Scenarios for European vocational education and training in the 21st century

Are there future scenarios for vocational education and training (VET)?

Would you like to know how VET has developed in European countries, since 1995?

Here is your chance. 

Read the report of Cedefop's project Changing nature and role of vocational education and training (VET) in Europe (2016-18). We are sure you will like it because the project looked at the past of vocational education. 

First, we carried out a detailed analysis of VET developments since 1995. Then, we developed a series of potential future paths. The future scenarios show consistent pictures of how VET could evolve in the future. Do not think that the scenarios will predict the future. The scenarios help national authorities and stakeholders to face the future challenges in their countries. The figure below shows the 3 basic scenarios and the position of VET within education systems. Read chapter 6 of the report to see which scenario would suit your context best.

What have we learnt with this project?

European VET varies between countries and changes in many ways. Countries develop diverse programmes and qualifications that expand into higher levels. So we understand that VET can be academic too. Some countries make a step towards making lifelong learning a reality. In other countries, young people select general education and this challenges traditional VET.

The report concludes the first phase of Cedefop’s long-term research on the future of VET in Europe. Stay tuned for the second phase (2020-22) which will build on the work presented in the current report.