Innovation and digitalisation: a report of the ET 2020 Working Group on Vocational Education and Training (VET): eight insights for pioneering new approaches

There is great potential for innovation and digitalisation to boost high quality vocational education and training (VET) and higher VET. In turn, this could enhance the employability and personal development of young learners and people of working age, ultimately contributing to tackling the major environmental, social and economic challenges of contemporary times. Despite this promise, the potential of innovation and digitalisation in VET has yet to be fully exploited. Over two years from 2018 to 2020, the VET Working Group worked to unpack the broad potential of innovation and...  [+] Show more

There is great potential for innovation and digitalisation to boost high quality vocational education and training (VET) and higher VET. In turn, this could enhance the employability and personal development of young learners and people of working age, ultimately contributing to tackling the major environmental, social and economic challenges of contemporary times. Despite this promise, the potential of innovation and digitalisation in VET has yet to be fully exploited. Over two years from 2018 to 2020, the VET Working Group worked to unpack the broad potential of innovation and digitalisation to support higher quality, more flexible and more modern VET, taking account of existing policies and strategies (e.g. smart specialisation strategies for local and regional development), tools (e.g. SELFIE for work-based learning, the self-reflection tool for digitally capable VET schools) and practices (e.g. case study examples and country approaches).

The purpose of this report, the final output of the Working Group on VET, is to examine innovation and digitalisation with the goal of creating more flexible and modern high quality European VET. It considers the impact of innovation and digitalisation on VET as well as the ways VET might support digitalisation and innovation more proactively in the wider economy and society. It examines the challenges and opportunities in teaching and learning, the role partnerships and cooperation can play in VET and the governance and investment frameworks needed, taking into account trends such as ageing populations, globalisation, social inclusion and the circular economy. The report also takes into account the unprecedented economic and social disruption caused by the [Coronavirus Disease 2019] COVID-19 pandemic, as well as unforeseen opportunities with regard to digital technology fuelled by the crisis.

Edited excerpts from publication.