The European Training Foundation (ETF)’s Network for Excellence -ENE- was launched in 2020 and is supporting CoVEs (Centers of Vocational Excellence) and VET providers towards excellence in relevant and quality skills delivery through strategic development partnerships. The global ENE network has more than 270 members from more than 40 different countries –and it is still growing. The purpose of ENE is to promote excellence and innovation in VET to support employment and education systems in a lifelong learning perspective.
Within ENE, the Sharing Innovation in Social Inclusion -Skills for Inclusion VET initiative (SISI initiative) conducts peer activities and reviews and provides structured peer learning and practice sharing. It is implemented in collaboration with the ENAIP NET.
This third thematic meeting shared some of the developments and presented some of the results of peer learning and reviews conducted within this partnership as well as selected practice examples. It provided reflections and policy recommendations on how VET institutions, policymakers, employer organizations and other relevant stakeholders work together to support the skills for inclusion agenda. It captured what we have learned as SISI members in the period 2021-2022, and we are looking forward to 2023.
The online webinar focused on how work based learning can play a crucial role particularly for individuals with fewer opportunities and/or from marginalized communities, who face barriers to accessing education and employment opportunities.
The aim of the meeting was to show how learners can be endowed with hands-on experience in real work settings and how work based learning enables them to develop the practical skills, knowledge, confidence, and job-specific competencies that increase their employability and social mobility.
Addressing the skills gap between job seekers and employer needs, work-based learning can ensure that learners are prepared to meet the demands of their chosen field. Overall, work-based learning offers a transformative pathway to access employment opportunities and achieve economic empowerment, thereby promoting social inclusion.
The event was in English without interpretation online on 18 May 2023 from 11.00 to 13.00 CEST.
Here the recording in English of the event:
The third Peer Learning discussion within the ETF ENE SISI - Work based learning for skills for inclusion thematic meeting was yet another incredible success! I am still overwhelmed by the satisfaction and emotions the peer learning webinar’s presentations and discussions gave us all today. CONGRATULATIONS! We are all proud of you/your work and above all the way you kept everybody ‘s engagement and interest in what you are doing/achieved and planned to continue.
The ETF ENE Sharing Innovation in Social Inclusion initiative draws on the collective experience of 11 CoVEs in innovative social inclusion policies, frameworks, tools and methodology, practices to enhance visibility, collaboration, and support innovative social inclusion practices.
The initiative seeks to use input from CoVEs to offset public discourse on skills and vocational education and training (VET) with the broader social and cultural roles VET plays to;
reduce socio-economic inequalities and increase social mobility;
promote socialisation by providing learners with a professional identity and a sense of belonging to a professional community;
prepare learners for the civic role they play in society;
foster equity by opening up learning pathways;
We thank also colleagues/experts from Portugal and Brazil who presented their work and developments . Thank you.
The presented work in partnerships, showed how much importance is given to local/country and transnational multi-stakeholders partnerships for developing inclusive skills.
Your discussions, presentations, and answers to the questions of participants, show that it is very important to support the development of multi-stakeholders’ partnerships at a global level by involving policymakers, employment agencies, regional development authorities, VET institutions, universities, research centres, companies, NGOs and CSOs- all actions and programmes that are interlinked with the country/local strategic development objectives and the socio-economic context.
There are requests from our partners to extend the partnership with new members- and we look forward. The aim of this partnership is to connect with networks across borders.
All the members of the ETF ENE SISI thematic members will meet in the coming month to align their requests/interests on contents and methodology for the fourth and last thematic meeting planned for ETF ENE SISI. The idea is to agree on the main areas they agree to co work in the upcoming period.
Warmest greeting Lida Kita
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