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Euroguidance European Conference: Sustaining guidance within the Union of Skills (regional)

Euroguidance European Conference: Sustaining guidance within the Union of Skills (regional)

Kind:
Event
Start Date:
02 Dec 2025
End Date:
04 Jun 2026
Event Location:
Riga, Latvia and online
EventType:
Language:

English

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english
Identifier
skpEng
Language Version:
--
Sources:

Governments

Governments hold a wealth of knowledge on skills development, and are increasingly realizing the value of learning from each others’ experiences. Their policy documents, programme evaluations, and research findings contain their experience and ideas on how to better link skills to employment

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skpGov
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governments
Topics:

Anticipating and matching skills needs

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Anticipating and building skills for the future is essential to a rapidly changing labour market. This applies to changes in the types and levels of skills needed as well as in occupational and technical areas. Effective methods to anticipate future skills needs and avoid potential mismatches include: sustained dialogue between employers and trainers, coordination across government institutions, labour market information systems, employment services and performance reviews of training institutions. 

Identifier
skpAFSN
Slug
anticipating-and-matching-skills-needs

Career guidance and employment services

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Career guidance and counselling, career education and lifelong development of skills for employability are key for success in learning activities, effective career transitions, livelihood planning, entrepreneurship and in increasing labour market participation. They are instrumental in promoting skills utilization, recognition (RPL), as well as in improving enterprise human resource management.

Career development activities encompass a wide variety of support activities including career information and advice, counselling, work exposure (e.g. job shadowing, work experience periods), assessment, coaching, mentoring, professional networking, advocacy, basic and employability skills training (curricular and non-curricular) and entrepreneurship training. It is often an area which is fragmented across different ministries (e.g. education, TVET, employment, youth) requiring an effort to achieve the necessary coordination to provide adequate support to individuals during learning, employment and unemployment/inactivity periods.
 

Identifier
skpLMIES
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career-guidance-and-employment-services

Recognition and portability of skills

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Skills development can be viewed from a life-cycle perspective of building, maintaining and improving competencies and skills. A holistic approach to skills development encompasses the following features: access to good basic education; development of cognitive and core skills, including literacy, numeracy, communication, problem-solving and learning ability; and, availability of continuous training opportunities targeting adult and older workers.  Systems to improve recognition of attained skills across occupations, industries and countries improve the employability of workers, reduce labour shortages, and promote good working conditions for migrant workers. 

Identifier
skpRAPS
Slug
recognition-and-portability-of-skills

Skills for green transition/climate action

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The growing importance of sustainable development and the shift to a low-carbon and climateresilient economy will require new skills and qualifications, offering great potential for the creation of green jobs but also implying structural changes and a transformation of existing jobs. The transition to a low-carbon and greener economy will generate millions of new jobs, negatively affect some high-emitting sectors, and alter most existing occupations in terms of task compositions and skills requirements. 

Ensuring the right skills for green jobs is a prerequisite to make the transition to a greener economy happen. Today, skills gaps are already recognised as a major bottleneck in a number of sectors, such as renewable energy, energy and resource efficiency, green building or environmental services. The adoption and dissemination of clean technologies require skills in technology application, adaptation and maintenance. Skills are also crucial for economies and
businesses, workers and entrepreneurs to rapidly adapt to changes deriving from climate change and environmental policies. 

Identifier
skpGreen
Slug
skills-for-green-transition-climate-action
Knowledge Products:

Guidance practitioners, trainers, researchers and policy makers in the field of career guidance are welcome to join us at the Euroguidance European conference in Riga, Latvia on December 2-3, 2025. This flagship event for Europe in the Global Careers Month calendar focuses on "Sustaining Guidance within the Union of Skills."

Explore the vital link between career guidance, skills, and sustainability. The program offers a breadth of experiences, with two keynotes, ten workshops, twelve papers, and a panel discussion featuring diverse perspectives from practice, research, policy, education, and industry.

You'll also have a chance to connect with peers and enjoy Riga's rich culture with a guided visit to the Old Town or the Latvian National Library and a lively dinner with traditional folk music and dancing. 

Can't make it in person? Selected sessions will be streamed live and recorded for one year for all registered attendees.

The event is aimed at the European guidance community, but on-line attendance is available globally.

Time: 2 December 2025 at 09:00-21:00 and 3 December 2025 at 09:30-16:00 EET

Location: Radisson Blu Daugava, Kuģu iela 24,  Riga, Latvia. Online participation link will be sent to registered participants'

More information: https://sites.google.com/view/euroguidance2025gcm/home

 

Euroguidance European Conference: Sustaining guidance within the Union of Skills (regional)
Subject Tags:
Regions:
Countries and territories:
Economic groups:
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A routine transition? Causes and consequences of the changing content of jobs in Central and Eastern Europe

A routine transition? Causes and consequences of the changing content of jobs in Central and Eastern Europe

Type:
Document
Content Type:
A routine transition? Causes and consequences of the changing content of jobs in Central and Eastern Europe
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Academic institutions

Research papers, synthesis reports, country and programme studies are collected from many academic institutions and national, regional and international professional associations.

