Modern Diplomacy

Celebrating Vocational Education and Training (VET) with a focus on skills for the green transition

Did you know that VET is one of the best pathways to employment? Across the EU, recent graduates of VET programmes at upper secondary level and post-secondary level tend to be significantly more employable than recent graduates of general education: the employment rate of VET graduates was 76.1 % in 2020, compared to just 58.3 % for general education graduates[1].

With vocational skills at the heart of the EU’s youth and jobs agenda, the European Commission announces the return of European Vocational Skills Week (EVSW). National, regional and local authorities and other stakeholders across Europe will organise VET-related events during the coming months, and during the Week itself, between 16 and 20May 2022, where the Commission will also host a conference (18-19 May).

EVSW, now in its sixth year and coinciding with the 2022 European Year of Youth, will culminate with the flagship VET Excellence Awards.

Skills for the green transition

The theme for this year’s EVSW is ‘Skills for the Green Transition’, in line with the European Green Deal – the EU’s commitment to take all necessary steps to become carbon neutral by 2050 – which includes measures for equipping young people with the appropriate skills for employment in the green economy.

Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights said: “To succeed in making Europe greener and climate neutral, people need the right skills. Vocational education and training can be the solution people are looking for. It is suitable for learners of all ages.

“Join us for VET Week and help us raise awareness about the advantages of vocational education and training. You can contribute by organising and participating in national or local events, and by encouraging people you know to invest in their skills and in their future.”

Click here to view the EVSW video message from Commissioner Schmit.

VET Excellence Awards

Are you an apprentice, a company, a VET provider? Do you have a best practice to share? The VET Excellence Awards recognise and reward individuals and organisations for their commitment to VET.

Award categories include:

• Companies and learners’ awards
• VET innovators awards
• European funding for excellence in VET
• European Agencies awards
• Guests of Honour at the VET Excellence Awards 2022: EuroSkills – International Skills competitions

Submissions for the awards are currently open. Full details, including deadlines for individual awards, are available on the awards page of the EVSW website.

Register your VET event

EVSW celebrates the very best practices in Vocational Education and Training (VET) and includes events by local, regional and national organisations and other VET partners.

EVSW invites partner organisations promoting VET as an attractive pathway to the labour market to register and link their events to the Week. Events can take place in any format: in-person, online or both. They could include webinars, online summits, virtual career fairs, Facebook or Instagram Live events, or other gatherings.

Partners hosting a VET event or activity linked to the Week will benefit from access to a host of toolkits, including tips to help spread the word about their event.   

To register a partner event, please visit the partner page on the EVSW website.

Find out more and contribute to the Week

For more information about European Vocational Skills Week 2022, including how to submit an entry for the VET Excellence Awards, or to contribute to the Week by organising and attending local, national and online events, visit the dedicated EVSW homepage on the European Commission’s website.

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[1] For the age group 20–34, source: Eurostat (EU-LFS, 2020)