What Future for Vocational Education and Training in Europe? Briefing Note

Jobs, labour markets and economies are rapidly changing: globalisation, technology and a growing services sector are both causes and symptoms. Ageing populations and dwindling youth cohorts, on the one hand, and labour migration, on the other, are affecting workforce composition. And that's not to mention the lingering impact of the financial crisis. All these are leaving their mark on European economies and societies. Against this backdrop, what is the role of vocational education and training (VET) in Europe in addressing the challenges ahead? To help in shaping future policies, a Cedefop project considers different routes and multiple options for VET. An analysis of VET developments since 1995 has helped to outline a series of potential paths -- scenarios -- pointing towards plausible and consistent pictures of how VET can evolve by 2035, depending on today's decisions and policy choices. Using these scenarios, Cedefop intends to inform strategic discussions on future European cooperation on VET.