The European ministers responsible for education and vocational training will meet on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 September in Herning, Denmark, for an informal meeting organised by the Danish Ministry for Children and Education.
One of the outcomes of this meeting will be the adoption of a new declaration on European cooperation in the field of vocational training, the Herning Declaration.
The meeting will begin with a visit to the LEGO Group’s headquarters in Billund on 11 September. The ministers will take part in a presentation on educational issues and changes in the labour market, before exploring the LEGO campus on the theme ‘How play can motivate and enrich learning’. The fun approach and educational innovation will be promoted as factors in creativity and learner commitment.
The following day, the European government representatives will continue their work at the Herning Kongrescenter. The day will be devoted to discussions on the future of vocational training in the European Union.
Discussions will be guided by two priorities: to enhance the quality and attractiveness of courses and to encourage the circulation of knowledge and experience between Member States.
The aim is to respond to the growing shortage of labour and skills throughout the European Union.
The adoption of the Herning Declaration will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the collective commitment of the EU27 to greater cooperation in this area.
The discussions will also address the European Commission’s proposal for a Union of Skills’ - launched on 5 March (see EUROPE 13593/18) - which responds to the broader ambition of strengthening the EU’s competitiveness through a skilled and adaptable workforce.
The participants will also be attending EuroSkills 2025, Europe’s biggest event dedicated to vocational training and trades. The event will showcase the diversity of skills and excellence of young European professionals in 38 disciplines.
The presentation of the ‘Danish model’ of social dialogue, based on cooperation between employers, employees and public authorities, will provide an example of a flexible and internationally recognised training system.
With this meeting, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU aims to make vocational training one of Europe’s top priorities, seeing it as a major tool both for meeting the needs of the labour market and for supporting competitiveness and preparing the future of the younger generations. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)