As we reach the mid-point of 2026, we are pleased to share this edition of the EQAVET Newsletter, which reflects the strong level of engagement and collaboration across our network. In the first half of the year, a series of Peer Reviews took place in the Netherlands, Austria, Croatia, Spain, Portugal and Slovenia. These brought together national authorities, international experts and practitioners to exchange views on student and employer involvement in VET, as well as on quality management and assurance systems. Work on basic skills in VET also advanced through the EQAVET Thematic Guidance on Basic Skills Working Groups.

This month’s Annual Network Meeting in Nicosia brought together representatives from EU Member States.

At the EU level, the Union of Skills marked its first anniversary, with ongoing initiatives to support investment in human capital, address labour shortages and advance the green and digital transitions. Recent EU outputs include new resources to strengthen apprenticeships and vocational excellence, such as the European Alliance for Apprenticeships Compendium of Good Practices as well as publications showcasing Erasmus+ Centres of Vocational Excellence. Meanwhile, the European Commission has published new guidelines to support digital education for teachers and educators.

EQAVET National Reference Points continue to drive innovation and mutual learning in quality assurance in VET. This edition features recent developments from across the network, including: international VET conferences and skills events in Cyprus; Estonia’s new learner-centred quality assessment model; Hungary’s peer review on strengthening external evaluation; Latvia’s seminars on quality assurance; Lithuania’s new online platform for the professional development of VET teachers; and training for career counsellors, alongside a VET seminar, in Poland.

Looking ahead, there will be further opportunities for mutual learning in the second half of the year, including a peer review in Greece and the final Peer Learning Activity of the 2024-2026 cycle, scheduled for autumn. We encourage you to stay engaged, share your experiences and contribute to the ongoing exchange of ideas and mutual learning across the network.

We hope you find this edition informative and useful for your work. Thank you for your continued commitment to quality assurance in VET!

Warm regards,

The EQAVET Secretariat

The Dutch Peer Review (12-13 March 2026), held online, focused on promoting student involvement at VET system level. It aimed to help the hosts strengthen student participation beyond informal representation structures, so that it contributes more effectively to quality enhancement. Discussions highlighted that, while students are considered as key stakeholders in education quality in the Netherlands, their involvement in quality assurance at system level is largely informal, with limited awareness of and interest in quality assurance issues. Participation of students from minority groups also remains limited.

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The Austrian Peer Review (18-20 March 2026), hosted by the Austria's Agency for education and internationalisation (OeAD RQB) provided an opportunity to reflect on the development of a new Quality Management System for the Education Authority. It provided an external perspective on the Quality Management System for the Pedagogical Service (QMBD) and its Quality Framework (QRPD), which are being developed to support the evolving role of the Education Authority. The discussions covered the design, development and implementation of the QMPD and QRPD, the use of a self‑assessment tool, and strategies to promote the effective use of the new system across the Education Authority.

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The Croatian Peer Review on Quality Assurance in Adult Education, hosted by the Croatian Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education, took place in Zagreb on 15-16 April 2026. It examined the external evaluation process in adult education in Croatia, focusing particularly on its alignment with the EQAVET Framework. The Peer Review also explored whether the external evaluation process improves the visibility of provider quality and whether quality information is transparent and accessible to potential learners. Participants exchanged ideas on how to make evaluation outcomes more transparent and identified measures that could further strengthen the external evaluation process.

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The Spanish Peer Review was organised at the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports in Tenerife on April 22-23, in close cooperation with the Department of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sport, Government of the Canary Islands. The discussions focused on the effectiveness and scalability of the EQAVET-based quality assurance system for VET providers in the Canary Islands. The recently introduced quality assurance system supports self-evaluation, improvement planning and future external evaluations through a dedicated digital platform. Participants explored how the self-assessment system could better reflect EQAVET principles and what data is needed to show progress against policy goals such as employability, employer cooperation and innovation in training programmes.

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The Slovenian Peer Review took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 20-22 May 2026. It was hosted by the Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for VET (CPI), which acts as the Slovenian EQAVET National Reference Point (NRP). It examined how the national monitoring and evaluation methodology related to Indicator 8, in combination with Indicator 1, could be improved to better assess the inclusiveness of upper secondary VET in Slovenia, as well as how Indicator 8 contributes to promoting inclusiveness. Peers also explored how existing mechanisms, measures, and services aimed at advancing inclusive education could be more effectively integrated into the national monitoring and evaluation framework.

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Launched in 2026 as a series of three workshops, the EQAVET Thematic Guidance on Basic Skills Working Group met online on 9 February and 20 April 2026. It supports the implementation of the Basic Skills Action Plan under the Union of Skills and draws on a broadened understanding of basic skills that includes literacy, numeracy, science, digital skills and citizenship. The Working Group’s main objective is to develop practical guidance on applying and implementing the EQAVET Framework in relation to basic skills.

