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Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are relatively new technologies that are becoming exponentially more complex as they also quickly integrate into our societies and economies. This rate of change will rapidly increase the already significant across the EU.

This includes training for skills that will continue to require human expertise, often integrated with AI technologies. Increasing digital competences in vocational education and training (VET) is crucial to ensure that these new technologies can be utilized to improve citizens’ working lives at all social and economic levels.

The EU’s Council Recommendation on includes expanding vocational programmes in AI and cybersecurity. However, many initiatives focus on the use of technology for teaching and learning, rather than strengthening digital skills development.

Evidence from a shows that in initial VET, digital skills are integrated across subjects rather than taught as a separate subject. Despite high demand for specialist digital skills such as managing and working with AI, the VET sector faces challenges in responding to these demands, with notable disparity across contexts and between Member States.

Digital skills for work and for life are at the top of the European Policy Agenda. The Commission also recently published , a significant update to its Digital Competence Framework for Citizens. It provides an integrated understanding of what digital competence is, and includes more than 250 new examples of knowledge, skills and attitudes to help citizens engage confidently and safely with digital technologies. This includes a dedicated annex (pp. 67-119) with more than 80 examples of new specific competences for citizens to engage confidently, critically and safely with AI systems.