Introduction

EI believes that promoting greater access to vocational education and training (VET) is particularly important because of the crucial role it plays in providing opportunities for people from all backgrounds, including those who have been marginalized in the labour market.  

EI recognizes that vocational education and training is particularly vulnerable to emerging commercial pressures worldwide as a result of economic globalization, trade liberalization, new information and communication technologies, labour market deregulation, and the growth in cross-border provision. Once the primary responsibility of public institutions in many countries, the provision of vocational education and training now straddles the public, private, and for-profit sectors Taken together, these developments threaten to undermine quality, accessibility, equity, and the status and employment rights of staff.

Policy

EI's policy on vocational education and training (VET) is mostly shaped by the various resolutions passed by the consecutive World Congresses since 1995. EI believes that educational institutions at all levels should provide individuals with a range of knowledge and skills that allow them to not only pursue meaningful work, but also participate fully in all aspects of social life.  

In 2004, EI formed a task force on VET to begin the process of developing comprehensive policy in the area. At the 5th World Congress in July 2007, a resolution on VET was adopted that underlined many of the themes identified by the task force. Generally, the task force seeks to make sure that vocational education and training keeps up with the ever-changing world economy to ensure that students are prepared for life in the real-world.  

The EI World Congresses have adopted the following resolutions regarding Vocational Education and Training: “Resolution on Youth Training and Entry Into Employment” (1995), “Resolution on Vocational Education and Training” (1998), “Resolution on Vocational Education” (2004), “Resolution on Vocational Education and Training” (2007), “Resolution on Vocational Education, Gender, and Inclusiveness” (2011), and “Resolution on Promoting Vocational Education and Training-Qualifying Young People” (2015). For more information on these resolutions, click here.

Activities

The work of Education International in the field of vocational education and training (VET) includes the protection and development of teachers and other personnel, and strengthening the voice of trade unions in this sector.  

In 2004, EI set up a task force in order to start a comprehensive policy in the VET sector. The task force produced an initial report as well as a set of guidelines on cross-border provision of VET, which EI actively promotes to relevant international institutions such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNEVOC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The ETUCE, EIs European region, serves on Committees, proposes policy, engages in social dialogue, and otherwise engages with the European Union (EU) on VET.  

The work of Education International in the field of vocational education and training (VET) includes the protection and development of the rights of teachers and other personnel, and strengthening the voice of trade unions in this sector.