European Year of Skills wraps up with a call for a “century of skills” in Europe and beyond

“Today, having the courage to step out of comfort zones is more important than ever before: the economy is changing, and this is nothing new, but now it goes faster and faster” said the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President, Margaret Vestager, opening the conference “The European Year of Skills – what comes next?”. Attended by hundreds of representatives, the event was the opportunity to share skills stories and discuss the legacy of past 365 days.

EU agencies to drive the future of skills development

Representatives from the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop) marked the conclusion of the European Year of Skills by putting the spotlight on the role of skills development in navigating the green and digital transitions.

"Through collaborative efforts, we can address skills shortages and ensure that all regions, including our neighbouring ones, are equipped for the future," remarked Juergen Siebel, Director of Cedefop.

"Collaboration is key to addressing the challenges we face in skills development across Europe and its neighbouring regions," added the ETF’s Head of Skills Identification and Development Unit, Manuela Prina. "By working together, we can ensure that no one is left behind in the transition to a greener, more digital economy".

Looking ahead towards a “century of skills”

Prina and Siebel took the floor at a session dedicated to EU agencies at the conference. Siebel emphasised the collaborative efforts between Cedefop and the European Training Foundation (ETF) in conducting the European Skills and Jobs survey, stating, "Those who require more training are often those who have less access to education and training . This is a lost opportunity for Europe." This highlights a critical challenge that must be addressed to ensure that equality and skill development opportunities grow in parallel.

Prina echoed Siebel's sentiments, stressing the need for a new narrative in addressing skills shortages, particularly in the context of the green and digital transitions. She emphasised the importance of not merely transferring problems to neighbouring regions but rather promoting cooperation for mutual benefit. "We need to support a win-win-win narrative, both for the European Union and its neighbouring regions, but mostly a win for individuals," she stated, putting the spotlight on the role of the EU social pillar in achieving this goal.

Siebel emphasised how the European Year of Skills has helped bring to light how skills work as glue for society and are at the core of growth for people and business. Prina underscored the connection between peace and investment in talent, calling for greater collaboration with countries like Ukraine. She expressed her hope for peace in the region and talked about how investing in skills can be a pathway to stability and prosperity. Looking ahead, Prina forecasted a "global century of skills" and urged for increased representation of voices in EU discussions, citing consultations with over 300 stakeholders as a step in this direction.

Siebel doubled down and challenged all parties to be even more ambitious and make life learning the default setting of next century, investing in skills for competitiveness, growth and inclusion in Europe and beyond.

The contributions from both the ETF and Cedefop highlighted the importance of skills development in supporting the transition to a decarbonized and digital economy.

ETF: Capturing the voices of EU neighbours about skills

The ETF's initiatives, such the #MySkills4You initiative with Young European Ambassadors and EU Jeel Connectors, demonstrated a commitment to engaging with stakeholders across Europe and its neighbouring regions to generate innovative ideas and amplify the voices of young people. The collaboration with the EU Commission's DG NEAR showcased a concerted effort to address skills challenges beyond EU borders.

A series of ideathons, interactive events designed to capture the voice of all educational stakeholders from EU neighbouring countries, have generated innovative ideas as to how learners can gain skills for the evolving digital and green landscape. The key recommendations will pave the way for ETF work ahead, guiding the collaborative efforts with partners beyond the European Year of Skills.

Cedefop: Distilling skills intelligence for skills development

Part of the European Year of Skills, Cedefop has produced a series of research and policy analysis on skills in Europe to support countries and policy makers in designing policy that reflect EU skills needs and potentials. Such intelligence is readily available on a series of online data and visualisation tools such as Skills-OVATE, Skills intelligence, Skills Forecast, and Matching Skills.

In addition, Cedefop is driving research on skills needs and opportunities to support the green and digital transition. 

With the words of the European Commissions’ Executive Vice-President, Margaret Vestager, “The end of the European Year of Skills is more of a beginning—a beginning with a renewed focus, enthusiasm, and obligation to take action”.