Europe Renews Vocational Education and Training Agenda with Herning Declaration 2026–2030
Europe is strengthening Vocational Education and Training through the Herning Declaration 2026–2030, focusing on digital skills, green transition, apprenticeships, lifelong learning, innovation and inclusive quality jobs.
Skill Development / Vocational Education / Global TVET
Europe Pushes New Momentum for Vocational Education and Training Reform
Brussels / New Delhi: Europe is moving ahead with a renewed focus on Vocational Education and Training (VET) as a key pillar for building a skilled, resilient and future-ready workforce. With the growing demand for digital capabilities, green skills, inclusive employment and lifelong learning, the European Commission is supporting Member States in modernising VET systems to better respond to changing labour market needs.
The latest policy direction places VET at the centre of Europe’s competitiveness agenda, aiming to prepare learners and workers for quality jobs while supporting the transition towards a green and digital economy. The initiative also aligns vocational training with post-COVID economic recovery priorities, ensuring that people across age groups have access to quality learning opportunities.
Herning Declaration 2026–2030 Sets New Direction for VET
A major highlight of the renewed European VET agenda is the Herning Declaration on attractive and inclusive Vocational Education and Training for increased competitiveness and quality jobs 2026–2030. Endorsed on 12 September 2025, the declaration builds on earlier European commitments, including the 2020 VET Council Recommendation and the Osnabrück Declaration.
The declaration has been backed by Ministers responsible for VET from EU Member States, EU Candidate Countries, EEA countries, European social partners and the European Commission. It renews coordinated efforts for VET reforms in line with fast-changing societal and labour market requirements.
Structured around 13 key objectives for the period 2026 to 2030, the declaration focuses on making vocational education more attractive, inclusive, high-quality and better aligned with employment opportunities.
Focus on Skills Shortages, Green Transition and Digital Economy
The Herning Declaration gives strong emphasis to addressing skills shortages and strengthening the connection between vocational education and labour market demand. It also highlights the need to support digital and green transitions through targeted skills development, inclusive apprenticeships and lifelong learning.
The policy framework promotes parity of esteem between vocational education and general or academic education, a long-standing challenge in many countries. By positioning VET as a pathway to quality jobs and innovation-led growth, Europe aims to make vocational training more aspirational for learners, employers and communities.
Centres of Vocational Excellence to Build Local Skills Ecosystems
To support VET reforms, the European Commission is promoting Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs). These centres bring together local partners to develop strong “skills ecosystems” that support regional development, economic growth, innovation and smart specialisation strategies.
Such skills ecosystems are expected to strengthen cooperation between training providers, employers, public authorities and other stakeholders. This model can help vocational education systems become more agile and responsive to local industry needs.
Quality Assurance, Micro-Credentials and Graduate Tracking
Europe’s VET reform agenda also includes several supporting mechanisms such as the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework in VET (EQAVET), micro-credentials, and VET graduate tracking.
EQAVET supports Member States in improving quality assurance systems in vocational education and increasing transparency. Micro-credentials are being promoted as flexible, targeted records of learning outcomes that help people acquire specific skills needed in the labour market. Graduate tracking, meanwhile, is seen as an important governance tool to understand employability outcomes, identify skills gaps and support better policy decisions.
European Vocational Skills Week Continues to Promote VET
The European Vocational Skills Week, launched in 2016, continues to play an important role in raising awareness about the value of vocational education. The annual initiative brings together local, regional and national organisations to celebrate VET achievements, exchange good practices and highlight the role of skills in employment and career development.
Why This Matters for the Global Skill Ecosystem
Europe’s renewed VET framework is significant not only for EU Member States but also for the global skills ecosystem. As countries across the world work to bridge skills gaps, improve employability and build future-ready workforces, the European approach offers important lessons in policy coordination, industry alignment, quality assurance and inclusive training delivery.
For India and other emerging economies, developments such as the Herning Declaration, Centres of Vocational Excellence, micro-credentials and graduate tracking provide useful reference points for strengthening vocational education, apprenticeship systems and labour market-linked skilling programmes.
The focus on green skills, digital learning, mobility, inclusion and quality jobs reflects the direction in which modern skill development systems are heading globally.
Key Takeaways
- Europe is modernising VET to support competitiveness, social fairness and resilience.
- The Herning Declaration 2026–2030 sets 13 key objectives for VET reform.
- Focus areas include green skills, digital skills, apprenticeships, lifelong learning and inclusion.
- Centres of Vocational Excellence are being promoted to build regional skills ecosystems.
- EQAVET, micro-credentials and graduate tracking are important tools for improving VET quality and employability outcomes.
- The reform agenda has strong relevance for global TVET and skill development policy discussions.
Vocational Education, VET, TVET, Skill Development, Green Skills, Digital Skills, Apprenticeships, Micro-Credentials, EQAVET, European Commission, Workforce Development
