The Care4Skills VET Curricula

The Vocational Education and Training (VET) curriculum will be a key part of ongoing learning and skill development for professionals in the long-term care sector. As the sector grows more complex and technology-driven, the curricula will help close skill gaps in areas like digital skills, person-centered care, risk management, and data protection. It will be tested in 10 countries, with regular feedback to ensure it continues to improve and fits local needs.

Key features

Digital Competence: Training on the use of assistive technologies, telemonitoring systems, and other digital tools.

Person-Centred Care: Ensuring care professionals are trained to support individuals with dignity, autonomy, and personalised approaches.

Risk Management & Safety: Equipping workers with the knowledge to manage risk and ensure safe, effective care in different settings.

Data Protection & Cybersecurity: Teaching the importance of safeguarding sensitive personal and health data in a digitalised care environment.

Modularity and Micro-Credentials

To offer maximum flexibility and accessibility, the VET curricula will be modular. Learners can complete individual modules tailored to their specific needs and professional roles, without needing to follow a rigid course structure.

Each module will cover specific areas, enabling professionals to select the topics most relevant to their work. This structure allows for micro-credentials, which are certificates awarded for the completion of each module, enabling care workers to continuously build their qualifications. These micro-credentials can be stacked over time, forming a pathway toward more comprehensive certification or qualifications in specific areas of LTC.

This approach ensures that LTC workers and managers can upskill at their own pace, fitting training around their busy schedules while still earning recognised qualifications. The micro-credentials will align with European standards such as EQAVET, ensuring they are portable across borders and recognised throughout Europe.

How Will the VET Curricula Be Developed?

The development of our VET curriculum is a thorough, research-based process. It is closely guided by ongoing research focused on identifying current and future skill needs in the long-term care sector across Europe.

Research and Data Collection: The Care4Skills team is conducting in-depth research through surveys, interviews, and national reports across 10 countries. This research focuses on understanding the existing skills gaps in digitalisation and person-centred care, informing the structure and content of the VET curricula.

Skill Mapping: Based on the research, we identify the most critical areas where LTC professionals need upskilling or reskilling. This includes both frontline care workers and managers, ensuring the curriculum addresses a wide range of roles in the sector.

Scenario Building and Personas: To create a training experience that reflects real-world demands, we build scenarios and personas—fictional yet representative profiles of LTC professionals shaped by research data. These personas mirror the challenges and opportunities faced in the field, ensuring that the VET curricula will be highly relevant and practical.

Curriculum Design and Structure: Each module within the VET curricula will be carefully designed to align with European standards such as EQAVET, ensuring quality and consistency across all training materials. The curricula will cater to both induction training for new workers and advanced training for experienced professionals looking to reskill.

Who Will Benefit from the VET Curricula?

Our VET curricula are designed for a broad audience within the LTC sector:

  • LTC workers: Social care assistants, nursing professionals, and other frontline staff adapting to a digital and person-centred care landscape.
  • Care Managers and Administrators: Individuals responsible for overseeing care delivery, ensuring they can lead their teams in adopting new care practices and technologies.
  • Training Providers and Educators: Organizations and educators delivering training to the LTC workforce will find these curricula a valuable resource for creating up-to-date, relevant training programs.