Special institute to support VET in the EU
In March 2024, CEMETS partnered with SDC and SERI to host a tailormade institute during the VET exchange visit for European partners. This event helped develop VET projects across six EU countries.
The Exchange Visit on VET Systems, organized by the external page Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the external page State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), brought together stakeholders from Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia.
Before arriving in Switzerland, these teams outlined VET support measures under the external page second Swiss Contribution, which prioritizes VET to strengthen cohesion in newer EU member states. The visit aimed to provide teams with insights needed to finalize practical support measures for their VET reform plans.
The event featured two main components: exchange activities like expert talks and site visits organized by SDC and SERI, and the tailored CEMETS Institute. The institute offered an online course and four days of live sessions to deepen participants’ understanding of effective VET programs and systems.
A highlight was the case workshops, where teams presented their VET implementation ideas and received feedback from peers and the CEMETS team. This collaboration helped teams refine their support measures, and it’s been exciting to see their progress to the final reports, which were submitted at the beginning of May.
Participants also learned about the Swiss education system through lectures from CEMETS staff and an inspiring keynote from external page CYP. Special thanks to Linda Wegmüller and apprentices from CYP for their fantastic presentation to our group of reform leaders.
The Exchange Visit on VET Systems was a huge success, offering valuable insights and fostering collaboration among Switzerland and the six participating EU countries. Participants gained essential knowledge from the CEMETS Institute, empowering them to enhance their VET projects. We look forward to future collaborations to strengthen VET systems across Europe.
