Annual Forum to discuss quality of vocational education and training in Europe

The forum will hold discussions on providing and evaluating vocational education and training by implementing the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework, including the setting up of the quality education indicators at national level. Issues related to both compliance of acquired competences within the working environment and ensuring technology-based learning environment will also be discussed. In addition, will evaluate the achievements of the work period 2013-2015 and start working on the draft of the new work programme to be implemented in 2016-2017.

Forum is organised by the Commission and the EQAVET Secretariat in cooperation with the Latvian State Education Quality Service bringing together representatives from the European Commission, the EQAVET Secretariat, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, the European Training Foundation, the Latvian State Education Quality Service, education policy-makers and coordinators from the EQAVET member states, and representatives from the Latvian educational institutions and social partners.

EQAVET is a community of practice bringing together EU Member States, social partners and the European Commission to promote European collaboration in developing and improving quality assurance in VET by using the European Quality Assurance Reference Framework.

Since 2013, setting up the joint quality education indicators of vocational education in Latvia is coordinated by the State Education Quality Service. Five discussions with social partners — the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia and the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia, as well as the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science, the State Employment Agency, the State Revenue Service, the Vocational Education Association, the industry expert councils and representatives from vocational education institutions — were held during this period. Those have resulted in the Cabinet of Ministers' draft regulation on evaluating quality of schools’ functioning including EQAVET indicators.

It will be possible to schedule (time and date) face-to-face interview with the participants of the forum in coordination with the event organisers. Media representatives are invited to the opening of the event on 17 June at 9:00-9:30 with photo/video opportunities.

More information available on the EQAVET website and State Education Quality Service website.