New Website for Continuing Education
18. February 2025Major Initiative In Vocational Education
The website Ræktum vitið (Cultivating Knowledge) has been launched as part of a major initiative in vocational education led by VR and the Commercial Federation of Iceland (LÍV), in collaboration with the Federation of Trade & Services (SVÞ). A cooperation agreement between VR/LÍV and SVÞ on continuing education and lifelong learning was signed in 2023. The agreement sets out a structured approach to increasing the skills of employees in the retail and service sectors through to 2030.
The website was officially launched at a conference on Monday, February 17, where the status and importance of continuing education and lifelong learning were discussed, along with the various options available to individuals and companies to enhance employee skills in retail and service businesses. The managing directors of VR and SVÞ, Stefán Sveinbjörnsson and Benedikt S. Benediktsson, outlined the key objectives of the agreement and emphasized the importance of strengthening vocational education in the sector.
The Importance of an Education Policy
Victor Karl Magnússon, a specialist at VR, presented the results of a survey conducted among employees and managers in retail and service regarding continuing education and lifelong learning. The findings show a clear disparity between job roles: more specialists and managers pursue continuing education in some form compared to other occupational groups. The results also indicate that having an education policy is crucial for employee participation in lifelong learning. According to VR’s survey, over 70% of employees have pursued continuing education in workplaces with a defined education policy, compared to 38% in workplaces without one.
Dr. Edda Blumenstein, academic director at Bifröst University, introduced a new retail and service BS degree that the university will offer starting in the fall of 2025. The program will focus on practical knowledge and skills, aiming to develop a new generation of leaders in the retail and service industries. There are significant career opportunities in this field for VR members, especially for those looking to strengthen their position through further education.
Rúna Magnúsdóttir, marketing and communications director at SVÞ, presented strategies for companies to develop a structured education policy. As mentioned earlier, having such a policy is crucial for improving employee skills within a company. Rúna also explored the potential of artificial intelligence in this area, highlighting how tools like ChatGPT can greatly assist companies in this process.
Three Key Objectives of the Agreement
The VR/LÍV and SVÞ agreement is built around three main goals. By 2030, the aim is for 80% of employees in the retail and service sectors to participate in education programs designed to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Additionally, special emphasis will be placed on improving the language skills of the large group of employees in retail and service businesses who speak Icelandic as a second language. The goal is for 80% of this group to achieve a B1 level in Icelandic, based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), by 2030.
Finally, the agreement aims to develop and define a methodology that will lead to recognition or certification of the agreed-upon objectives.