Advisory Committee on Vocational Training turns 60

After the Advisory committee’s meeting on 7 June 2023, Commissioner Schmit joined the celebration of the ACVT’s 60^th anniversary. In his address to ACVT members, the Commissioner noted that the anniversary of the ACVT could not be more timely, given that it coincides with the European Year of Skills.

Governments, companies, social partners, training providers and all relevant stakeholders must join forces to give companies the talent they need and help people match their aspirations and find good quality jobs.

Such cooperation is inscribed in the very DNA of the tripartite ACVT.

Background

Since 1963, the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training (ACVT) supports the Commission in developing and implementing the EU policy framework for vocational education and training, and, over the past years, also for the broader domain of skills and qualifications.

The ACVT meets twice a year and is a so-called "tripartite committee" which means that it brings together representatives of:

• Member States’ governments
• employers
• trade unions

Other relevant stakeholders that take part in the meetings of the Advisory Committee are:

• European cross-industry social partner organisations
• EEA and candidate countries
• OBESSU (students)
• European VET providers associations
• Eurochambres

The ACVT has been instrumental for assisting the Commission in developing and implementing EU policies for VET, skills and qualifications that really work and matter to people, workers and businesses.

In his speech, Commissioner Schmit referred to the ACVT’s achievements of the past years, which include the 2018 ACVT Opinion on the future of Vocational Education and Training post 2020, and more recently in 2021 on an EU initiative on Individual Learning Accounts and strengthening training provision in Europe.

These are best practice examples of how to develop EU policies in a transparent, inclusive and efficient manner.