33rd EfVET ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2024, Amersfoort, Netherlands (The)
“Training Gen Z: New Horizons for VET”
The 21st century has been characterised by several phenomena all largely characterised by technology and, recently, artificial intelligence (Calleja, 2023). The new generation of learners, so-called Gen Z, brings a potential of innovation with their attitude, being technology-native, exposed to international culture (music, cinema, sport, events) and already experiencing great challenges, from the pandemic to a cultural paradigm shift. Meanwhile, technology advancements are innovating the landscape of future jobs, skills and qualifications.
In this scenario it is legitimate to ask some important questions: What are the skills for the future jobs? What will be the future jobs? What physical and psychological environments should training providers create to retain learners in formal education? Will AI and online learning jeopardise or develop VET? Are we facing Gen Z with education and training programmes that make them employable?
It is possible to identify some clear challenges for our VET community to face the social and cultural changes related to Gen Z. As always, challenges can be a unique opportunity to set the pace towards the future. The EfVET Conference 2024 “Training the Gen Z: New Horizons for VET” aims at addressing those challenges in order to offer the delegates and the VET ecosystem concrete tools to successfully cope with the new emerging challenges in education and training.
Learning
People born in the late 20th century and post the year 2000 have been brought up using a language and a behaviour which is predominantly influenced by speed, immediacy and relativity. The average human attention span decreased by almost 25% from 2000 to 2015.
Learners of the 21st century show signs of impatience at traditional forms of teaching and learning. The impact of technology and in particular the mobile phones have significantly reduced our attention span disturbing the natural inclination towards normal or profound thinking and reflection. In addition, the surge of social media has additionally complicated in no small measure our way of relating to each other.
Training
VET trainers and leaders have been constantly revising training methods, facilitating the introduction of new technologies, but also encouraging a stronger transition towards work-based learning system. The contact with reality and the immediate connection between knowledge transmission and learning become of paramount importance. COVID-19 has accelerated this process and now is the time to evaluate the impact of moving into an online learning system in a forced rush.
Skills for the future
The last decades can be characterised by an extreme disruption, due to not just a continuous level of innovation, but its exponential rapidity in evolving. It is not sufficient to learn digital and technical skills related to the current IT systems, but skills to learn how to constantly learn, reskill and upskill. The emergence of big data requires a stronger critical thinking; the advancements in robotics and the claim for a sound ethical base in the use of AI are crucial points for discussion. Life-long Learning becomes an essential tool for workers, also in combination with a constant recognition of competencies thanks to innovative systems, such as micro-credentials and the experience on places of work.
The EfVET 2024 conference will address three overarching questions: To what extent can this relationship keep the three-tier system in higher VET/education a relevant learning platform? What would be happen if AI challenges formal education in an extensive and rapid situation? How does this culture affect students in vocational education schools? Will human beings be relevant as teachers while artificial intelligence supersedes human capacity? What could be the role of lecturing staff when the profile of learners is changing so fast? Does this mean that the next generation of vocational education learners will be online learners? How are learners and teachers reacting after COVID-19? Is mental wellbeing really a challenge or an inflation of changing attitudes? / Are managers and teachers well prepared to address mental health issues or coping skills in such fast moving societies?
The growth of our society, economically and socially, relies more and more on a sound VET ecosystem.
As usual the conference aims at being a key momentum for the European VET community to be in contact with insights from inspiring speakers, including giving voice to learners, but also the context for knowledge sharing about emerging best practices and effective education and training tools.
