Innovation and Digitalisation: A report from the ET2020 Working Group on Vocational Education and Training

Eight insights for pioneering new approaches

Innovation and digitalisation in Vocational Education and Training (VET) play a key role in wider green and digital transitions, as well as in the recovery and resilience of a post COVID-19 Europe.

Through workshops, webinars and Peer Learning Activities, the ET 2020 VET Working Group (2018-2020) addressed the question: How can innovation and digitalisation boost high-quality VET and Higher VET? 

The final report provides: 1 vision, 2 viewpoints and 8 insights, as well as numerous good practices from across Europe, including 12 Lighthouse projects.

15th May 2020

Blueprint for sectoral cooperation on skills

European vision on steel-related skills and supporting actions to solve the skills gap today and tomorrow in Europe

The study “European vision on steel-related skills and supporting actions to solve the skills gap today and tomorrow in Europe” was initiated to pursue the key priority actions identified by the European Commission in the framework of the Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation in the steel sector. These included acquiring comprehensive knowledge on the current situation of the steel workforce with regards to skills availability and shortages as well as providing a state-of-play description of the different national education and training systems in seven target countries: Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain.

 12th November 2019

Skills for smart industrial specialisation and digital transformation

Final report

 Professionals with high-tech skills have a strong potential to serve the growing needs created by smart industrial specialisation and digital transformation. They offer a solid foundation for the work of the future. The competitiveness of the European industry is highly dependent on the knowledge, competencies and creativity of its workforce. Skills shortages and gaps combined with mismatches between labour supply and demand, harm investment. They are already quite significant and are likely to widen due to the major disruption the Fourth Industrial Revolution brings to the scale at which training efforts currently take place. The skills for industry initiative aims at developing a common vision and actions on skills for smart industrial specialisation and digital transformation with a view to increase the capacity of industry, trade unions, education and training organisations, and policymakers to shape the workforce transformation in Europe. It aims to help cities, regions and Member States in designing and implementing ambitious up-skilling and re-skilling policies. 

3rd May 2019

The future of work? Work of the future!

On how artificial intelligence, robotics and automation are transforming jobs and the economy in Europe

A report by Michel Servoz

We are used to thinking about artificial intelligence (AI) in the future tense, speculating how technological developments in this area will affect us. But if we spend too much time trying to figure out what to expect in the future, we risk not seeing that AI and robotisation have already started transforming our daily lives.

While historical evidence suggests that previous waves of automation have been overwhelmingly positive for the economy and society, AI is in a different league, with the potential to be much more disruptive. It builds upon other digital technologies but also brings about and amplifies major socioeconomic changes of its own.

23rd April 2018 

RE-FINDING INDUSTRY

 Report from the High-Level Strategy Group on Industrial Technologies

The European Commission appointed the high-level strategy group on industrial technologies to assess, discuss, and recommend support for research and innovation in the area of key enabling technologies, also in view of future research and innovation programmes. Two new key enabling technologies are proposed: artificial intelligence, and security and connectivity. The group also advises that, while biotechnology should be broadened to 'life sciences', the EU has to continue to prioritise advanced manufacturing technologies, advanced materials and nanotechnologies, micro-/nano-electronics and photonics. With the right level of ambition and investment, key enabling technologies will contribute to support growth and democracy through stronger citizens’ engagement, and prosperity through more equality and better jobs. The group recommends the EU and Member States to focus their policies on 'inclusive growth' and the sustainable protection of our planet. The main goal is Europe to be the best place to live, study, work and flourish.

Subpages