Strengthening and connecting VET research in Europe

At a virtual conference hosted by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), representatives of national vocational education and training institutes and research facilities from 14 European countries spoke out in favour of further developing and strengthening VET research in Europe. The aim is to make an active contribution to sustainable vocational education and training in Europe by intensifying VET research in Europe, consolidating cooperation between institutes and facilities and establishing a corresponding network.

At the opening of the conference BIBB Director of Research Prof. Dr. Hubert Ertl stressed that „many issues in VET research are very similar in Europe and are transnational in nature“. „The Contribution of Research to Innovation in Vocational Education and Training (VET) – The role of institutionalized VET Research in Europe“. „For example, questions about the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on VET and digitization on the world of work are very topical. By forming a network, we will succeed in pooling research capacities, improving the exchange of information between the individual VET institutions in Europe and learning from each other“.

In order to identify common challenges and future cooperation in research, the first step was to survey the institutions and facilities on their organization, thematic priorities and working methods as well as their strategic integration into the country-specific discussions on the further development of vocational education and training. The discussions focused on the content and formats of cooperation, challenges for VET research and communication between science, politics and VET practice.

The BIBB conference marks the start of further events within the German EU Council Presidency aimed at strengthening VET research in Europe. For example, BIBB is organizing a workshop together with the European Research Network on Vocational Education and Training (VETNET) and the European Commission as part of the European Week of Vocational Education and Training that will take place from 9 to 13 November 2020.

For further information visit https://vetnetsite.org/conferences/european-vocational-skills-week and www.bibb.de/en/131177.php