesco-Unevoc and other organisations will enrich the discussion with good examples from Europe and beyond and discuss how green ambitions for VET and skills can practically be translated into policy implementation.

Join us to find out:

• how skills forecasts, big data analysis, and foresight can be leveraged in the green transition
• why and how effective stakeholder collaboration contributes to a just green transition
• what it takes to ‘green’ apprenticeship and to support SMEs in providing it in local skills ecosystems
• how AI can be used to ‘green’ programmes, curricula and teacher training  

The webinar is part of the 2025 EU Green Week. 

Programme

In this forum, ReferNet members will have the opportunity to discuss issues related to vocational education and training (VET), skills and qualifications, improve their knowledge by sharing information on recent developments in national policies and systems while at the same time hear and learn about the VET system of Poland. The second of this year’s partnership forum will take place on 11 and 12 April 2025 in Warsaw, Poland.

We warmly thank the Educational Research Institute - National Research Institute and the national ReferNet Poland team for hosting the event.

ReferNet is a network of institutions across Europe representing the 27 Member States, plus Iceland and Norway. The network provides Cedefop with information and analysis on national vocational education and training, skills and qualifications. National partners also disseminate information on European VET and Cedefop’s work to stakeholders in the EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. ReferNet publications can be accessed through the ReferNet page on Cedefop’s website.

Take part in the discussions #ReferNet

Register here       

Over the past three years, Cedefop has conducted extensive research on the use of learning outcomes in vocational education and training (VET) across Europe.  Our findings highlight the increasing use of the learning outcomes approach, while also revealing a wide diversity in how it is understood and implemented.

This conference will thus provide a platform to:

• Explore how learning outcomes-based curricula are influencing teaching practices in both school-based and company training settings;
• Discuss implications for assessment strategies;
• Share lessons learned and policy suggestions to support future developments.

Methodology of the conference 

Following a keynote speech on Cedefop’s study and overall findings, participants will be given the opportunity to hear about national case study examples and share their insights in four dedicated breakout sessions:

• Breakout room 1: Understanding and ownership of the learning outcomes approach: How can we ensure that all stakeholders are engaged?
• Breakout room 2: Learning outcomes across the teacher education continuum: How can we empower teachers and trainers?          
• Breakout room 3: Learning outcomes impact on assessment: How can we ensure alignment of teaching, learning and assessment?
• Breakout Room 4: Building on what we know: What tools do we need to share practices on learning outcomes?
  Participants will engage directly with various panellists -including policy makers and practitioners- on the implementation of the learning outcomes approach. The panel discussion will promote an active exchange of ideas, encouraging participants to share their experience and ideas on the actual use of learning outcomes in practice.

Participants will engage directly with various panellists -including policy makers and practitioners- on the implementation of the learning outcomes approach. The panel discussion will promote an active exchange of ideas, encouraging participants to share their experience and ideas on the actual use of learning outcomes in practice.

This seminar will focus on the issue of inclusion of young people not in employment, education, or training (NEETs) in today’s labour market and the role VET can play in this.

The event aims to address the following four key questions:

1. What are the main barriers preventing NEETs from (re)entering the labour market, and how can these be mitigated?
2. How may vocational education and training (VET) and holistic targeted policies support specific groups of NEETs, such as female NEETs and remote NEETs?
3. What is the profile and qualifications of teachers supporting NEETs and how can they be empowered?
4. How can microcredentials support the inclusion of NEETs into the workforce?

The main objective of this seminar is to inform Brussels-based stakeholders about Cedefop’s latest research findings, knowledge hub and interactive toolkits on inclusion, providing an opportunity to showcase successful intervention approaches to empower NEETs as well as to foster policy debate and facilitate networking.