Kommissarin Vassiliou unterstreicht strategische Rolle der beruflichen Bildung

Die Berufsbildung spielt eine strategische Rolle bei der Unterstützung der Wirtschaften raus aus der Krise wieder auf einen nachhaltigen Wachstumspfad, so Androulla Vassiliou, Kommissarin für Bildung, Kultur, Mehrsprachigkeit und Jugend bei einer Konferenz der Europäischen Stiftung für Berufsbildung.



Commissioner Vassiliou stresses strategic role of vocational education

European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, and representatives of 33 countries, from Morocco to Uzbekistan- ministers, experts, members of professional organisations - met in Turin for a two day education policy conference.

The participants of the conference, which is organised by the European Training Foundation (ETF) and is meant to allow mutual learning between the EU and its southern and eastern neighbours, are looking for education options that can improve people’s chances of finding decent employment.

'Vocational training has a strategic role to play in helping our economies get out of the crisis and in putting us back onto a sustainable growth path', said Androulla Vassiliou.

The EU forecasts that by 2020 there will be a continuing need for people with intermediate level, vocational skills, who will occupy over half of all jobs in the economy.

However, these workers will need more advanced skills and a more complex combination of skills.

'We can look at the example of nurses', said Ms. Vassiliou. 'An aging population will need increased healthcare services. At the same time, advances in science and technological progress mean that healthcare professionals will need more advanced training. In response to these trends many countries require nurses to have tertiary level qualifications.'

The assessment is also relevant to EU neighbouring countries, where the ETF works helping to improve education policies.

'In the countries south and east of the EU, young people find it particularly difficult to get a job and begin an independent life', said Madlen Serban, director of the ETF.

The conference organisers propose that the postsecondary vocational education - often more affordable than higher education, with short cycles, practical degrees, and strong links to the labour market, business and higher education - can make a positive difference.

'Who provides education is of secondary importance', said Madlen Serban. 'We put emphasis on the content and relevance of skills and qualifications. The key is employability.'

The title of the conference "Linked Learning" refers to important links between vocational education and higher education, between vocational education and the labour market, and among vocational schools, enterprises and universities. All these relationships are important for the education system so that it can make a positive difference to people's lives.

The ETF is confident that vocational education and training has the potential to provide skills for jobs and ensure that people at any stage of their careers can always progress.