International collaboration in higher VET

This event was organised by SwissCore and Norcore, together with Movetia, the Swiss Exchange and Mobility Agency, and HK-dir, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.

The higher or continuing VET sector in Europe is often mentioned when we discuss how to adapt the education and training offer to mend the skills gap created by the green transition or by demographic changes in society. By its flexible nature, these schools are close to the employers, and cater both to new students as well as to people who work, and who seek reskilling and upskilling opportunities. However, we do know that higher VET in Europe is a very heterogenous sector, and that it can be difficult to carry out joint projects and mobilities across national borders. In Erasmus+, they struggle in many countries to find their place within the larger categories of vocational education and higher education, as they may find themselves in between these two levels.

The following questions were addressed: What is the higher VET sector? What are the differences and similarities between different national systems? What are the main barriers for international cooperation and in particular in the current Erasmus+ programme, and what can be done to mediate these? What are the possibilities?

Programme: here

Presentations: OECD Centre for Skills – KATAPULT

Summary of the conference: SwissCore article