Basic skills and STEM action plan to support education and training
The European Commission presented the Union of Skills, a strategy to address the skills and labour gaps across the EU.
The Union of Skills sets out a plan to deliver higher levels of basic skills, opportunities for workers to regularly learn new and additional skills, and ease of recruitment across the European Union (EU). It will
- empower people across Europe with the skills they need to develop in their professional lives
- address gender imbalance
- help European businesses to find the workers they need
In education, the Union of Skills focuses on basic and STEM skills.
| On this page |
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| Action Plan on Basic Skills |
| STEM Education Strategic Plan |
Action Plan on Basic Skills
This action plan sets out short- to medium-term steps for the European Union (EU) and EU countries to improve basic reading, mathematics, science, digital and citizenship skills and promote excellence, from early years through all stages of school education and in adult learning.
The plan aims to:
- boost basic skills teaching and learning
- support educators
- enable supportive environments
Key areas for action
- spotlight and connect innovative schools and practices for basic skills development
- harness the opportunities of digital education
- prioritise basic skills in vocational education and training (VET)
- boost non-formal learning opportunities for adults
- focus on making the teaching profession more attractive
- make teacher training and support more effective
- strengthen knowledge sharing and good practices
- harness the potential of volunteering
- boost reading literacy in the EU
Next step: introducing the Basic Skills Support Scheme
In 2026, the European Commission will work with EU countries to pilot the Basic Skills Support Scheme. The scheme aims to address basic skills deficiencies among children so that every child can reach an adequate level of basic skills by the end of compulsory schooling.
More actions complementing the Basic Skills Support Scheme will target learners, educators and supportive environments for basic skills acquisition.
Policy documents
STEM Education Strategic Plan
The strategic plan aims to tackle critical challenges in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. It also aims to unlock opportunities across the EU, ensuring its competitiveness, preparedness, and technological leadership.
The plan sets out 3 key objectives: lead, level up and lift barriers.
Lead: anchor STEM as a strategic pillar in EU’s education and skills policy
- Propose 2030 EU-level STEM targets, supported by national or regional STEM strategies
- Set up a European STEM Executive Panel at top business, political or administrative level to advise on strategic issues
- Improve STEM skills intelligence by measuring graduate outcomes and better anticipating sector-specific needs
Level up: build a stronger and more inclusive EU STEM talent pipeline
- Develop a STEM competence framework
- Work towards a European degree for Engineers
- Launch the "STEM Tech Talent Induction" to attract more young people to STEM careers
- Pilot the development of "STEM skills foundries" in strategic sectors for mentoring young student entrepreneurs
Lift barriers: advance women in STEM and inspire future innovators
- Launch "Girls go STEM" to train 1 million young women by 2028
- Launch "STEM Futures" to identify and disseminate successful STEM education practices
- Showcase and exchange good practices and foster mutual learning on attracting and supporting girls and women in STEM apprenticeships
- Pilot "STEM Specialists Fellowship" to attract top international STEM experts
Policy documents
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