Vocational Education and Training Policy update Presentation at Peer Learning Activity Using ECVET principles to support flexible pathways in WBL and Apprenticeships Bilbao and San Sebastián, 17 and 18 May 2017 Joao SANTOS European Commission, Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Unit E3, Vocational training, Apprenticeships and Adult learning 1
Content of presentation 1. European policy priorities on Apprenticeships 2. The VET instruments/tools - Looking ahead 3. Vocational Skills Week 4. ErasmusPRO supporting long duration mobility 2
European policy priorities on Apprenticeships 3
VET Apprenticeships Policy context: call for action! Addressing the challenge - What we know: Member States with well-developed VET Apprenticeship systems and other forms of WBL, are usually characterised by low youth unemployment levels and high economic competitiveness. Although youth unemployment has decreased from more than 24% in January 2013 to 17% in February 2017, it is still too high, with peaks of more than 40% in several MS In 2015, more than 6,6 million young people (aged 15-24 years) were neither in employment nor in education or training (NEETs) in the EU. In February 2017, around 3,9 million young people (aged 15-24 years) were unemployed Long-term youth unemployment is still at record highs. In 2017 youth unemployment rate is still more than double overall 8% unemployment rate 4
What is the European Alliance for Apprenticeships? A multi-stakeholder platform, supporting its members through: Networking Network of apprenticeship experts Learning Sharing experiences and best practices Tools Guidelines, practical tools and resources Information News, reports, events and funding Visibility Focus on apprenticeships Focus on: Supply Quality Mobility Image 5
Youth initiative Adopted 7 December 2016 "Investing in Europe's Youth" 1. Apprenticeships support services 2. Proposal for tracking of outcomes for graduates (including VET) 3. A Quality framework for apprenticeships 4. Proposal on "ErasmusPRO" on mobility of apprentices (work-placements) Also includes measures on: European Solidarity Corps, modernising School, and Higher education, and Agenda for Schools and Teachers 6
EAFA Support services: The concept Learn Connect "Knowledge Hub" "Networking Hub" Act "Bench-learning" Bring together key toolkits, guidelines, studies, best practices, etc. that can serve for knowledge clustering at the European level Facilitate networking and develop communities of practice between stakeholders with similar interests, challenges and actions Demand driven support through expert advice and enhanced mutual learning 7
Graduate tracking What is it all about? Collecting information about: Former students' entry into labour market (or pursuit of further studies) (Mainly) through: Graduate surveys Their career paths The way they use their skills The way they view the role of their education Other relevant questions Cross-referencing existing data(bases) Combining surveys and existing data
Graduate tracking What can it be used for? Guiding study choice of learners Feedback for teachers and education and training providers Information for planning and steering systems Draft Council Recommendation foreseen to be adopted during 2 nd Quarter of 2017 at the same time as the Communication on Higher education
European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships (EFQEA) 2013 Joint Declaration of Commission, Social Partners and LT Presidency at the launch of the EAfA 2013 Council Declaration on "European Alliance for Apprenticeships", includes quality elements 2016 Joint Statement of EU Social partners 2016 ACVT Opinion on "A Shared Vision on Quality and Effective Apprenticeships and Work-based learning" 2017 Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation (foreseen) Will also underpin the quality of apprenticeships supported through EU programmes (Youth Guarantee, YEI, Erasmus+, and European Social Fund), as well as EU initiatives (EAFA and P4Y) 10
EFQEA The conceptual challenges How to build on the work of EU social partners (without simply replicating it), and design an instrument that "adds value" for Quality Apprenticeships? How to respond to Member States concerns as expressed in the ACVT: diversity of systems in Europe: School based or employment based, Apprenticeship-WBL, etc. avoid administrative burden (monitoring and reporting): link with Riga and European Semester How to combine the new elements with numerous existing guidelines, tools and instruments, and create a consolidated, and coherent framework? What have we learnt from the Quality Framework for Traineeships? 11
