INNOVATION & DIGITALISATION

EIGHT insights for pioneering new approaches.

A report from the ET 2020 Working Group on Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Innovation and digitalisation in VET play a key role in wider green and digital transitions, as well as
in the recovery and resilience of a post COVID-19 Europe. Through workshops, webinars and Peer
Learning Activities, the ET 2020 VET Working Group (2018-2020) addressed the question:

How can innovation and digitalisation

boost high-quality VET and Higher VET?

The final report provides: ONE vision, TWO viewpoints and

EIGHT insights, as well as numerous good practices from
across Europe, including TWELVE Lighthouse projects.

ONE VISION: TWO VIEWPOINTS:

FROM RESPONSIVE
TO PROACTIVE VET
We live in an age of complex and
multi-faceted challenges. To deal
with them VET needs to make
proactive and smarter policy
choices in terms of priorities,
reforms and investments that
(i) better anticipate and integrate
innovation and digitalisation, and
(ii) drive innovation and digitalisation
beyond the VET sector.
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE VET
The future of VET in relation to innovation and digitalisation
should be considered from two different but interwoven and
complementary viewpoints:
Impact of innovation and digitalisation on VET:
VET needs to better anticipate the increasing
pace of innovations and digitalisation with new
tools and pedagogies
Building the capacity of VET to support
innovation and digitalisation:
VET needs more capacity to support innovation
and digitalisation through smart specialisation
strategies, universities and research.

Social Europe
 EIGHT INSIGHTS
IMPACT OF INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION ON VET

INSIGHT 1: EMBRACING THE BENEFITS OF INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION

AND SPEARHEADING MORE ADVANCED INNOVATION
e.g. by stepping up the pace of adopting more advanced innovations.
INSIGHT 2: ENCOURAGING INNOVATIONS IN TEACHING AND TRAINING
NEEDS INNOVATIVE TEACHERS AND TRAINERS
e.g. through collaborative platforms, appropriate career
structures, and new models like ‘hybrid’ professionals.
INSIGHT 3: INTEGRATING DIGITALISATION IN WORK-BASED LEARNING (WBL)
IN A SMART WAY
e.g. by making more use of immersive tech: virtual and augmented reality,
artificial intelligence etc.

BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF VET TO SUPPORT INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION

INSIGHT 4: ENABLING EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

ARRANGEMENTS AND STRONG LEADERSHIP
e.g. through enabling bodies to intermediate with the growing
market of education technology (‘edtech’)
INSIGHT 5: PROVIDING STRATEGIC AND FLEXIBLE FUNDING
e.g. by weighing up the risks involved in innovation as well
as the costs and the wider investments needed.
INSIGHT 6: BOOSTING LEARNER DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
THROUGH INNOVATION AND DIGITALISATION
e.g. by better understanding how social background,
ethnicity and gender can affect digitalisation
INSIGHT 7: IMPLEMENTING NEW APPROACHES FOR VET EXCELLENCE
e.g. by driving forward high-quality at higher levels and
through Centres of Vocational Excellence
INSIGHT 8: DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR MASTERING INNOVATION, DIGITAL
AND GREEN TRANSITIONS IN A GLOBAL WORLD
e.g. by using ICT to deliver cost-effective CVET, green
digital skills modules and virtual mobility

TWELVE LIGHTHOUSE PROJECTS

To underline inspiring examples the report showcases good practices of digitalisation
(Belgium FL, Malta, Italy, Spain), innovation (Finland, Ireland, Poland, Romania)
and promoting social/green objectives (Belgium FR, Bulgaria, Germany, Portugal).
For more information, see full report https://europa.eu/!dF68qC

© European Union, 2020

Reuse of this document is allowed, provided appropriate credit is given and any changes are indicated
(Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license).
For any use or reproduction of elements that are not owned by the EU, permission may need to be sought directly from the respective right holders.

PDF ISBN 978-92-76-20914-0 doi:10.2767/539823 KE-01-20-483-EN-N