Vocational education and training in Hungary : short description

Abstract

This overview of vocational education and training (VET) in Hungary has been produced to mark Hungary's Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Hugarian VET system has undergone two fundamental reforms in the 2000s: "introduction of a competence-based, modular qualification structure and ongoing corresponding renewal of curricula, and concentration of the extremely fragmented institutional system into regional integrated vocational training centres. At the same time, however, mainly due to low prestige of blue-collar jobs and much higher returns to general education, young people only choose skilled workers' training as a last resort. Adult learning rates are also persistently well below the EU average. Actors in the economy have long expressed discontent with the quality and quantity of skilled workers. As a result, in the past decade VET policy has continuously strengthened the role of social partners and, in particular, the chambers. Since 2010, the new administration has been devoted to increasing the latter’s role further and now places more emphasis on practical training, while allowing VET to start at an earlier age. The ultimate goal is to increase the attractiveness of VET and raise the proportion of students studying in vocational programmes." (Hrsg., BIBB-Doku)