The project aimed to strengthen the capacity of VET systems to respond to increasingly diverse working environments, particularly in metropolitan labour markets characterised by high mobility and diverse learner groups. The objective was to reduce barriers to learning and employment caused by cultural, linguistic, social, and digital differences. A key goal was to promote inclusive lifelong learning and continuous skills development by ensuring equal access to flexible learning pathways. This was achieved through the development of dynamic learning materials and online, hybrid, and face-to-face training formats adapted to diverse needs. Based on labour market analysis and stakeholder interviews, skills gaps were identified, and twelve key meta-skills were selected for training (https://metacoinproject.eu). Strengthening competences such as personal and social skills, cultural awareness, learning and problem-solving skills was intended to improve employability, resilience, and job transitions, while supporting social inclusion, active citizenship, and the green and digital transitions. The objectives were implemented through research, development, piloting, and dissemination.
We increasingly need meta-skills to cope with uncertainty and to function in complex, digital, and multicultural contexts. We applied for the META-COIN project because we identified a gap between rapidly changing societal and labour-market demands and the capacity of VET systems to equip learners with the citizenship and meta-skills needed to respond to these changes. In recent years, marked by the pandemic and the war in Europe, living and working conditions have become more unpredictable, while globalisation and demographic change continue to diversify working environments. The project addressed challenges related to diversity, internationalisation, and future working-life skills. During implementation, the importance of meta-skills such as learning to learn, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, readiness for change, and positive future thinking became even clearer. These competences are essential for adaptability, employability, and well-being, yet they are often only implicitly addressed in VET. Through the project, we aimed to strengthen inclusive and future-oriented VET practices that support lifelong learning, resilience, and active participation in an uncertain world.