Osnabruck declaration on vocational education and training as an enabler of recovery and just transitions to digital and green economies

The ministers in charge of vocational education and training (VET) in the EU Member States, candidate countries and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, the European social partners and the European Commission endorsed the declaration on 30 November 2020. The document, which replaces the Riga conclusions of 2015, sets out new policy actions in VET for the period of 2021-25 to complement and operationalise the vision and strategic objectives of the 'Council recommendation on vocational education and training for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience'. In the...  [+] Show more

The ministers in charge of vocational education and training (VET) in the EU Member States, candidate countries and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, the European social partners and the European Commission endorsed the declaration on 30 November 2020. The document, which replaces the Riga conclusions of 2015, sets out new policy actions in VET for the period of 2021-25 to complement and operationalise the vision and strategic objectives of the 'Council recommendation on vocational education and training for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience'.

In the declaration, the ministers vow to contribute to the post-COVID [Coronavirus Disease 2019] recovery and to further develop the European education and training area through future-oriented and innovative education and training systems to support the digital and green transitions and improve employability and competitiveness, stimulating economic growth. The declaration focuses on four main areas: (1) Resilience and excellence through quality, inclusive and flexible VET; (2) Establishing a new lifelong learning culture - relevance of continuing vocational education and training (C-VET) and digitalisation; (3) Sustainability - a green link in VET; (4) European Education and Training Area and international VET.

Edited excerpts from publisher's website.