The virtual conference ‘Embedding entrepreneurship competence in VET in Europe‘, part of Cedefop’s initiatives for the European Year of Skills, brought together 120 researchers, training providers, teachers, trainers, VET graduates and other stakeholders. They had the opportunity to discuss the results of the related Cedefop project and reflect on the needs for future research.

The event included presentations, interactive sessions and panel discussions that focused on:

• Factors enabling and hindering the integration of entrepreneurship competence in European VET
• Shared best practices for enhancing VET entrepreneurial learning ecosystems

Cedefop Deputy Director Mara Brugia noted that ‘entrepreneurship competence is crucial in preparing for the changes our society and economies are facing, including, among others, technological, climate, demographic, and safety challenges.’

Chiara Riondino, Head of Unit VET, Apprenticeships and Adult Learning, of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion, stressed that entrepreneurship is one of the elements that European Union’s policies aim to promote and embed further in VET.

Key paradoxes

Participants were offered insights into the main findings of Cedefop’s research, namely eight European case studies that revealed key paradoxes in embedding entrepreneurship competence in VET:

• The conceptual paradox: is the term ‘entrepreneurship’ supporting or hindering the development of the competence?
• The curricular paradox: dedicated modules/subjects or cross-curricular approach?
• The implementation paradox: broad goals versus narrow actions
• The employability paradox: does entrepreneurship competence improve the employment prospects?
• The policy paradox: do those who act on policies participate in designing them?

These themes were analysed by participants in breakout sessions and during a panel discussion, while Cedefop’s Head of Department for VET and Qualifications Loukas Zahilas moderated an open-dialogue that gave everyone the opportunity to reflect and exchange views on the conference’s main conclusions as well as on the path forward for future research in the field.