EFQEA The conceptual framework European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships EU Social partners Quality Framework Traineeships ACVT opinion EAfA Council declaration Quality criteria Framework conditions Support services, VET Week, EU Funding, Monitoring Input Follow-up 12
QFA The next steps 30-31 May 2017 - High-level event in Malta, marking the first four years of the Alliance July 2017 Proposal of Quality Framework for Apprenticeships 7-8 September - Cedefop Policy Learning Forum October 2017 - Erasmus+ call on joint VET Qualifications 26-27 October - EAFA seminar Supporting candidate countries 22 November 2017 - EAFA meeting (focus on digital skills) End 2017 - EU support services on apprenticeships 13
The VET instruments/tools Looking ahead 14
The Skills Agenda A new step forward Quality & relevance of skills Visibility and comparability Skills intelligence 1. Upskilling Pathways 2. Key Competences Framework 5. Revision of EQF 7. Revision of EUROPASS 8. Analysis of brain drain 3. VET as a first choice (EQAVET+ECVET revision) 4. Digital Skills and Jobs coalition 6. Skills profile tool for 3rd country nationals 9. Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills 10. Initiative on graduate tracking 1
The VET instruments/tools What is being done right now? 1 EQAVET Work on EQAVET+ with new descriptors and indicators, i.e. to better address: quality of workbased learning role of learning outcome approach ECVET Work on ECVET strengths: as a tool to improve mobility (joint development with Europass) as a model for reforms towards more flexible vocational pathways
The VET instruments/tools Related work for VET modernisation 2016-2018 2017 2017-2018 2017-2018 Study on the changing nature and role of VET in Europe future challenges and opportunities Cedefop Riga Monitoring - The 2017 progress report Cedefop and ETF Study on instruments supporting quality and flexibility in VET To be launched in August 2017 Study on vocational mobility To be launched in August 2017 1
The European Vocational Skills Week 18
Why do we need a Vocational Skills Week? Priority in Skills Agenda, and 2015 Riga Conclusions: "Raise the attractiveness and improve the image of VET" VET is often (but wrongly) seen as a 2 nd choice "if nothing else works then maybe VET" We needed to: Showcase VET Excellence and Quality VET as a "smart" choice for both young and adults, with benefits for learners, companies, and society 19
2016 Week Results: Evaluation (in numbers) 1,733 events were registered and 983 were accepted 784,569 participants in national events and activities 1500 attendees in Brussels, plus 1021 views online Total media reach: 71,288,481 (68,116,412 online, 3,172,069 print) Social media campaign targets were all exceeded Nearly 300 online + print media items in 37 countries Most successful video: Norwegian Minister of Education 20
2016 Week Results: Evaluation (in quality) 72% of national activities organised as a result of the Week 91% of respondents said the Week had improved image of VET 90% of Brussels participants said their expectations were met or exceeded 93% of Business Forum participants said they would do something different on VET as a result of the Week Small budget for communication: high leverage of local events without direct financial support from the Commission 21
Commissioner Thyssen announcing the 2017 Week http://europa.eu/!kc37jf 22
Looking ahead 2017 Vocational Skills Week When: 20 to 24 November 2017 (all local events taking place from September to December 2017 can be registered as part of the Week) Where: Local, local and local with 2 days of events in Brussels (plus closing) VET Awards: Set of category of awards as "symbols" of VET excellence Ambassadors: Network of Ambassadors, as role models and mobilisers Targets: People involved in events at national and local levels: 1.000.000 Number of events/activities at national and local levels: 1.500 Participations in events organised by the Commission in Brussels: 1.500 Thematic approach: Mobility, Partnerships, Sector approach to skills 23
2017 Vocational Skills Week Outline of key events Date Detail Venue 20/11 National opening events in the Member States with the participation of Commissioners and national authorities, VET learners, VET providers, companies, teachers and trainers, social partners. MS level 21/11 Day on Employers for Skills with a strong SME engagement and the involvement of the PES and VET providers. Focus on work-based learning (e.g. apprenticeships) as well as adults workplace learning. VET Week Ambassadors' to mobilise action for these events. MS level 22/11 A full day VET Conference. To include a high-level plenary focussing on the three themes related to the 2017 VET week, i.e. mobility, partnerships, and sectoral skills approaches covering competitiveness, skills for the future, and smart specialisation. Includes workshops bringing together VET stakeholders, Brussels 23/11 "Business-Education Summit" organised in the context of the Pact for Youth, together with CSR Europe. Brussels 24/11 Closing event including speakers from outside the EU and Europe, as well as a Eurovision style participation from a selected number of MS highlighting key national events. A VET awards ceremony, and an artistic performance or craft demonstration by vocational learners. Brussels and MS 24
