The Strategic Importance of Transversal Competences in Vocational Education and Training and the European Key Competences Frameworks

This chapter aims to investigate the strategic importance of transversal competences (TC) in Vocational Education and Training (VET) and to summarize the production of European key competence frameworks, which are important tools for fostering TC at all levels in the European context. To achieve this, the chapter draws on a focused review of the literature and an analysis of key frameworks. It begins with a brief overview of the concept of TC and the issues that affect it. It identifies two primary reasons why TC can be considered strategic within VET, particularly in initial VET (iVET): improving employability and combating early school leaving and social marginalization. Next, the characteristics of European key competences are explained, and related TC frameworks are presented. These frameworks are shown to be useful in overcoming issues related to TC and can facilitate the development of TC in iVET as well.