‘Vocational education and training (VET) needs a strong commitment to raise its profile and strengthen its ties with the world of employment,’ writes Cedefop Director James Calleja in the July issue of the Social Agenda magazine. More...

Cedefop has selected national experts to contribute to the preparation and validation of Cedefop skill supply and demand forecast for their country. The assignment is valid for a period of four years.
In particular, national experts:

• provide a basic outlook on the economic development for their country;
• provide additional national data, as necessary, to complement harmonised data;
• review and validate their national skill supply and demand forecast results;
• comment on methodological developments;
• share ideas and experience;
• propose new fields of research and further developments of the project.

The national experts represent all 33 countries covered by the Cedefop skills supply and demand forecast. More...

Employment opportunities in Slovenia worsened during the economic crisis. Skills and knowledge contributing to employability may improve individuals’ labour market position. For Slovenia’s small, open economy it is important that the labour force possess knowledge about foreign countries, languages and intercultural skills. Mobility schemes are a way to secure professional development and transversal skills. International mobility in education improves students’ competences and employability, quality of teaching, and cooperation between organisations in different countries (European Commission, 2012). More...

Several measures have been put in place to improve youth employability and mitigate effects of the crisis among Spanish youth. In Spain, the number of young people under 25 who are neither working nor studying amounted to 858 200 in 2012. More...

For the first time, the Brussels region is proposing a ‘bilingual retail salesperson’ training course comprising 15 weeks of practical training and a six-week period of work experience in a supermarket. 
In Brussels, more than one of two job vacancies request bilingual skills. Speaking French is not enough; it is essential to be bilingual in both national languages, French and Dutch. Bilingualism is expected of most professionals, such as accountants, electricians and bakers. More...

The Federation of craftsmen (Fédération des artisans – FDA) is launching skill centres (centres de compétences) for continuing vocational training to face upcoming skills challenges. More...

From 1 July to 31 December 2015, Luxembourg will occupy the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the twelfth time.
One of the Luxembourg Presidency's priorities is to put 'the citizen at the heart of the European project.' The Luxembourgish Ministry of Education, Children and Youth, the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Sport have published a list of events in education and training that are to take place under Luxembourg’s Presidency:

A main priority for Cedefop is to support Member States and social partners in further developing and improving vocational education and training and lifelong learning policies and practices.
To be able to do this in a systematic way, Cedefop organises a series of policy learning forums covering a range of different subjects, the first of which will take place on 24 and 25 September in Thessaloniki. More...

A new joint report on green skills and innovation for inclusive growth by Cedefop and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provides evidence and policy analysis to foster an equitable shift to greener economies and more sustainable societies. More...

How will skill supply and demand develop over the next decade? Cedefop’s data and analyses for the European Union and – for the first time – each Member State, provide insights to help develop vocational education and training policies. More...