Vocational students [What Europe does for you]

With European elections coming up in May 2019, you probably want to know how the European Union impacts your daily life, before you think about voting. In the latest in a series of posts on what Europe does for you, your family, your business and your wellbeing, we look at what Europe does for vocational students.

If you are studying on a vocational or professional track, your talents are key to a strong economy and the EU wants to help you develop your skills. The EU invests in improving awareness, creating opportunities, and supporting those in charge to provide the best quality and most relevant training possible.

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Still considering your options? The European Vocational Skills week, with more than 1 000 events across Europe showcases opportunities for young people and raises awareness of the importance of vocational education and apprenticeships.

If you are already a vocational education student, Erasmus+ offers mobility opportunities so you can carry out part of your studies or training abroad. A new initiative, ErasmusPro, even caters for long term mobility.

Your learning experience should be both relevant and worthwhile. The EU is keen to ensure that all players who shape vocational education in EU countries define good quality vocational education and training together. To understand how well things are working in practice, the EU also provides studies and research. And when you go to another country, it will also be easier for your skills and qualifications to be recognised when EU countries understand each other’s training systems better.

Of course, you want to find work at the end of your studies, so the EU also helps develop links between vocational education and training (VET) schools, businesses in a given sector, and public authorities. Together they identify skills the labour market needs and develop motivating courses that prepare you for a job that appeals to you.

Further information

• Agricultural education and lifelong training in the EU: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2017/608788/EPRS_BRI(2017)608788_EN.pdf
• Dual Education: a bridge over troubled waters? :
• http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2014/529072/IPOL_STU(2014)529072_EN.pdf
• Education and Vocational Training: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/fiches_techniques/2017/N53722/04A_FT(2017)N53722_EN.pdf
• EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service: www.epthinktank.eu