How quality assurance processes can be used to make VET more attractive?

How quality assurance processes can be used to make VET more attractive?

This is the topic of a peer learning activity organis on 28 - 29 November 2019 by the EQAVET Secretariat (the European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training) in partnership with DEQAVET (the National Reference Point in Germany) and BIBB (the German Federal Institute for VET). The event was an opportunity to discuss whether different approaches to quality assurance help to make VET more attractive and are there any specific quality assurance activities that have encouraged more learners to consider VET as an option.

Several experiences both form system and providers level from Germany, Spain and the Netherlands were shared and discussed during the event.

The event was as well an opportunity to discuss/confirm some of the conclusions of a CEDEFOP research paper back to 2014, that identified the following system-level initiatives that have made initial VET more attractive:

• improving the permeability of educational pathways by offering access to other education and training opportunities;
• expanding opportunities to access higher education through double-qualifying pathways;
• promoting work-based learning to attract students who prefer a more practical path or the possibility of learning on the job while working;
• improving access for special groups, including low-skilled, disabled and socially and economically less advantaged young people, older non-traditional students, learners from minority ethnic groups, and migrants to help ensure their employability;
• improving the quality of initial VET by developing and implementing national quality assurance frameworks;
• increasing the transparency of qualifications and programmes, through measures such as developing national qualification frameworks and adopting European frameworks;
• recognising and validating non-formal and informal learning by assessing knowledge, skills and competences. This can make new or higher level qualifications more accessible, and open up formal learning opportunities for individuals who would not otherwise be admitted to a particular programme;
• improving guidance and counselling systems so that students have adequate, reliable and up-to-date information before making choices about initial VET programmes;
• emphasising skill development in initial VET through such means as skills competitions and award ceremonies;
  
   
• raising the awareness of initial VET through media campaigns that focus on labour market prospects.
  
   

More details about this PLA are available on the EQAVET website at the following link: https://www.eqavet.eu/What-We-Do/peer-learning-activities/How-QA-proces…