ErasmusPRO supporting long duration mobility 25
VET/Apprenticeship mobility Policy context: call for action! 2015 - Erasmus Pro For a million young European apprentices by 2020 2016 - MEP Jean Arthuis Pilot project - Towards a single European apprenticeship framework 2016 - Youth Mobility Programme To make VET/apprenticeship an attractive, quality and equal choice for transitions to jobs 2017 - French Senate Supports Commission proposal and encourages the initiative to provide 50.000 new long duration mobility opportunities for VET learners 26
Collecting evidence Research, surveys, interviews Evidence in existing studies (e.g. effects of LdV) Analysis of the Erasmus+ participants survey (> 200,000 responses) Analysis of projects supporting long-duration mobility not currently financed by Erasmus+ (e.g. PIU, MobiPRO, Arthuis Pilot project, etc.) Analysis of current Erasmus+ beneficiaries Discussions with VET provider associations Discussions with Experts in VET mobility (including E+ NA's WG on VET mobility) Discussions with other VET stakeholders (e.g. ECVET, EAFA, P4Y, etc.) short-term placements (less than six months) help to improve personal and social skills, while longer placements also considerably improve professional skills. The willingness to improve foreign language skills or learn another language also increases perceptibly with the duration of the stay abroad In final report from: WSF Economic and Social Research, in Analysis of the Effects of LdV 27
Proven benefits of Long duration mobility For Learners Promote sense of European citizenship Develop foreign language and professional skills Develop general soft skills, adapting to new challenges, improve self-confidence, inter-cultural awareness, communication Facilitates school to work transition Boost Employability - First "job Experience" Readiness for labour market mobility For Society European citizenship Free movement of citizens - learner and labour mobility Higher employability rates Competitiveness and innovation For Companies Access to foreign skills and know-how Opportunity to influence VET curricula Involvement of SME as sending/receiving organizations Internationalization of enterprise activity For VET Institutions Internationalization of institutions and qualifications Trigger to innovation and improving teaching methods and learning materials Development of methods for transfer of knowledge and skills Recognition of learning outcomes (acquired abroad) Greater involvement with companies and VET institutes abroad Raise the attractiveness of VET schools and qualifications VET Professionals/Teachers continuous professional development 28
Erasmus+ VET learner surveys More than 200,000 learners have their say Skills/ Duration of mobility Erasmus+ VET KA1 - Participants survey Less than 1 month 1 to 3 months 3 to 6 months 6 months and more Qty. responses Level of satisfaction Qty. responses Level of satisfaction Qty. responses Level of satisfaction Qty. responses Level of satisfaction Employability 155.859 85,1% 43.273 88,2% 11.999 89,8% 1.327 91,0% Better skills 155.859 92,0% 43.273 91,8% 11.999 93,0% 1.327 94,5% Language skills 123.111 94,5% 38.784 96,1% 10.793 96,9% 1.200 97,5% Total 90,5% 92,0% 93,2% 94,3% Note: Level of satisfaction is the sum of the responses indicating: "Positive" and "Very positive" Source: Erasmus+ Dashboard. data extracted on 28 March 2017 29
ErasmusPRO Mobility: Potential participants 12 million VET learners in Europe 10,6 million VET learners secondary level (ISCED level 3) 1,4 million VET learners post-secondary level (ISCED Level 4) 3,1 million VET graduates (less than 12 months) VET ANNUAL INFLOW: ISCED level 3 has 3.3 million new entrants annually, and ISCED level 4 has 0.7 million new entrants (4 million total) Erasmus+ supports the mobility of around 3% of the annual inflow of VET learners. Source: Eurostat March 2017. 30
Facts on current use of Erasmus+ VET Mobility (Ka1) Demand for VET mobility is much higher than the current Erasmus+ budget can support. Only 40% of the VET KA1 eligible applications were satisfied in 2016. Duration of mobility Registered participants (Erasmus+ VET KA1 2014-2016) Number of mobilities % Duration Less than 1 month 182.900 71,5% 1 to 3 months 54.970 21,5% 3 to 6 months 15.654 6,1% 6 months and more 2.179 0,9% Total 255.703 Source: Erasmus+ Dashboard. Data extracted on 2 May 2017 Average duration of VET learner mobility is 32 days (compared to 139 days in HE). The median (and mode) age of VET learners in mobility is 18 (HE mode = 21) Mode: Age occurring most often. Median: age in the middle of the set of ages. 31
