EU Ministers with responsibility for vocational education and training have just (June 2015) issued a set of Conclusions on a new set of policy priorities and deliverables for VET for the period 2015 to 2020.

These include:

• dialogue and cooperation with social partners and other stakeholders
• raising the quality and attractiveness of accessible and inclusive VET
• better understanding and knowledge of the skills needed in the labour market, including by closely monitoring sectoral and regional trends
• exploit this understanding to improve education and training policies and underpin learning and career guidance and counselling
• long-term policies through effective investment, enhanced strategic partnerships and increased cooperation to promote innovation and excellence in VET, as well as to strengthen permeable and flexible pathways for a competitive European VET
• encourage the effective use of EU transparency tools, and in particular of the European Qualifications Framework, as a common reference for EU comparison and transparency to facilitate mobility of students and workers in Europe
• make such tools more effective and easily accessible to individuals and relevant stakeholders
• contribute to the international competitiveness of the labour force developed by the European VET systems and to improved recognition of VET qualifications in Europe and global context.

According to the Ministers career guidance has an important role to play in  raising awareness of the attractiveness and quality of VET. Information on labour market skills demands should underpin career guidance.