Platforms of “Centres of Vocational Excellence”
“Skills ecosystems” for innovation, regional development, and social cohesion
Week of Innovative Regions in Europe
Education for innovation
Iasi, Romania, 27 of June 2019
Joao SANTOS
Deputy Head of Unit
European Commission,
Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Unit E3 - Vocational training, Apprenticeships and Adult learning
[email protected] linkedin.com/in/JoaoSantosEU @JoaoSantosEU
1) Understanding change We live in interesting times…
2) Seizing the opportunity – Vocational Excellence We are the master of our destiny…
3) Addressing complexity through trans-national cooperation We rise by lifting others…
Content
Understanding change
Generational paradigm shifts over lifetime
@Heather McGowan, and World Economic Forum
Moving from being “educated”, to lifelong learning “engagement”
@Heather McGowan
Seizing the opportunity Vocational Excellence
“The skills issue is strategic. People will not be afraid of the digital era if they are skilled. You need digitally skilled people to have companies that can flourish, pay good salaries and ensure real growth. It will not be simply about having the right skills, nor is it just about a particular digital profession: It is in fact a mindset”
Major dimensions of VET Transformation
Adapted from UNESCO/UNEVOC
• Vocational Excellence; Competitiveness; Entrepreneurship; At all levels of E&T
Innovative VET
• Open to, and for ALL; Contributing to cohesive societies
Inclusive VET
• Responsive to LM & Social needs; Flexible; modular; Focus on learning outcomes; QA
Quality VET
• Contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals; Skills for green jobs
Sustainable VET
• Providing flexible opportunities for lifelong learning and managing job/life transitions
Lifelong VET
Bringing together:
Policy makers
Companies
Chambers
VET institutions
Universities of applied science
Research centres
Employment services/agencies
Regional development agencies
Professional or sector associations
Centres of Vocational Excellence Fostering local “Skills ecosystems”
Inspired on concept of “Skills ecosystems” proposed by David Finegold (1999) ‘Creating self-sustaining, high-skill ecosystems’, Oxford Review of Economics
Companies See comparative
advantage to address skill development and business performance
for generating innovation and growth
Policy setting VET, employment and economic development policies support high
skills strategy
Vocational Education and Training
Responsive delivery at all levels, that is valued by
individuals and employers
Individuals Invest in skills because
of rewarding jobs and career
opportunities
Skills eco-
system
The UNESCO/UNEVOC model “Innovation Hubs ”
Skills hubs represent a systemic approach through which the TVET institution consolidates its contribution to skills for innovation and the innovation of skills
A key component of the initiative will be the development of guidelines, tools and Notable among these outputs will be:
• An overall guideline for Innovating TVET in TVET institutions;
• A balanced scorecard together with indicators to help TVET institutions assess their performance and identify opportunities for improvement;
• A compendium of innovative practice and learning;
• A global platform for peer support
Vocational Education and
training (including Higher VET)
Research and Development
Business/ Industry
VET fostering Entrepreneurial attitudes and STEAM skills
VET skills as a key input for Business innovation and competitiveness
Knowledge of market needs push for relevant VET curricula and qualifications
VET pro-active in the “Knowledge triangle”
Anchored into frameworks of regional development, innovation and smart specialisation - allows for the identification of synergies between policies and amongst stakeholders, avoiding ad-hoc actions
Integration of activities - CoVEs achieve more than sum of the parts
Strong and enduring partnerships - between the VET community, businesses and universities in which interactions are reciprocal and mutually beneficial
CoVE mapping exercise: Key success factors
BELGIUM (FR) Approach to Vocational Excellence
12
Competence Centers are places of vocational expertise and training responsible for :
Vocational training
Skills recognition
Orientation and information on jobs and labour market,
Technological observatory,
Educational activities.
Up-to-date and state of the art equipment and infrastructure.
More than 600 professional trainers.
For job seekers, workers, students and teachers, Kids and Teens
FRANCE Campus des métiers et qualifications
Approach to Vocational Excellence
13
Coverage of the 124 French innovation territories identified by the regions and the 43 existing campuses linked to heavy industry
Focus on the Aeronautical campus of the southern region
Its mission is part of public policies concerning employment and training defined at :
• European level - Sectoral alliances for skills
• National level - Industry territories, Campus of Excellence or Campus for trades and qualifications, Alliance for Industry of the Future, French Fab
• Regional level - Initiative of Regional Interest, Mediterranean Industries, The Regional Bank of Employment and Learning, Observatory of trades
• Infra-regional level - TEAM Henri - Fabre
NETHERLANDS Approach to Vocational Excellence
14
Critical success factors for the establishment of new PPP’s
Partnerships and cooperation: Involvement of regional/local governments, businesses and education
Alignment of policies: Avoid contradicting existing national education regulation (i.e. curricula, oversight, quality checks)
Sustainability and support: Give it time, provide expertise, focus on improving and monitoring (it takes > 5 years to build a self-sustainable ppp)
SPAIN (Basque country) Approach to Vocational Excellence
15
https://tknika.eus/en/areas-2/applied-innovation-in-the-field-of-vocational-education-and-training/
Addressing complexity through cooperation
Foster Vocational Excellence at two levels
NATIONAL TRANSNATIONAL
Through Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE)
Operating in a given local context, embedding them closely in the local innovation and skills ecosystems, working with businesses, chambers, tertiary education, research institutions, public authorities, etc.
Through Platforms of CoVE's to establish world-class reference points for VET by bringing together partners that share a common interest in: Specific sectors/trades - such as
aeronautics, e-mobility, green technologies, healthcare, textiles…
Societal challenges - such as integration of migrants, Digitalisation, AI, SDG, upskilling and reskilling…
Centres of Vocational Excellence The initiative
Activities clustered in three groups:
1) Teaching and learning
2) Cooperation and partnerships
3) Governance and funding
CoVE’s key activities clustered in three groups
Vocational Excellence
Partnerships for: Skills anticipation, Apprenticeships, T&T exchanges…
Governance (social partners, national and local governments
VET providers, development agencies…)
Providing both Initial and continuing VET at all EQF Levels
Incubators supporting
entrepreneurial initiatives
Innovative curricula, & Teaching & training
methodologies (PBL, Interdisciplinary...)
Technology diffusion and
Innovation Hubs
Validation and Guidance
Higher VET, and Flexible pathways with Schools and
Universities
Quality assurance feedback loop, learner tracking
Cost-sharing, sustainable funding, and effective use of
EU funding
Regional development, Smart Specialisation, Knowledge triangle
Typical activities of CoVE's Pro-active partner in local development
Erasmus+ projects to pilot the CoVE initiative
2019
Erasmus+ KA2 Sector Skills Alliances
call for pilot projects on CoVE
2020
Erasmus+ KA3 call for Platforms of
Vocational Excellence (full pilot)
2021-2027
Erasmus and ERDF, ESF+, InvestEU,
Horizon Europe supporting CoVE