How do VET providers stay informed about evolving European policies that will shape funding, priorities, and quality standards for years to come? How do they build the strategic relationships needed to translate broad EU initiatives into concrete local interventions?
A recent three-day study visit to Brussels by ENAC professionals, together with colleagues from Italian partner organizations Fondazione Casa di Carità Arti e Mestieri and ENDO-FAP, demonstrates the value of direct engagement with European VET policy ecosystems.
The delegation’s objective was clear: to understand emerging trends in EU education policies and to build strategic relationships in anticipation of the next Erasmus+ programming period. Beyond these goals, however, the visit addressed a broader challenge facing VET providers across Europe—how to navigate increasingly complex European policy frameworks while remaining grounded in the practical realities of training delivery and local labour market needs.
Building connections within the European VET ecosystem
Significant attention was also given to European social sector networks such as ENSA (European Network of Social Authorities) and Elisan. These networks offer concrete opportunities for the exchange of practices and collaborative project development at the intersection of social inclusion and vocational training—an increasingly important field as European societies respond to persistent unemployment, social exclusion, and the need for more inclusive labour markets.
Over the course of three days, the study visit achieved something essential but often undervalued: it created space for VET professionals to step back from daily operational demands and engage strategically with the broader policy and network ecosystem shaping the future of their sector. The delegation returned with a clearer understanding of European dynamics, stronger professional relationships across borders, and concrete insights into translating EU strategies into institutional practice.
This experience directly supports the objectives of VET2Sustain in developing cooperation between VET schools, working life, and policymakers across European countries. By engaging directly with European policy frameworks and networks, VET providers strengthen their capacity to improve practices based on labour market needs—not only local needs, but also the broader European labour market transformations related to digitalisation, the green transition, social inclusion, and lifelong learning that will define the coming decades.
The study visit also illustrates an important principle: making VET more attractive is not only about what happens in classrooms or workshops. It is also about ensuring that VET providers themselves are well connected, strategically informed, and positioned to offer students opportunities aligned with European labour market realities. When VET institutions maintain strong European connections and understand policy developments, they are better able to prepare students for careers that increasingly require cross-border mobility, international competences, and awareness of European opportunities.
