Within the framework of the Thematic Committee " Vocational Training and Skills Development" set up under the project EBSOMED, BUSINESSMED organized on December 15, 2020 a Webinar aiming at presenting the strategic orientations and the first conclusions and publications of the committee that intended to answer the priorities of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector as defined by the European Union.

The European Commission has always believed that Vocational education and training (TVET) is a key element of lifelong learning systems, which equip citizens with knowledge, skills and competences required in particular occupations and on the labour market. The post economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis offered an opportunity to accelerate reforms in TVET and strengthen its resilience, notably by digitizing learning offers and methods and agile adaptation to changing labour market needs.

BUSINESSMED, with the aim to address the   opportunities   and suggest a list of recommendations and scenarios to help address the TVET sector challenges, created the Thematic Committee on “Skills Development and Vocational Training”.  This   committee gathered  Employers’ Organisations from the EuroMed Region, believing that today’s economy requires advanced, flexible and fungible skills and that VET can boost organizational performance, competitiveness, research and innovation which is a central aspect of successful employment and social policy.

After two face-to-face meetings organized between 2018 /2019 and several online workshops between the members of the committee and the chosen expert, it was decided, due to the sanitarian situation, that the publication of the first results and the states of progress would take place during an online webinar.

The discussions during the online event provided an opportunity to exchange information on how different TVET stakeholders are coping with the impact of the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on TVET provision in the Euro-Mediterranean region and to share employers' experiences on approaches to respond to the crisis and strengthen recovery while ensuring equity in TVET. It was also the occasion to present the first fact sheet and the first report developed by the expert.