Cedefop Conference Explores the Impact of Learning Outcomes on Teaching and Learning in VET
Cedefop’s recent conference The impact of learning outcomes on teaching and learning: policy choices ahead marked the conclusion of the three-year study The shift to learning outcomes: rhetoric or reality?. The event brought together European policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to reflect on how learning outcomes are transforming vocational education and training (VET), both in schools and in work-based settings such as apprenticeships.
Findings from Cedefop’s extensive research show that learning outcomes are increasingly used to guide VET curricula, but with significant variation in how they are understood and implemented. The conference served as a platform to explore implications for teaching, assessment, and stakeholder engagement.
Participants joined focused sessions on:
- Engaging stakeholders in adopting learning outcomes for ensuring understanding and ownership;
- Empowering teachers and trainers in using learning outcomes;
- Aligning teaching and learning with assessment;
- Tools for sharing practices and improving implementation of learning outcomes in practice.
The closing panel brought together diverse perspectives from policy and practice, highlighting the need for continued dialogue, teacher support, and alignment of learning outcomes with real teaching and learning processes.
Karin Luomi-Messerer contributed as speaker, Monika Auzinger and Mariya Dzhengozova played an active role as rapporteurs from breakout sessions.
All presentations are available for download.

Contact: Karin Luomi-Messerer
Client: Cedefop