Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, Athena Michaelidou has highlighted that "Vocational Education and Training plays a central role in building a resilient and competitive European skills ecosystem, contributing significantly to social cohesion, sustainable development and the creation of quality jobs.”
She was speaking at the 30 March opening of a two-day meeting of Directors-General for Vocational Education and Training (VET), held in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Brussels.
Regarding the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, Michaelidou stated that “the aim is to contribute to shaping a strong European framework that supports sustainable development, social cohesion and competitiveness,” while stressing that “VET must be recognised on an equal footing with other educational pathways and offer real prospects for professional development, innovation and entrepreneurship.”
She also underlined that “quality and excellence must remain at the core of VET systems,” making particular reference to innovation, noting that “VET should function as a dynamic hub for cooperation among education providers, businesses, social partners and research institutions.”
Referring to artificial intelligence, she pointed out that “it is transforming professions, creating new specialisations and reshaping the organisation of work, while it can also serve as a valuable tool for the educational process, enhancing the effectiveness of teaching and contributing to improved governance in education systems.”
She concluded her speech by emphasising that “the Cyprus Presidency remains fully committed to promoting dialogue and cooperation in the field of skills and VET, contributing to a strong, resilient and competitive European skills landscape.”
The main topic of discussion at the two-day meeting of directors is the attractiveness of VET, the latest Eurobarometer results to be presented by the European Commission, as well as a study by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop). In addition, discussions will follow on various aspects of the attractiveness of VET and the role of artificial intelligence.
(Source: CNA)