The EQAVET Annual Network Meeting (ANM) 2026 was held on June 11 and 12 in Nicosia, Cyprus, with 54 participants from 33 countries, including 25 EU member states and 8 non-EU countries. It brought together National Reference Points to discuss key VET policy developments and priorities. DG EMPL highlighted progress on the Union of Skills after its first year of implementation, the Herning Declaration and the upcoming European VET Strategy, alongside the importance of basic skills and the role of NRPs. The meeting facilitated exchange and peer learning during the transition between grant cycles, with discussions on topics such as citizenship education in VET. Participants also explored national and European QA developments, future NRP priorities and collaborations for 2026–2029, and engaged in interactive sessions on stakeholder involvement, peer reviews and the development of guidance on quality assurance of basic skills.

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March 2026 marked the first anniversary of the Union of Skills, which aims to invest in people and address labour shortages while supporting the green and digital transitions through education, training and lifelong learning. Since its launch, the EU has started to deliver a series of new initiatives including the Skills Guarantee Pilot, the Council Recommendation on human capital, the European Skills Intelligence Observatory, the Action Plan on Basic Skills and the STEM Education Plan. Looking ahead, the forthcoming Skills Portability Initiative will facilitate the recognition of skills across borders, thereby supporting mobility and employability. Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing a new European strategy for VET in order to make it more attractive, innovative and better aligned with labour market needs.

UNION OF SKILLS: ONE YEAR OF CONCRETE ACTION TO KEEP EUROPE COMPETITIVE

The European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EafA) Compendium of Good Practices brings together over 40 examples showing how organisations across Europe are strengthening the quality, supply and image of apprenticeships, while also promoting apprentice mobility. The practices cover a broad range of themes, including learning mobility; social inclusion and gender equality; the green and digital transitions; the role of cities and regions in supporting apprenticeships; higher apprenticeships; and measures to promote and strengthen apprenticeship opportunities.

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EAfA has also announced its 2026 Action Plan to improve the quality, supply and image of apprenticeships, as well as to promote apprentices’ mobility.

VIEW THE 2026 EAFA ACTION PLAN

The Commission has published a brochure and an analytical report showcasing how Erasmus-funded Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) drive innovation in VET across Europe. Both publications highlight how CoVEs bring together VET providers, businesses, research institutions and public authorities within strong regional and local skills eco-systems, equipping learners with the skills needed to enhance Europe’s competitiveness. Based on the analysis of 25 projects, the report highlights how CoVEs develop modular curricula and micro-credentials, strengthen collaboration, embed green and digital skills and pioneer innovative teaching methods. The report also identifies key success factors for CoVEs, including strong governance structures, active employer engagement and alignment with national and EU policy frameworks.

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Cedefop’s new framework for quality lifelong guidance systems helps countries strengthen support for learning and career decisions across Europe. The framework follows the adoption of the Union of Skills strategy, which calls for stronger, more connected skills ecosystems across the EU. It supports national authorities in translating this vision into action, helping them design guidance systems that are coherent, inclusive and sustainable.

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Drawing on evidence from the past two decades, Cedefop's research paper published in April 2026 “Shaping the future of lifelong learning: policy scenarios for 2040” uses policy scenarios to explore how European education and training systems could evolve by 2040.

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EAfA has published a new factsheet exploring the growing importance of higher-level apprenticeships delivered at higher VET (EQF levels 5 to 8) in responding to Europe’s skills shortages and supporting pathways into highly skilled employment.

DOWNLOAD FACTSHEET

The meeting of the Directors General for Vocational Education and Training took place in Brussels in March 2026 under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. The meeting brought together the Directors General responsible for VET from EU Member States, representatives of the European Commission and other experts. Discussions focused on the development of the future European VET strategy, enhancing the attractiveness of VET, quality assurance and innovation, as well as the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence in VET.

Four EU level sets of guidance for teachers and educators were launched in March 2026, covering tackling disinformation and digital literacy, the ethical use of AI and data, the teaching of informatics, and the selection of high quality digital education content. The guidelines were developed under the Digital Education Action Plan and in delivery of the 2023 Council Recommendations on digital education and skills. While primarily targeting primary and secondary education, they are adaptable and relevant for initial VET and other vocational contexts.

• Guidelines on the ethical use of AI and data in teaching and learning for educators (update of 2022 edition)
• Guidelines on tackling Disinformation and Promoting Digital literacy (update of 2022 edition)
• Guidelines on Informatics
• Guidelines on Digital education content

The EU Learning Corner is an interinstitutional platform that provides educational resources for teachers, educators and organisations working with children, teenagers and young people. It includes materials such as games, quizzes, lesson plans, videos and toolkits on topics including democracy, climate action, digital skills and disinformation. The resources are available in all 24 EU languages and can be used in classrooms, youth work and other learning settings. The platform also offers a newsletter for updates on new materials and related educational resources.

DISCOVER THE EU LEARNING CORNER

25-26 June 2026 Face-to-face Peer Review (Greece) 

(November - Exact date to be confirmed) EQAVET Autumn PLA