Policy Engagement
In its 20 years of life, EVTA has developed as a major player in the European debate on Vocational Education and Training. EVTA is recognised as the reference network seen as a leading partner by the relevant actors in Europe in the field of Lifelong Learning and the management of professional competences.
Our organisation is regularly invited for participating, contributing and consulting on key events and working groups in the area of vocational training. Our commitment is reflected in our participation to such activities and initiatives launched by European institutions and by other stakeholders active on the field.
All outcomes and reports from our policy engagement are made available to all of our members through exclusive to the EVTA members communication channels.
EVTA takes part in the following working groups:
Platform of European Associations of VET Providers (E03298) established by DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion with the aim to be supported by VET providers’ representatives in defining policy priorities and implementing them at local level, providing stakeholders’ feedback, facilitating cooperation and exchanges among stakeholders.
Expert group on Graduate Tracking (E03580) established with the aim to improve the quality and relevance of higher education and vocational education and training by obtaining good quality information about what graduates do after obtaining their qualification or after leaving education and training without obtaining a qualification.
Europass Advisory Group (E03613) established by DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion with the aim to advise the Commission on a strategic approach to implementation, progress, evaluation and future development of Europass, to advise the Commission on the development and updating of the Europass online platform, web-based tools, including Europass Supplements, and information provided by the platform and to support peer learning activities, best practice exchanges and peer counselling to support the implementation of the Decision.
The VET4EU2 platform is a joint force formed by 6 European Associations (EVTA, EfVET, EUproVET, EVBB, EUCEN and EURASHE), following their joint contribution made in the occasion of the Bruges Communiqué in 2010, with the aim of influencing the content of European policies on Vocational Education and Training issues. VET4EU2 has a joint objective of assuring quality in VET and promoting VET in the current society.
EVTA is among the founding members of the Lifelong Learning Platform, an umbrella organisation that gathers 40 European organisations active in the field of education, training and youth. Currently, the networks members of the Platform represent more than 50.000 educational institutions and associations covering all sectors of formal, non-formal and informal learning, reaching out to several millions of beneficiaries.
LLLP has set up working groups to study in detail certain policy areas, hot topics and ideas relevant to the progress of lifelong learning in Europe. The Platform currently animates 4 working groups where EVTA representatives have been appointed as members:
- Wider Benefits of Learning
- Europe 2020 Policy Coherence: focused on the Post Paris Declaration
- Validation Task force
- Digital Learning
EVTA takes part in the European Alliance for Apprenticeship. We signed a pledge during its launch in July 2013 in Leipzig. The platform brings together governments with other key stakeholders, like businesses, social partners, chambers, vocational education and training (VET) providers, regions, youth representatives or think tanks.
The common goal is to strengthen the quality, supply and image of apprenticeships in Europe, and more recently mobility of apprenticeships has also emerged as an important topic.
EVTA signed the Pact for Youth, a mutual engagement of business and the European Union leaders. Initiated by CSR Europe, it brings together representatives for business, education and youth, and the European institutions. It calls on all businesses, social partners, education and training providers, youth organisations, public and private employment services, teachers, trainers, learners and parents as well as other key actors, to develop or consolidate partnerships in support of youth employability and inclusion.
The CEDEFOP’s Community of practitioners with main goal to promote quality in vocational education and training (VET) was set up in close cooperation with the main European associations of VET providers active in VET4EU2 Platform (including the European Vocational Training Association).
The community worked on a voluntary basis and served as channel for cooperation between CEDEFOP and VET providers.
The VET4EU2 platform’s role was to provide strategic guidance and feed into general Commission policy, while the community overall aimed at producing concrete practical guidance for practitioners, identifying good practice and maximising the use of European activities and results at grassroots level.
