Background information

In late 2023, technical and agricultural VET (vocational education and training) received an economic boost of DKK 100 million (€13.4 million). The funds were allocated as a one-year special subsidy and targeted programmes that train skilled labour for sectors that are considered important to achieving Denmark's climate goals: construction, industry, and agriculture. The funding was re-allocated from a previous initiative of so-called Climate VET Schools, for which there was no longer a political majority.

Content of measure

The purpose of the measure was to allocate a total of DKK 100 million (€ 13.4 million) to selected vocational education and training schools within the sectors of technology, transport, construction and agricultural education. These sectors and types of course are considered to be particularly equipment-intensive and marked by rapid technological advancements. While the funds were not earmarked for specific purposes, the government had expectations that they will primarily support investments in equipment promoting green transition. The funds are distributed based on relevant activities at the VET schools which are entitled to receive the subsidy based on the above-mentioned criteria. The providers are publicly funded self-governing institutions, and are able to carry over surpluses (or deficits) for use within the institution's educational purposes between financial years. This means that the VET schools which receive the subsidy are able to independently manage the subsidy as they see fit in the coming years.

Use of measure

There is currently no information available concerning the uptake.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Students

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No involvement.

Views and reactions

The chairperson of the Education Association (Uddannelsesforbundet), a trade union for employees in VET, adult education and language training, expressed satisfaction that the allocation of funds would be broader and apply to more schools that the three that had been planned through the original Climate Vocation Schools initiative. However, they also emphasised that there are many more programmes than those that have been prioritised here that face changes in relation to the green transition in terms of content, requiring significant work in restructuring curricula, and the need for teachers to receive competency development, which this measure does not cover.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 24 November 2023: The government allocates DKK 100 million to VET programmes aimed at supporting the green transition (www.uvm.dk)
• 30 November 2023: The Danish Parliament 2023-24, Memorandum no. 48 (www.folketingstidende.dk)
• 01 December 2023: Long-awaited funds for climate vocational schools: Selected programmes receive DKK 100 million this year (www.a4medier.dk)