Guidance at the centre of Denmark’s new reforms in vocational education

 Authors: Rikke Kier and Inga Ejsmont 

In 2025 Denmark launched two major educational reforms. One of these was the creation of a new upper secondary pathway called EPX (vocational and profession-oriented exam) and a historic investment in vocational education. Both of these reforms aim to provide young people with more flexible and practice-oriented education opportunities, however, both place new demands on guidance. Recognising this new demand, a team of Danish career counsellors in vocational education travelled to the Netherlands to seek inspiration on how to best support students in navigating the changing educational landscape. 

From 2030, a new pathway called EPX will offer Danish students a modern alternative to the traditional gymnasium. EPX combines academic subjects with workshops, projects and partnerships with businesses, while keeping higher education open and connecting learning more closely to professions. At the same time, Denmark has committed to investing over €134 million annually to strengthen vocational education. This investment aims to improve teaching quality, modernise facilities and give schools a stronger role in linking classroom learning with workplace training.  

For guidance professionals, these reforms mark a new chapter in the field. Councillors will be key in helping students understand what EPX offers and how the renewed vocational system can lead to skilled jobs or further study. Counsellors will support students through transitions and guidance will be essential in ensuring that the reforms lead to greater inclusion, motivation and student retention. Therefore it will be of high importance that councillors feel prepared while also staying connected with European neighbours to learn from.  

Study visit to the Netherlands: Inspiration for supporting young people in vocational education 

A Danish vocational college called Jordbrugets UddannelsesCenter Aarhus which specialises in agriculture, horticulture, landscaping and animal care, recognised that the new educational landscape requires further development of guidance practices. Experienced career counsellor called Mette Christensen emphasised the importance of better guidance for young people already from primary school, especially when choosing between the different vocational pathways. To strengthen the guidance practice, a group of counsellors and partners travelled to the Netherlands with support from Euroguidance Netherlands. As part of the visit, they visited a vocational school in Nijmegen and a social enterprise in Utrecht. It was here that the group of counsellors observed how Dutch vocational education [similar to EPX] combines strong academic-vocational integration with the attention to student well-being and companies’ responsibility towards employees with special needs. The study visit helped create a shared understanding across professions while also bringing together school counsellors, pedagogical consultants, career coordinators and teachers. After spending a motivating week with Dutch colleagues, the Danish group of counsellors returned and were ready to build on some of the good practices they had experienced in the Netherlands. Inspired by the Dutch model of cross-sector collaboration, Jordbrugets UddannelsesCenter Aarhus now plans to establish a professional network group. The aim is to coordinate efforts more holistically, strengthen guidance and ensure that each young person receives tailored support during their transition into vocational education. As a result of the study visit, the Danish counsellors are now better equipped in letting guidance play a key role in turning Denmark’s reforms into tangible opportunities for young people.  

 
Special thanks to Euroguidance Netherlands for their support in bringing this visit to life.  

Fact box: Job shadowing with Erasmus+  

Participants can spend a period of time at a hosting organisation in another country with the aim of learning new practices and gathering new ideas through observation and interaction with peers, experts or other practitioners in their daily work at the hosting organisation.  

Source: Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2025 (Version 1) - Erasmus+