Investment in education and training. Trends and challenges in the EU

Education and training make a substantial contribution to several EU strategies and initiatives, including the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Youth Guarantee, the Digital Single Market, the European Agenda on Security and the Investment Plan for Europe.

This study addresses a key element of the EU’s social investment paradigm that has been identified by public authorities, business interest groups, employers as well as trade union organisations alike as an area where increasing measures are urgently needed in order to become ‘fit for future’. This urgency has recently been illustrated by initiatives to mobilise private investment in training and education by the launch of the European Commissions “Investment Plan for Europe”.

The overall objective of the project was to map out the funding and investment opportunities for training and education at European, national, and regional level, and the role of social partners in decision-making and use of these funds.