Charting the future of ai in vocational education: AIVET project highlights shared priorities across Europe

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms the future of work, the way we prepare Europe’s vocational learners must evolve just as rapidly. In response to this imperative, the AIVET project—co-funded by the European Union—has completed a comprehensive review of the current landscape of AI integration in vocational education and training (VET), focusing on the systems and strategies of Italy, Spain, Poland, and the broader EU framework.

This milestone marks a key step in the project’s mission: to equip vocational institutions, educators, and learners with the competencies and conditions needed to engage with AI confidently, ethically, and inclusively.

Drawing from an extensive analysis of national policy frameworks, institutional practices, and strategic priorities across Europe, the AIVET consortium has identified a set of core themes that cut across countries and reflect a collective European momentum toward modernizing vocational education.

While each country operates within its own socio-economic context, there is a growing consensus on the urgency of aligning vocational training with the digital and data-driven demands of the future labour market. The AIVET project’s review reveals not only challenges but also powerful commonalities and shared aspirations.

Among the most prominent insights emerging from the research:

• AI is reshaping education—and VET must keep pace
  Across national systems, AI is increasingly seen as a catalyst for innovation within education. Policymakers and institutions are beginning to explore how AI can support adaptive learning environments, real-time feedback, and labour market intelligence to ensure that training remains relevant and forward-looking.
• Educator preparedness is a widespread concern
  Teachers and school leaders across Europe are grappling with how best to integrate AI tools into traditional pedagogies. There is clear recognition that professional development must evolve in tandem with technological change—placing a spotlight on the urgent need for reskilling and upskilling in AI literacy, digital didactics, and ethical use.
• Infrastructure gaps risk leaving learners behind
  While some institutions are well-equipped to experiment with AI-enhanced platforms, many others—particularly in rural or under-resourced areas—face significant digital infrastructure deficits. This digital divide threatens to compound existing educational inequalities unless addressed through strategic, equitable investment.
• Ethics and inclusion remain at the forefront
  There is a strong European commitment to ensuring that AI’s use in VET aligns with core values of transparency, fairness, and social cohesion. Ethical considerations—such as data privacy, algorithmic accountability, and the potential biases embedded in automated decision-making—are increasingly reflected in policy dialogues and curricular discussions alike.

Toward a practical response: next steps in the AIVET journey

The findings from this pan-European assessment will directly inform the next phase of the AIVET project: the co-creation of open-access, multilingual resources designed to build institutional capacity and empower VET professionals to make informed, effective use of AI technologies.

These resources will include:

• Tailored training materials for teachers and school leaders focusing on AI literacy, ethical application, and pedagogical integration
• Strategic toolkits and planning guides to support VET institutions in assessing their readiness for AI adoption and guiding implementation
• Good practice collections and case-based insights showcasing how AI can enhance vocational learning outcomes and accessibility

All AIVET project outputs will be freely accessible to the public via the project’s digital platform. To ensure broad impact and usability, every resource will be available in English, Spanish, Polish, and Italian—reinforcing the project’s commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and cross-border knowledge sharing.

The AIVET project stands as a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and shared vision. As Europe seeks to navigate the social and economic transformations brought by AI, its VET systems must be empowered to lead—not follow—this change. That means investing in educators, modernizing infrastructure, and ensuring that AI is a force for inclusion, not division.

The AIVET partnership invites stakeholders across the education, innovation, and policy sectors to join this conversation—and to help shape a future where AI and vocational education advance together, in service of a skilled, confident, and resilient European workforce.

To learn more about AIVET and to access the forthcoming open-access resources, visit https://www.aivet-training.eu/