Meeting in Seville on vocational training in the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU
The ILO office for Spain participated in the meeting of directors-general on vocational training, organised on 23 and 24 October on the occasion of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training.
25 October 2023
Content also available in:
español
MADRID (ILO News) - The event focused on the challenges facing vocational training in the EU framework and the possibility of moving towards automatic mutual recognition of vocational training qualifications among member states.
The debate was addressed by the Spanish Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Pilar Alegría, the European Commissioner for Employment, Nicholas Schmit and EU Directors-General for Vocational Training, the Spanish and European social partners, experts from the European institutions and international organisations, such as the ILO office for Spain.
In this context, the debate focused on the need for investment in vocational training by states, in basic education, in basic work skills, as well as in lifelong learning opportunities for workers.
The technical advisor of the ILO office for Spain, Sara López, speaker on the panel "Attracting skills and talent through automatic mutual recognition", pointed out how the ILO's international standards promote, precisely, that countries develop training and human resources development policies together with the social partners. “Adopting a harmonised European area of vocational training through the mutual recognition of qualifications and promoting mobility would put the EU in a better position in terms of attracting talent and competitiveness in the global economy.”
She also stressed how vocational training policies in the EU must take into account not only the skills needed for the occupation or the suitability of learning, but also the demand for skills and employment potential, both current and future, and the evolution of production and service processes, so that trainees are able to adapt to new changes in the world of work through acquired learning.
The gender perspective must also be mainstreamed when trying to attract talent in countries to address the shortage of workers. "Women are in the minority in vocational qualifications with the highest labour demand, especially when it comes to digitalisation and STEAM skills. We need to be able to attract female talent as well," she said on the panel.
The harmonisation of training systems is essential to then work on the recognition of qualifications and competences in a more agile, easier and less bureaucratic way, facilitating the free movement of trainees within the EU.
To achieve this, the participants agreed that the recognition of competences should be tackled through a cross-sectoral approach, with special attention to the most disadvantaged learners. Transparency and trust between countries will be key elements in advancing this mutual recognition across the EU and in meeting the European Pact's target of at least 60% of adults participating in training programmes each year.
The debate was addressed by the Spanish Minister of Education and Vocational Training, Pilar Alegría, the European Commissioner for Employment, Nicholas Schmit and EU Directors-General for Vocational Training, the Spanish and European social partners, experts from the European institutions and international organisations, such as the ILO office for Spain.
Talent attraction
The skills shortage is a reality across the EU. More than three quarters of EU companies claim to have difficulties in finding workers with the necessary skills; therefore, there is a mismatch between skills and demand, as highlighted by the social partners during the meeting.In this context, the debate focused on the need for investment in vocational training by states, in basic education, in basic work skills, as well as in lifelong learning opportunities for workers.
The technical advisor of the ILO office for Spain, Sara López, speaker on the panel "Attracting skills and talent through automatic mutual recognition", pointed out how the ILO's international standards promote, precisely, that countries develop training and human resources development policies together with the social partners. “Adopting a harmonised European area of vocational training through the mutual recognition of qualifications and promoting mobility would put the EU in a better position in terms of attracting talent and competitiveness in the global economy.”
She also stressed how vocational training policies in the EU must take into account not only the skills needed for the occupation or the suitability of learning, but also the demand for skills and employment potential, both current and future, and the evolution of production and service processes, so that trainees are able to adapt to new changes in the world of work through acquired learning.
The gender perspective must also be mainstreamed when trying to attract talent in countries to address the shortage of workers. "Women are in the minority in vocational qualifications with the highest labour demand, especially when it comes to digitalisation and STEAM skills. We need to be able to attract female talent as well," she said on the panel.
Mutual recognition
During the meeting, the social partners and the various experts in the debate shared experiences and emphasised the need for clear and uniform standards for vocational training across the EU.The harmonisation of training systems is essential to then work on the recognition of qualifications and competences in a more agile, easier and less bureaucratic way, facilitating the free movement of trainees within the EU.
To achieve this, the participants agreed that the recognition of competences should be tackled through a cross-sectoral approach, with special attention to the most disadvantaged learners. Transparency and trust between countries will be key elements in advancing this mutual recognition across the EU and in meeting the European Pact's target of at least 60% of adults participating in training programmes each year.