Celebrating Four Years of the Pact for Skills: EARLALL’s Commitment to Bridging Europe’s Skills Gap
11/12/2024
Last month marked the fourth anniversary of the Pact for Skills, a flagship initiative of the European Skills Agenda, launched on 10 November 2020. Over the past four years, the Pact has become a key platform for fostering collaboration among industry leaders, SMEs, educational institutions, and public authorities to address Europe’s most pressing skills challenges, particularly in the digital and green sectors.
EARLALL has been a proud member of the Pact for Skills since 18 May 2022. With its mission rooted in lifelong learning and regional collaboration, EARLALL has translated its commitment into concrete actions to upskill and reskill Europe’s workforce.
One of the most significant milestones of 2024 was the launch of the Regional Pact for Skills Partnership for Lifelong Learning Mobility on September 17, 2024. This Partnership, the seventh of its kind under the European Commission’s Pact for Skills initiative, marks a major step forward in advancing workforce mobility across Europe.
The initiative, supported, so far, by Västra Götaland Region (Sweden), Movetia (Switzerland), Borås Stad (Sweden), Catalonia (Spain) and Camilla Winter AB (Sweden)focuses on increasing the number of mobilities in Vocational and Educational Training (VET), apprenticeships, adult education, and non-formal education. It places special emphasis on supporting mobility opportunities for learners with fewer resources, aligning with the EU’s Europe on the Move targets:
- 20% of VET learners participating in mobilities by 2030.
- 20% of all mobilities are allocated to individuals with fewer opportunities.
The Partnership is committed to fostering stronger networks among regional and local authorities to establish durable cooperation in VET mobility. It also aims to attract new members, ensuring sustained growth and innovation in the field.
Since 2022 EARLALL has been at the forefront of efforts to promote skills development at the regional level. Key contributions include:
- June 2024: Highlighting the role of regions and cities in skills development during a webinar on the Pact and the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA).
- March 2024: Representing regional interests at the first Pact for Skills Forum, dedicated to unlocking Europe’s skills potential.
- April 2022: Promoting the Pact for Skills through the EARLALL network with the Working Group on Skills and Labour Market.
- September 2022: Participating in the Pact’s Exchange Meetings, fostering knowledge-sharing with leading stakeholders and networks.
Additionally, EARLALL has been recognized for its efforts, with the S4STRIDE Project being selected as a good practice example in the Pact for Skills study in June 2024.
With the launch of the Regional Pact for Skills Partnership for Lifelong Learning Mobility, EARLALL has reaffirmed its commitment to creating accessible, high-quality opportunities for learners across Europe. By focusing on mobility and inclusion, the Partnership paves the way for a more skilled and equitable workforce capable of meeting Europe’s future challenges.
As the Pact for Skills celebrates four years of progress, EARLALL continues to play a pivotal role in achieving its vision of a resilient, adaptive, and inclusive European labour market.
