In the Tech Nation 2017 review, it is evident that the UK has thriving clusters of digital companies, in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, Cambridge, Sheffield, Oxford, Bristol and Bath, for example. Indeed, the majority of countries within the EU are experiencing skills challenges. As a response, the EU Agenda for New Skills and Jobs outlines that the demand for digital technology professionals has grown by 4% annually in the last ten years. Yet, digital skills are lacking; it is estimated that by 2020 there will be 756,000 unfilled vacancies in the IT sector. In such a fast-moving and dynamic sector it is challenging for tech apprenticeships to keep up with the demands for skills in the workplace. So, the main aim of the VETIT project is focused on the development of new and sustainable structures and mechanisms to ensure such skills shortages are addressed. More specifically, VETIT aims to bridge the gap between the world of vocational education and business, specifically work based learning, to ensure apprentices are given the very best opportunity to transit from vocational education into the world of work.

VETIT’s approach is a good example of co-production, where the curriculum being developed, for both vocational education trainers/learning facilitators and in-work mentors, is one that is influenced by the insights from those providing IT apprenticeships, apprentices and businesses.

VETIT’s website is currently in draft mode but can be visited here: http://newsite-europe.gr.94-130-135-43.my-website-preview.com/index.php?lang=el

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