Schools Can't Do It All; Connecting with Businesses is Essential

Europe is navigating a complex labor market landscape shaped by an aging population, the imperative of the green transition, and the swift advancement of digitalization and artificial intelligence. These trends are significantly reshaping economies, leading to a projected increase in demand for specialists with vocational and professional education, roles that are less susceptible to replacement by AI.

The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) highlights numerous challenges across Europe in this domain. Beyond demographic shifts, issues persist such as a persistent division between traditionally male and female professions – with fewer girls enrolling in ICT fields and lower completion rates – less attractive working conditions in certain vocations, a limited number of teachers in specific trades (a tenth are nearing retirement, and 40% are over 50), and outdated curricula that fail to keep pace with the demands of the green and digital transitions.

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European competitiveness depends on the ability to innovate and grow, but a lack of skills in key sectors represents a bottleneck.

"European competitiveness depends on the ability to innovate and grow, but a lack of skills in key sectors represents a bottleneck," the European Commission stated. In response, the Commission is preparing a Vocational Education and Training (VET) strategy. The goal is to leverage vocational training as a strategic tool for economic resilience. The strategy, expected to be published this month, aims to boost interest in VET related to the digital and green transitions through modernization, enhance the responsiveness of these educational programs to labor market needs, and improve their public image so that all generations recognize them as excellent opportunities for education and training.

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This would strengthen the sector, but it is a perpetual challenge in the EU because the labor market and jobs are changing so rapidly. We need approaches for timely prediction of changes and rapid response, along with analysis of curricula against actual employer needs in digital skills, to address mismatches and shortages.

Cedefop's priority measures include strengthening the connection between VET and the labor market to better align school curricula with current trends and employer needs. "This would strengthen the sector, but it is a perpetual challenge in the EU because the labor market and jobs are changing so rapidly. We need approaches for timely prediction of changes and rapid response, along with analysis of curricula against actual employer needs in digital skills, to address mismatches and shortages," Cedefop noted in a recent policy brief on VET.

Smiljan Škarica, who has led a hairdressing salon in Maribor for over 20 years and collaborated with schools during that time, agrees that cooperation between schools and businesses is crucial for enhancing educational quality. As president of the hairdressers' section of the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia (OZS) and a national judge at EuroSkills competitions, he observes that students gain insight into current trends and techniques at workplaces, applying their school-acquired knowledge in practice. "Students gain insight into current trends and techniques. By exposing them to real work, they..."

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Students gain insight into current trends and techniques. By exposing them to real work, they...