Switzerland at informal EU ministerial meeting in Denmark on VET
Bern, 12.09.2025 — On 11 and 12 September, Martina Hirayama, State Secretary for Education, Research and Innovation, attended an informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for vocational education and training. At this gathering in the towns of Billund and Herning (Denmark), they endorsed the Herning Declaration, thus setting the stage for European cooperation in vocational education and training.
The Herning Declaration underscores the importance of high-quality, inclusive and appealing vocational education and training to strengthen competitiveness and societal resilience at both national and European levels. To unlock the full potential of VET and address current challenges, European countries will continue coordinated action based on jointly defined priorities, such as greater appeal, stronger labour market relevance and a continued focus on excellence. Building on the 2020 Osnabrück Declaration, the new text also introduces priorities such as the responsible use of artificial intelligence in VET.
The Herning Declaration was adopted by EU member states, candidate countries, EEA member states, European social partners and the European Commission. As a non-EU country, Switzerland did not formally sign the declaration but supports its objectives, which are largely consistent with those of Swiss vocational education and training.
The Participants of the meeting also discussed how closer exchange between European countries could enhance the appeal and quality of vocational education and training. State Secretary Hirayama emphasised Switzerland's readiness to share knowledge and experience, highlighting in particular its good practices and expertise in partnership-based, labour market-oriented governance and implementation of VET. She stressed that ensuring the long-term appeal of vocational education and training is top priority for Swiss stakeholders and is currently being addressed extensively through a national project.
State Secretary Hirayama also took the opportunity to engage in informal discussions with her counterparts on current education policy issues.