Cedefop

Cedefop (the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training) founded in 1975 and based in Thessaloniki, Greece since 1995, is the EU’s agency helping to develop the European vocational education and training (VET) policies. Cedefop is helping the European Commission, EU Member States and the social partners to develop the right European vocational education and training policies.

Cedefop’s added value is the high quality of its comparative analyses and expertise gathered through research and networking, which are used to strengthen European cooperation in VET by:

• providing policy and technical advice on VET and proposing ideas for VET policies;
• filling knowledge gaps and generating new insights that identify VET trends and challenges;
• increasing awareness of VET’s image and importance;
• bringing together policy-makers, social partners, researchers and practitioners to share ideas;
• supporting and encouraging joint European approaches, principles and tools to improve VET.

Cedefop’s work was guided by medium-term priorities, which covered a three year period. Its activities were outlined in its annual work programme and it submitted an annual report to the European institutions each year. From 2017, Cedefop’s work is guided by a new programming document 2017-20, later for years 2018-20, 2019-21, 2020-22, 2021-23, 2022-24. Cedefop disseminates its information through websites, publications, networks, study visits, conferences and seminars. More information about Cedefop is available from www.cedefop.europa.eu.