Governance

The European Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, DG EMPL) chairs the EQAVET Network, supported by the EQAVET Secretariat.

The EQAVET Network works with a 'bottom-up’ approach, encouraging members to own the activities and decisions through active involvement of the EQAVET National Reference Points (EQAVET NRPs) and EQAVET national representatives from ministries and other responsible bodies.

A Steering Committee, consisting of elected members of the EQAVET Network and key European stakeholders, works closely with the European Commission and the European Secretariat for EQAVET to:

• Offer advice to ongoing activities
• Inform about policy needs and contextualise policy developments within the Member States
• Ensure appropriate coordination, strategic development, and coherence with work in other relevant policy areas and process.

This governance structure promotes an environment of collaboration and mutual learning and creates a strong foundation for the work of the EQAVET Network.

EQAVET work programme 2021-2023

A multiannual EQAVET work programme is developed jointly between the European Commission and the EQAVET Network, represented by the Steering Committee. The 2021-2023 work programme outlines the key activities and thematic priorities for discussion and collaboration at EU level.

The thematic priorities for 2021-2023 include:

• Reinforcing Quality Assurance for all VET sectors (initial vocational education and training, continuing vocational education and training, apprenticeships etc.)
• Reinforcing Quality Assurance for all formats of VET delivery, including work-based learning, individualised and digital learning (e-based/blended learning), and its assessment/recognition/certification
• Reinforcing Quality Assurance for non-standard forms of learning (outside the formal education system), like validation of non-formal and informal learning and micro-credentials
• Actively supporting the development and integration of indicative descriptors to promote flexibility and mobility in VET
• Actively supporting the process of building capacity and knowledge on standards for VET graduate tracking at national and EU level
• Actively exploring new ways to disseminate EQAVET Network knowledge and learning to other stakeholders, including VET/adult learning providers, Centres of Vocational Excellence, National Agencies, etc.

The EQAVET Network develops knowledge and capacity through intensive exchange and mutual learning activities.

Such activities include Peer Learning Activities, which allow EQAVET NRPs to compare and contrast approaches to specific topics, and Peer Reviews which aim to support the EQAVET Network to take stock of ‘what’s there’ in terms of quality assuring national VET systems, where the main challenges are and decide how to take it forward in the EQAVET context.

The EQAVET Annual Network meeting allows to take stock of the progress and discuss the future activities.