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Identifier
skpAcaInst
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academic-institutions

Other sources

Experts from many international, regional and national agencies generously share their views, experiences and findings on skills, helping policy-makers among other stakeholders to understand the linkages between education, training and the world of work, and how to integrate skills into national development planning to promote employment and economic growth.

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Identifier
skpOSource
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other-sources
Topics:

Access to training

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Access for all to good quality education, vocational training and workplace learning is a fundamental principle of social cohesion and economic growth. Some groups of people may require targeted attention if they are to benefit from education, training and employment opportunities.  

This is particularly the case for disadvantaged youth, lower skilled workers, people with disabilities, and people in rural communities. The attractiveness of vocational education and training is enhanced when combined with entrepreneurship training and when public policies encourage utilization of higher skills by business. 
 

Identifier
skpATSU
Slug
access-to-training
Knowledge Products:

Other knowledge products

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Identifier
skpOProduct
Slug
other-knowledge-products
Publication Date:
13 Jul 2016
Open
wcmstest4_178455.pdf
This paper studies the shift from manual to cognitive work in 10 economies of Central and Eastern Europe. It highlights the growth in the non-routine cognitive component of jobs, but pay particular attention to the increase in routine cognitive tasks, a trend that is pronounced in the CEE economies but absent in the most advanced economies. It shows that workforce upgrading and structural change were the main factors behind the increase in all cognitive tasks, but that the growth in routine cognitive tasks is partly attributable to rising shares of routine-intensive occupations. It identifies two groups of workers whose jobs depend most on performing routine cognitive tasks: middle-skilled men in the manufacturing sectors and middle-skilled women in the service sectors, who jointly represent 33% of workers in CEE. It finds that robust employment and wage growth among routine cognitive workers has so far prevented job polarisation in CEE. However, the relative prices of routine cognitive tasks are already higher than those of other tasks. If the prices of routine cognitive tasks rise further while technological progress continues, routine intensive employment may gradually decline. It concludes with policy implications of the findings.
Subject Tags:
Regions:
Countries and territories:

Learning from catalysts of rural transformation

Learning from catalysts of rural transformation

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Learning from catalysts of rural transformation
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

ILO

The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org

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skpILO
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ilo
Topics:

Rural employment

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Eight out of 10 of the world’s working poor who live on US $1.25 per day live in rural areas, where many are caught in vulnerable employment, especially in agriculture.Flourishing rural areas are vital to regional and national development. Yet, rural economies tend to face a wide range of challenges that urban areas are more likely to overcome. These include access to transportation, sanitation and health services, and a consumer base in close proximity to support small and medium enterprise development. Women and men working in rural areas also face difficulties associated with a paucity of economic opportunities, under investment, poor infrastructure and public services, including education, and, in many cases, weak governance and underdeveloped markets.

Education, entrepreneurship, and physical and social infrastructure all play an important role in developing rural regions. Skills are central to improving employability and livelihood opportunities, reducing poverty, enhancing productivity and promoting environmentally sustainable development.

Identifier
skpREmpl
Slug
rural-employment
Knowledge Products:

Case studies and good practices

Case studies that document good practices and illustrate the benefits and lessons learnt of particular approaches or methods in real practice. 

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Identifier
skpCaseStdy
Slug
case-studies-and-good-practices
Publication Date:
16 May 2016
Open
wcmstest4_174857.pdf
This publication reviews 8 cases of 'Catalyst' of rural transformation from different countries. It extracts lessons that remind us of the economic and development potential of rural areas, and most important, the central role of rural men and women, young people, indigenous populations and other groups to unleash that potential.
Subject Tags:

Rural development

Slug
rural-development
Identifier
152

Rural employment

Slug
rural-employment
Identifier
670
Regions:
Countries and territories:

Governance and financing of apprenticeships

Governance and financing of apprenticeships

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Governance and financing of apprenticeships
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Other sources

Experts from many international, regional and national agencies generously share their views, experiences and findings on skills, helping policy-makers among other stakeholders to understand the linkages between education, training and the world of work, and how to integrate skills into national development planning to promote employment and economic growth.

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Identifier
skpOSource
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other-sources
Topics:

Financing of training

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Initial education and training and lifelong learning benefit individuals, employers and society as a whole. Economic principles dictate that the costs for services with public and private benefits should be shared between public and private funding, or else too little training will be provided or taken up. Effective mechanisms for financing skills development vary according to countries’ economic and political circumstances and the degree and level of social dialogue established.

