Sectoral expert councils

Sectoral Expert Councils (NEP)

The goal of Sectoral Expert Councils (NEP) is to promote the alignment of vocational education within sectors with labor market needs, to improve its efficiency and quality, and to foster collaboration among the state and municipal institutions, vocational education institutions, sectoral employer organizations and their associations, trade unions and their associations, as well as specialists on human resource development issues.

Currently, 13 NEPs have been established. Of these, 11 are coordinated by LDDK, which serves as the national NEP coordinator. The NEP for Food Industry and Agriculture is coordinated by LOSP, and the Council for Cultural Education is coordinated by LNKC.

Within the 11 NEPs coordinated by LDDK, more than 250 voluntary experts are involved. These experts represent employer organizations, trade unions, or state institutions and meet regularly in NEP sessions to discuss and make decisions on education and labor market issues relevant to their sector.

NEP Functions (as defined by the Vocational Education Law):

• Propose the creation or revision of sectoral qualification structures to align with labor market needs and suggest the necessary professional qualifications and relevant specializations for each sector;

• Provide opinions on sector-relevant occupational standards and the qualification requirements defined in them during the drafting and updating processes;

• Delegate experts to participate in the accreditation of vocational education institutions and sectoral examination centers, the licensing of vocational education programs, and participation in professional qualification exams;

• Participate in the planning and development of vocational education institution networks and sectoral examination centers, and provide opinions on the need to establish such centers;

• Submit proposals regarding trends in the number of learners needed in each sector and recommendations for state-funded vocational education enrollment plans;

• Promote cooperation between employers and vocational education institutions in implementing work-based learning and organizing internships;

• Address issues related to employment, demand and supply in the respective sector’s labor market.

NEP Rights:

• Propose changes in the operation of vocational education institutions;

• Request from vocational education institutions and state authorities any information necessary for the Sectoral Expert Council to fulfill its legally defined functions;

• Delegate sectoral experts to develop occupational standards and professional qualification requirements;

• Provide opinions and suggest changes to the content of vocational education programs and professional qualification exams;

• Submit opinions for licensing and accreditation decisions, including assessments of a vocational program’s alignment with the sector’s development needs and employment forecasts for its graduates.