In Lithuania, as in many other European countries, higher education has traditionally been seen as one of the main routes to a successful career. However, the changing labour market is encouraging a broader discussion: is professional success defined by a diploma, or by finding a career path that matches a person’s skills, interests and opportunities for growth?
Examples from vocational education in Lithuania show that there is no single route to professional success. Vocational education and training can help people discover their strengths, gain practical experience and enter the labour market with concrete skills. For some, it becomes a first step towards employment; for others, it provides a foundation for further studies, entrepreneurship or a later career change.
This flexibility is becoming increasingly important as employers look for people who can not only apply theoretical knowledge, but also solve problems, adapt to new technologies, collaborate and continue developing their skills throughout their careers.
Career paths are also becoming less linear. People may acquire a vocational qualification, gain work experience, continue into higher education or return to training later in life to move into a new sector. This makes accessible reskilling and lifelong learning particularly important for adults whose jobs and sectors are being affected by digitalisation, the green transition and changing economic needs.
These trends in Lithuania reflect the wider challenges addressed by COOPSKILLS. By strengthening cooperation between municipalities, businesses and vocational education and training providers, the project aims to create learning opportunities that respond to real local labour-market needs and help people adapt to economic change.
The key question is therefore not whether vocational or higher education is more prestigious. It is which learning pathway enables each person to develop their abilities, remain adaptable and build a sustainable professional future.