Identifier
skpFinanT
Slug
financing-training
Knowledge Products:

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

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Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
04 Apr 2016
Open
wcmstest4_170255.pdf
This report analyses VET governance structures and financing arrangements in Spain, Italy, Latvia, Portugal and Sweden in view of developing and expanding apprenticeship.

The study identifies ‘favourable’ or ‘ideal’ (from a theoretical point of view) governance structures and financing arrangements (normative model) that would support sustainable implementation of high-quality apprenticeship.

Against the backdrop of this model, current structures in these countries are assessed and areas that need action identified. Possible options as to how apprenticeship or similar schemes could be further developed in each country are presented.

Designed as action research in which relevant national stakeholders – government representatives, employers, employees and training providers – were actively involved in carrying out the assessment and discussing future policy options, the study aims to contribute to policy learning and encourage the national and international dialogue on apprenticeship.
Subject Tags:

Apprenticeships

Slug
apprenticeships
Identifier
639

Financing training

Slug
financing-training
Identifier
673

TVET systems

Slug
tvet-systems
Identifier
661

Vocational training

Slug
vocational-training
Identifier
124
Regions:
Countries and territories:

Employment growth and skills needs in selected sectors in Latvia

Employment growth and skills needs in selected sectors in Latvia

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Employment growth and skills needs in selected sectors in Latvia
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Other sources

Experts from many international, regional and national agencies generously share their views, experiences and findings on skills, helping policy-makers among other stakeholders to understand the linkages between education, training and the world of work, and how to integrate skills into national development planning to promote employment and economic growth.

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpOSource
Slug
other-sources
Topics:

Anticipating and matching skills needs

Thumbnail

Anticipating and building skills for the future is essential to a rapidly changing labour market. This applies to changes in the types and levels of skills needed as well as in occupational and technical areas. Effective methods to anticipate future skills needs and avoid potential mismatches include: sustained dialogue between employers and trainers, coordination across government institutions, labour market information systems, employment services and performance reviews of training institutions. 

Identifier
skpAFSN
Slug
anticipating-and-matching-skills-needs

Sectoral approaches

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Matching skills to labour market demand requires reliable sectoral and occupational information and institutions that connect employers with training providers.  Sector based strategies and institutions have proved effective in engaging all stakeholders in promoting both pre-employment training and life-long learning.

Identifier
skpSectApr
Slug
sectoral-approaches
Knowledge Products:

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

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Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
13 May 2015
Open
wcmstest4_142060.pdf
This paper looks at a number of sectors which are important for the Latvian economy, such as electromechanical engineering, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, computers, transport and health and social work. It draws on the European Commission’s comprehensive sectoral analysis of emerging competencies and economic activities conducted in 2008–2009 in cooperation with Eurofound. For this background paper, Eurofound has highlighted results that are of particular relevance for Latvia.
Subject Tags:

Chemical and petrochemical industries

Slug
chemical-and-petrochemical-industries
Identifier
206

Engineering

Slug
engineering
Identifier
212

Information and communication technologies

Slug
information-and-communication-technologies
Identifier
346

Sectoral approaches

Slug
sectoral-approaches
Identifier
676

Skills anticipation

Slug
skills-anticipation
Identifier
677
Slug
social-services
Identifier
405

Transport

Slug
transport
Identifier
245
Regions:
Countries and territories:

Monitoring ECVET implementation strategies in Europe in 2013

Monitoring ECVET implementation strategies in Europe in 2013

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Monitoring ECVET implementation strategies in Europe in 2013
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Other sources

Experts from many international, regional and national agencies generously share their views, experiences and findings on skills, helping policy-makers among other stakeholders to understand the linkages between education, training and the world of work, and how to integrate skills into national development planning to promote employment and economic growth.

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Identifier
skpOSource
Slug
other-sources
Topics:

Training quality and relevance

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Identifier
skpTrainQR
Slug
training-quality-and-relevance
Knowledge Products:

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

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Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
18 Mar 2014
Open
wcmstest4_110650.pdf
Working Paper No. 22 The aim of the European credit system for vocational education and training (ECVET) is to allow individuals to gain a full vocational education and training (VET) qualification, or to update/upgrade their VET qualifications in a flexible way, by use of credits.

ECVET requires qualifications to be described in terms of learning outcomes that will be then defined as units that might translate into credits. Learning outcomes recognised in form of credits may be transferred between education and training institutions, whether in the same country or abroad, and accumulated towards achieving a full or a partial qualification. If the VET system allows it, learning acquired in non-formal and informal settings may be assessed and validated as credits to be used for transfer and accumulation purposes. In this context, ECVET is more likely to reach its full potential if linked to the European qualifications framework (EQF)/national qualifications framework (NQF) developments that support the description of qualifications in terms of learning outcomes, as well as with national arrangements and practices for validating non-formal and informal learning.

