Agile Occupational and Training Standards for Responsive Skills Policies

In Flanders, occupational standards are included in the “Competent” database (VDAB, 2023[5]).The content of the database is managed and updated by the Flemish Public Employment Service (VDAB) but the database is a joint product of the Belgian public employment services Actiris, ADG, Bruxelles Formation, Forem and VDAB, under the Synerjob partnership.1 Competent is initiated by the social partners and builds on inputs from various stakeholders, including sectoral training funds and associations. Competent is used to develop labour market tools (orientation, matching, training and education) and a labour market monitoring framework (vacancies, jobseeker profiles, labour shortages).

The origins of Competent date back to 2012. The Social and Economic Council of Flanders (SERV) launched its initial version with 537 occupational standards covering a wide spectrum of the labour market​ (CEDEFOP, 2023[6]). These standards were based on the French ROME system (more specifically ROME v3), which was expanded and adapted to fit the Belgian and Flemish regulations. SERV partnered with VDAB to ensure the ongoing relevance and approval of the standards by social partners. Since then, VDAB has been using Competent as the basis for their services, including guiding jobseekers, providing training, and carrying out automatic job matching (CEDEFOP, 2023[7]).

In 2015, all public employment services in Belgium agreed to use the Competent database in their labour market services to support interregional labour mobility. Since January 2021, the Dutch Public Employment Service (UWV) has also based its occupational standards and services on Competent by tailoring it to the specific context of the Netherlands. Having a common set of competencies allows for exchange of CVs and vacancies between the Synerjob partners.

While the Competent database builds on the French ROME system as well as the European classification of Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO), it remains unique in that it adopts a practical and flexible approach and provides short and clear formulations. An occupational standard in the Competent database contains two types of competencies:

• Essential skills and knowledge that are required in every position.

• Optional skills and knowledge that are specific to the work context and may not be required in all positions.

Skills could also be technical or soft, the latter being skills that describe how one works and interacts with others. Some occupational standards also indicate mandatory or frequently requested certificates or legally required diplomas for the profession. The latest version of the database (Competent 2.0) includes approximately 600 professions featuring 4 000 technical skills, 4 000 knowledge areas and 26 soft skills (VDAB, 2023[5]). The compact nature of the Competent database facilitates frequent reviews and updates.

The Competent database is a central part of the Flemish Government’s policies in the field of education and lifelong learning (VDAB, 2023[5]). Linkages between occupational standards, training standards, and vocational qualifications are ensured by anchoring Competent in the existing legislation for vocational education. In particular, the 2009 Decree on Flemish Qualification Structure formally establishes a link between occupational standards (now part of the Competent database) and professional qualifications. In order to minimise potential discrepancies between training standards and the taxonomy of occupations and skills included in the Competent database, VDAB collaborates closely with the department of education and the possibility to use an AI-based conversion tool between Competent and the Flemish qualification structure (FQS) is under investigation.

The development and revision of occupational standards are managed by VDAB through a collaborative process which mainly includes the Synerjob partners, the social partners  (employer organisations and trade unions) and sectors (CEDEFOP, 2023[7]). Synerjob participates in the process of defining, creating, and updating the occupational standards in the database, bringing a comprehensive regional perspective reflecting the realities of labour markets in Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels Capital Region. Employer organisations and trade unions initiate and support the process. Sectoral training funds, associations, federations and expert organisations are responsible for ensuring the representativeness of the industry, including small and medium enterprises.

Any user of Competent, including job seekers and employers, can request VDAB to create new occupational standards in order to respond to new or emerging labour market needs. In this case, VDAB considers the request by consulting stakeholders and by analysing labour market data and insights from AI dashboards and tools and, when the request is relevant, it formally starts the process. First, the Competent team prepares a proposal by analysing similar standards in the French ROME database, international databases such as ESCO, existing sectoral profiles, professional qualifications, labour market information, and insights from AI dashboards and tools (VDAB, 2023[5]). A draft proposal for a new occupational standard is then submitted to stakeholder consultations and quality control before being finalised and published in the Competent database. The quality control is assured through three main channels: (1) internal quality control carried out by dedicated teams at the VDAB; (2) feedback from sector contacts; and (3) feedback from Synerjob partners. From the moment of initiating the request to the final approval, the whole process can take between 3‑6 months depending on the number of meetings and consultations required and the availability of stakeholders.

Nevertheless, the bulk of the work carried out to maintain the Competent database consists in updating existing occupational standards rather than creating new ones. The updating process follows a similar approach. The occupational standards included in Competent are reviewed four times a year by the VDAB and updated when deemed necessary. The standards are revised in alignment with:

• Information provided by the sector;

• Updates to ROME v3 and ESCO;

• Updates to existing qualifications and trainings;

• Feedback from users and stakeholders;

• Labour market monitoring and analysis, including the analysis of online job vacancies and insights from AI dashboards and tools.

Relevant information and updates are processed and translated into a proposal for stakeholder consultations and quality control. The approved updates are then reflected into the database.

The development and updating of training standards and vocational qualifications in Flanders involve a collaborative effort among various stakeholders and is co‑ordinated by the Agency for Higher Education, Adult Education, Qualifications and Study Grants (AHOVOKS). VDAB is an important player in the development and update of training standards and vocational qualifications, ensuring that they align with the current and future needs of the labour market. More precisely, VDAB participates in the development of training standards by providing figures and expertise on occupations, skills and knowledge, and labour market trends. Furthermore, it also acts as a training provider and offers flexible, short-term non-qualifying training programmes, which allow job seekers to integrate the labour market quickly. It also publishes calls for tenders to outsource the provision of some training programmes to external providers that have obtained an accreditation. Education and training institutions (such as the Adult Education Centres) are responsible for providing the actual learning opportunities, aligning their curricula with the established training standards.

Employer organisations provide crucial industry insights and feedback on the skills and competencies needed in various sectors. They ensure that training programmes are aligned with industry requirements and job market demands. For their part, sectoral funds and associations are responsible for assessing skill needs within firms in specific sectors, including SMEs. They provide sector-specific insights and data which are crucial for tailoring training programmes to the unique requirements of different industries. Trade unions represent the workforce’s interests in the development of training standards and vocational qualifications. They ensure that the training programmes are designed to enhance employability and career progression for workers, advocating for fair and relevant training opportunities.

The development of training standards in Flanders starts with the creation of a working group that will be responsible for drafting the standard. The group includes representatives from the specific industry, including employers and trade unions with relevant knowledge, and in some cases VDAB. The drafting of a training standard relies on information from the Competent database, as occupational standards contain job-specific skills that are then translated into competencies in training standards. Sectoral associations review and provide feedback on the draft and may add information from their own sources. The final approval often involves a regulatory body or a consortium of stakeholders that make sure that the standard meets both educational and industry needs. Once approved, the standard is implemented in education and training programmes. Training standards and qualifications are periodically reviewed to ensure they remain relevant and responsive to changing market needs. When new skills and roles emerge in the labour market, the Competent database is updated, which in turn may trigger revisions in training standards and qualifications.