The European Commission has organised a Second European Vocational Skills Week in 2017. The Week will build on the considerable success of last year’s Week, by focussing again on a clear message that excellent VET can be a path to an equally good career to that available through traditional education routes.

This message will be showcased through a number of meetings in Brussels from 22 to 24 November and more than a thousand of events/activities across Europe that the Commission will associate with the Week from September to December 2017. The meetings in Brussels will include a multi-themed VET Day (22/11); a business-education summit to mark the completion of the European Pact for Youth (23/11); and a colourful closing event including an award ceremony (24/11). On 20 and 21 November, there will be opening events at national level, and a national level “Employers Day” respectively.

The webpage for 2017 is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/social/VocationalSkillsWeek

It includes an electronic registration system for national, regional or local events/activities from September to December 2017, that the Commission can showcase (once quality-controlled) on a map.

The Week will be supported by a focussed communication campaign across Europe, including production of videos and brochures, significant on-line social and traditional media promotion, and dissemination of Week-relevant messages.

If you are in Europe or are in one of the ETF’s (European Training Foundation) partner countries, then you can take part either by organising your own Week-associated event, by engaging on social media, or by taking the opportunity to speak at a national level or Brussels event.

Let’s celebrate and inform young people of the diversity and career pathways available through initial VET, as well as adults about the opportunities for upskilling and reskilling that continuing VET can offer.

Visit the website get involved in the 2017 European Vocational Skills Week!”