This report covers ECVET developments in 38 countries and regions up to September 2013; it is the fourth since 2010, when Cedefop started its regular ECVET analysis in relation to national VET reforms. The deadlines of the ECVET recommendation set 2013 as the year for ECVET’s gradual application to VET qualifications at all levels of the EQF, following more than three years of testing and development.
Subject Tags:

Qualification frameworks

Slug
qualification-frameworks
Identifier
651

Skills recognition

Slug
skills-recognition
Identifier
656

TVET systems

Slug
tvet-systems
Identifier
661
Regions:
Countries and territories:

Fiscal efficiency and vocational education in the EU8 countries

Fiscal efficiency and vocational education in the EU8 countries

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Fiscal efficiency and vocational education in the EU8 countries
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Information is gathered from other international organizations that promote skills development and the transition from education and training to work. The Interagency Group on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IAG-TVET) was established in 2009 to share research findings, coordinate joint research endeavours, and improve collaboration among organizations working at the international and national levels.

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Identifier
skpIntOrg
Slug
international-organizations
Topics:

Financing of training

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Initial education and training and lifelong learning benefit individuals, employers and society as a whole. Economic principles dictate that the costs for services with public and private benefits should be shared between public and private funding, or else too little training will be provided or taken up. Effective mechanisms for financing skills development vary according to countries’ economic and political circumstances and the degree and level of social dialogue established.

Identifier
skpFinanT
Slug
financing-training
Knowledge Products:

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

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Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
29 Apr 2013
Open
wcmstest4_043444.pdf
The report explores the fiscal aspects of vocational education reform in the context of secondary education as a whole and considers the implications of any changes in the vocational education (VE) system for post-secondary and other modes of skill development the EU8 countries.
It begins by describing the inherited system of vocational education in the former socialist countries of Central and Eastern Europe which was based on the assumption that everyone had to be trained for a specific occupation before starting work and that it was the function of vocational schools to provide such training. The report recognizes that there are differences within the initial vocational education system between schools which concentrate on imparting skills for use in the workplace (sometimes designated as 'vocational' schools) and schools which also impart some theoretical knowledge relevant to a vocation (sometimes designated as 'technical' schools). Partly because of this complexity, because of data limitations and because the EU8 countries are not a homogenous group, it is very difficult to assemble information on vocational education that is fully comparable between countries. Therefore, not all EU8 countries are always included in the analysis.
The report contains a number of policy options to inform a program of VE reform to the benefit of fiscal efficiency.
Subject Tags:

Financing training

Slug
financing-training
Identifier
673

Vocational training

Slug
vocational-training
Identifier
124
Regions:
Countries and territories:

Vocational education in the new EU Member States: Enhancing labor market outcomes and fiscal efficiency

Vocational education in the new EU Member States: Enhancing labor market outcomes and fiscal efficiency

Type:
Document
Content Type:
Vocational education in the new EU Member States: Enhancing labor market outcomes and fiscal efficiency
Language:

English

Slug
english
Identifier
skpEng
Sources:

Information is gathered from other international organizations that promote skills development and the transition from education and training to work. The Interagency Group on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (IAG-TVET) was established in 2009 to share research findings, coordinate joint research endeavours, and improve collaboration among organizations working at the international and national levels.

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Identifier
skpIntOrg
Slug
international-organizations
Topics:

Financing of training

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Initial education and training and lifelong learning benefit individuals, employers and society as a whole. Economic principles dictate that the costs for services with public and private benefits should be shared between public and private funding, or else too little training will be provided or taken up. Effective mechanisms for financing skills development vary according to countries’ economic and political circumstances and the degree and level of social dialogue established.

Identifier
skpFinanT
Slug
financing-training

Training quality and relevance

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Identifier
skpTrainQR
Slug
training-quality-and-relevance
Knowledge Products:

Research papers

Working papers, reports, and other publications from international organizations, academic institutions and bilateral agencies. Research findings to stimulate informed debate on skills, employment and productivity issues. 

Thumbnail
Identifier
skpRPS
Slug
research-papers
Publication Date:
24 Dec 2012
Open
fm11g_011013.pdf
This report explores the fiscal aspects of vocational education reform in the context of secondary education as a whole and considers the implications of any changes in the vocational education system for post-secondary and other modes of skill development in the Central European and Baltic countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia—the “EU8”) which joined the European Union in 2004.
Subject Tags:

Enterprises

Slug
enterprises
Identifier
175

Financing training

Slug
financing-training
Identifier
673

Vocational training

Slug
vocational-training
Identifier
124
Regions:
Countries and territories:
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