The AGORA VETPro 4.0 project has been a reality-driven innovative answer to a challenge most precisely highlighted byCEDEFOP in their Intervention Approaches for Improving VET image and attractiveness: “VET suffers from poor reputation. Additionally, the discourse on tertiary education still favours university education over post-secondary VET, which adds to its unattractiveness. VET needs to be an appealing, credible alternative option to general routes, if it is to attract and retain the right learners.” Additionally, the ET 2020 Working Group on VET pointed out the need of “new knowledge, skills and competences for teachers and trainers, from knowledge about the latest technologies and the skills associated with using them, to being open to and seeking out innovative solutions to new teaching and learning challenges both for young learners and adults.” Stemming from these 2 significant highlights, the project’s main objective has been: to address the identified training needs of its main target group the VET and HR professionals in order to ensure their competence-based motivation to work and promote attractive VET as a career pathway leading to enhanced employability and better professional realization of the young people.
The AGORA VETPro 4.0 project team came together to create a space where VET professionals could convene, collaborate, and elevate the status of VET as a meaningful and esteemed career pathway. CEDEFOP highlighted VET as a powerful tool in combating youth unemployment. At the same time in "Skills, qualifications and jobs in the EU: the making of a perfect match?" they emphasized the challenges faced by VET, noting its "poor reputation" and the necessity to improve its image. Another urgent need had been expressed in CEDEFOP's paper on "Digital skills: challenges and opportunities during the pandemic." - to equip educators with digital competences highlighted the evolving landscape of learning, offering opportunities for transformative changes. The project directly tackled the challenges and opportunities outlined above for its target groups: Direct: VET and HR professionals were equipped with competence-based motivation and bolstered self-confidence to champion an attractive VET sector. This was achieved through the 3 Project Results developed. Indirect: Students, trainees, and parents were also addressed, through provision of the perspectives on the potential of VET to enhance employability and professional realization.