VET for Integral and Inclusive Education in Europe

“Educating and Upskilling the Next Generation of the EU and beyond”

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The Covid-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on European societies and economies. The impact that the health crisis is currently having on all EU member states, with its repercussions in the areas of employment, education and training, among others, will be felt in the upcoming months
and years. In the face of an educational emergency for many learners who could not attend school classes during the hardest months of lockdown and the forecasted learning- and income-related losses for future generations, next steps in this area are pivotal for the future of European citizens and the younger generations. The recovery from the crisis calls for joint support from all actors to all areas, including education and training, to ensure that EU societies become more resilient and ready for the challenges ahead.

The recently adopted Osnabrück Declaration on vocational education and training and the Council Recommendation on VET for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience highlight that flexible, inclusive and quality Vocational Education Training (VET) is essential to
ensure the success of the green and digital transitions, lifelong learning and sustainability in the long-term, and to tackle inequalities and social discrepancies. VET contributes to strengthen social integration and inclusion, ensuring that learners can find a path leading to personal development and employability. The combination between education and practical training is fundamental to understand and accompany current and future needs of society and economy, while fostering a culture of education that is integral, participative and polyhedric.

The event “VET for integral and inclusive education in Europe”, jointly organised by COMECE and Don Bosco International, aims to explore the recent achievements of EU institutions and EU Member States in the field of Vocational Education and Training, in the perspective of the green and digital transitions and the changes brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. It also intends to highlight and discuss the contribution that VET providers are offering on the ground in EU countries and beyond, by providing quality vocational training, upskilling and reskilling programmes, working
towards inclusive and integral education in challenging times.

The event will gather representatives from EU institutions and VET providers from Europe, in order to create a platform for dialogue and exchange on the most urgent educational issues and on the solutions that VET can offer for the future of the EU.

The event will see the participation of Ms Janine Costa, Permanent Representation of Portugal to the EU; Mr Joao Santos, European Commission; Ms Miriam Lexmann MEP, European Parliament; Mr Denis Leclerc, Association Maisons Don Bosco; Mr Paolo Nardi, COMETA
Formazione and Mr Alfredo Garmendia, Centro San Viator, Red EBI and HETEL.

Joint COMECE-DBI online event
on Vocational Education and Training
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PROGRAMME
Thursday, 3 June 2021 – 10:00-12:00 (CEST)

WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
Fr Manuel Barrios Prieto
COMECE Secretary General

I. VET policies in the EU: next steps and vision for the future of Education
Ms Janine Costa
Education Attaché and Coordinator for Education, Youth
and Sport of the Portuguese Permanent Representation to the EU
Mr Joao Santos
Senior Expert – Vocational Education and Training,
Apprenticeships, Adult Learning, European Commission (DG EMPL)
Ms Miriam Lexmann MEP
Member of the EMPL Committee in the European
Parliament on Employment and Social Affairs

II. Looking for best practices: inclusion and innovation in EU VET centres Erasmus+ Strategic Partnerships and VET
Mr Denis Leclerc
Institut Lemonnier (Caen) – Association Maisons Don Bosco (France)
The GIVE project and the approach to Inclusive Vocational Excellence
Mr Paolo Nardi
International Affairs and Research Coordinator, COMETA Formazione (Italy)
Mobility through VET between Europe and Africa: the SAAM project
Mr Alfredo Garmendia
Centro San Viator (Sopuerta) – Red EBI (Red de Centros Diocesanos de Bizkaia)
Red HETEL (Spain)

CONCLUSIONS
Fr. Miguel Angel Garcia Morcuende SDB
President of Don Bosco International