EuropeActive 4 SKILLS Home

Higher education is for the smart ones and Vocational Education and Training (VET) is only a second choice? It is a common assumption that VET learners will enter lower paid jobs but looking closer, the picture has changed significantly: VET is highly diverse and allows learners to enter a great range of professions and sectors. Taking the vocational route means to be much more likely to be work-ready straight after graduation. VET students are able to learn all about working life, pick up some vital teamwork and interpersonal skills, and match talents directly to workplace demand.

Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility knows about the potential of VET: “I want to make VET a first choice, both for the young and adults who need reskilling.” Indeed, across Europe, vocational education and training is already a first choice for thousands of people and the European Commission is working on further improving the situation. The 3rd European Vocational Skills Week 2018 takes place 5-9 November 2018 in 46 countries with more than 1,000 registered events. The goal of this initiative is to raise awareness of the wide range of opportunities available through VET and encourage more people to participate and learn what it has to offer. 

With 20 years of industry experience, EuropeActive has been actively promoting VET and work-based learning in the European Fitness sector. The activities of the EU affairs team include various EU-funded actions related to skills development and partnerships with the European Commission. Most recent work is the project BLUEPRINT for Skills Cooperation and Employment In Active Leisure Project which started this year.