Erasmus+ VET Mobility (Ka1) TOP SENDING countries (by duration) Member State Summary of VET mobility duration by Member State Registered mobilities (SENDING country) (Erasmus+ VET KA1 2014-2016) Up to 1 month 1 to 3 months 3 to 6 months More than 6 months Total Mobilities % Mobilities % Mobilities % Mobilities % Mobilities Ave. Duration DE 28.824 76,5% 7.539 20,0% 1.060 2,8% 259 0,7% 37.682 30 14,7% FR 24.920 71,7% 7.264 20,9% 1.475 4,2% 1.111 3,2% 34.770 35 13,6% PL 22.811 96,6% 611 2,6% 189 0,8% 0 0,0% 23.611 21 9,2% TR 16.437 94,6% 804 4,6% 99 0,6% 34 0,2% 17.374 19 6,8% IT 6.038 37,6% 7.886 49,1% 2.124 13,2% 19 0,1% 16.067 40 6,3% NL 5.118 34,5% 4.578 30,9% 4.872 32,8% 266 1,8% 14.834 72 5,8% UK 9.641 84,6% 1.227 10,8% 491 4,3% 40 0,4% 11.399 22 4,5% ES 1.540 15,1% 6.183 60,5% 2.278 22,3% 213 2,1% 10.214 59 4,0% RO 9.312 93,9% 608 6,1% 0 0,0% 0 0,0% 9.920 19 3,9% CZ 8.047 95,4% 359 4,3% 14 0,2% 11 0,1% 8.431 18 3,3% AT 3.286 42,1% 3.350 42,9% 1.168 14,9% 9 0,1% 7.813 50 3,1% HU 3.711 62,2% 1.669 28,0% 553 9,3% 29 0,5% 5.962 38 2,3% Total 182.900 71,5% 54.970 21,5% 15.654 6,1% 2.179 0,9% 255.703 32 100,0% % 32
Erasmus+ VET Mobility (Ka1) Average duration of VET mobility (in days) Registered VET mobilities in the period 2014-2016 Average duration of VET learner mobility is 32 days (compared to 139 days in HE). 59 72 50 53 50 22 19 14 18 30 23 32 15 40 35 15 38 22 25 40 25 23 32 17 32 29 21 19 28 19 19 19 22 AT BE BG CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR UK33
ErasmusPRO Mobility: Work placements for VET/apprentices Purpose of ErasmusPRO : To increase the number of long-duration VET mobility (6 to 12 months) in work-placements abroad How will ErasmusPRO be supported by EU funding: A proposal for a specific activity within Erasmus+ VET Key Action 1 - Not a new programme Target participants: VET learners, Apprentices and recent VET graduates (less than 12 months after graduation) Designing "ErasmusPRO" Providing an attractive instrument to support LDM New Activity in E+ Ka1 Dedicated (flexible) budget Incentives for LDM projects (award criteria) Incentives for learner (daily allowance) Support preparation, implementation, follow-up New priority in Ka2 Strategic partnerships Use of E+ Transnational Cooperation Activities Fostering demand for "ErasmusPRO" Mobilising offer of work-placements Companies making full use of EU initiatives and networks, such as EAfA, Pact for Youth, and VET Skills Week VET providers expert network (VET4EU2) Other stakeholders - Social partners, DGVT, ACVT, E+ National Agencies, ESF Managing authorities, Sector Skills Alliances projects 34
ErasmusPRO Mobility: The funding mechanism ErasmusPRO increasing opportunities Creating new VET mobility opportunities In addition to initial Erasmus+ targets New long duration opportunities Erasmus+ VET mobility budget (KA1) 2014-2020 Erasmus+ 2014-2020 Targets for VET mobility 650,000 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 35
ErasmusPRO Mobility: E+ Committee meeting on 3 April Very participative discussion with more than 20 MS intervening Countries welcome policy emphasis on VET mobility (both short and long duration) Issues of particular relevance for the Member states: indicative budget assigned for ErasmusPRO projects should include a flexibility mechanism that allows non-used resources to be available for short duration mobility ErasmusPRO could cover projects with a duration ranging from 3 to 12 months, instead of only 6 to 12 months as proposed by the Commission Include accompanying measures to prepare the long-duration mobility (e.g. staff mobility to prepare learner mobility) 36
ErasmusPRO The next steps 37 3 April 2017 Presentation of outline of proposal at Erasmus+ Programme Committee 27-28 June 2017 Discussion of Commission proposal at Erasmus+ Programme Committee October 2017 Publication of General call for Erasmus+ (including ErasmusPRO) February 2018 Deadline for presentation of applications for ErasmusPRO June 2018 First VET Learners/apprentices in ErasmusPRO long-duration mobility VERY IMPORTANT Mobilize companies and VET providers to make use of this opportunity
Find out more The New Skills Agenda for Europe http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catid=1223 Vocational Skills Week: http://ec.europa.eu/social/vocationalskillsweek European Alliance for Apprenticeships: http://ec.europa.eu/apprenticeships-alliance Pact for Youth: http://www.csreurope.org/pactforyouth 38