Excelence in VET: The breath of innovation
We bring to your attention the specialized publication EfVET MAGAZINE. The occasion is the publication in this issue of the INVESTech project. The leitmotif of the issue is Excellence in VET: The breath of innovation and it fully corresponds to the spirit of our project. The magazine is of EfVET - a unique pan-European professional association, created by and for providers of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in all European countries. The mission of the organization is to support and enrich TVET through transnational cooperation and the building of a pan-European network of institutions that could guide European policies in this area. In his message in this issue of the magazine, EfVET President Joachim James Calleja emphasizes that innovation in VET is a deeply human activity, not just a technical one.
They enable people to realise their full potential, which has a cascading impact, transforming economies, societies but more importantly, individuals. Excellence in VET is a dynamic innovation process that is constantly changing to meet the demands of the future, not just the current economic crisis.
We fully agree with Mr Calleja’s thesis that globalisation, changing business demands and technological advances have changed the rules of VET. In order to train students for professions that did not exist ten years ago, VET systems have had to react very quickly, even faster than in general education. The paradigm shift is already fostering the growth of industries such as green construction, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and renewable energy. The pursuit of excellence in VET is no longer an option. It is true that our observation that learners who seek VET programmes leading to qualifications using artificial intelligence and technologies have a much better chance in the labour market is true. Therefore, in educational institutions where innovation is at the heart of education and training programmes, VET becomes a brand, a hallmark and an attraction.
Here comes the publication of our project partners Emphasys Centre, Cyprus. In her presentation at INVESTech, Andrianna Georgiou highlights our goal, namely to make vocational education and training (VET) more dynamic, relevant and accessible. By creating Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs), we aim to engage educators, businesses, governments and local communities in developing relevant, modern ICT training programmes. These programmes should reflect the real needs of industries, ensuring that the skills taught are relevant to what employers are looking for. Further down in the publication, it is stated that the basis of our methodology in this project is the so-called Quintuple Innovation Helix Framework, which seeks synergy between five key sectors:
- Academia – providing expertise in research and education.
- Industry – ensuring that training is aligned with business needs.
- Public sector – supporting policy-making and providing resources.
- Civil society – ensuring that programmes are accessible to all.
- Environment – ensuring sustainability is a core part of the project
The INVESTech project is also unique in that it brings together people and organisations from across Europe. By connecting Slovakia, Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Lithuania, the project promotes international cooperation and knowledge sharing. This allows educators, businesses and policymakers to learn from each other and build on shared experiences, ensuring that ICT education is at the highest level in all participating countries. At the same time, INVESTech’s work is closely linked to the objectives of the European Union. The project supports initiatives such as the European Skills Agenda and the Digital Education Action Plan, helping to ensure that the skills taught contribute to wider EU goals such as job creation, sustainability and social inclusion. It is this European dimension, according to Andriana, that is key to the project’s expected success, as it ensures that it will be in line with wider efforts to improve education and employment opportunities in Europe.
Adriana's article, as well as many other useful articles on the topic of VET, are published HERE.
