Assembly of European Regions

Connecting regions, inspiring Europe since 1985

You are here: Home / Archives for webinars

Building a better future: Generating enthusiasm for Vocational Education and Training (VET)

By

On January 27th,  the Assembly of European Regions in cooperation with Skillman Alliance hosted the “New enthusiasm for Vocational Education & Training, Boosting self-confidence in young people” webinar. This was the ninth webinar on EU funding opportunities that are being co-organized by AER within the Skillnet project framework (co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme) in order to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET) and establish relevant groups of collaboration for future EU project proposals.

Generating enthusiasm for Technical and Vocational Education and Training

This webinar offered the opportunity to learn and exchange about regional policies and practices aimed at making young people more aware of the opportunities related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). One of the main challenges in TVET is that it is often associated with negative representations such as the difficulty to follow general education or attend university. It is therefore crucial to inform the general public about the opportunities TVET offer and showcase it as a path for success.

Kjerstin Torpmann-Hagen, Policy Officer at the European Commission DG Employment, gave a detailed overview of financial support available to support VET across Europe. In her presentation (available on the event webpage) she emphasised the importance following EU programmes:

  • European Social Fund (ESF+)
  • The European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF)
  • Recovery and Resilience Faculty (RRF)
  • Erasmus+
  • Technical Support instruments (TSI)
  • InvestEU

Regional experiences on showcasing TVET as a pathway for success

Two examples from regions were presented during the webinar, which shed light on how regions are generating enthusiasm for Vocational Education and Training and boosting self-confidence in youth.

Miquel Carrión Molina, Deputy Director at Youth Employment and Professional Qualification, Catalonia (ES) said to boost enthusiasm for vocational education and training, policies must put young people’s needs “at the centre”, for example, by allowing for a longer training process accounting for trainees leaving and returning to training. He also stressed the importance of personal guidance and support to young people and in relation to VET, the possibility for youth to choose among different programmes and training.  

Gabriela Rus, Policy officer at Economic and Rural Development department, Alba County Council (RO) presented a project “Dual and vocational education – a new beginning” and explained how Alba region created a local working group of key VET stakeholders “to harmonise education offerings with the labour market” and increase engagement with vocational training among young people. The activities included: 

  • organisation of the parents’ meetings in schools in urban and rural areas to provide additional information to the students and their parents regarding the opportunities of a professional career in a technical field 
  • development of skills and professional interest questionnaire for professional counselling to students and parents 

For a better future!

To conclude, the moderator, Hrvoje Kovač, Chair of the AER subcommittee on Youth, Varaždin (HR) highlighted that actions at the local and regional levels are vital for generating enthusiasm for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Building a better future for the youth means replicating experiences from other regions and transferring knowledge.

Open and Future EU funding opportunities and initiatives:

To know more, rewatch the webinar and engage in the discussions through the Peer Learning Clubs!

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Join the webinar on “New mobility services: Anticipating skills and job roles”

By

The Assembly of European Regions is glad to contribute to Skillman International Forum by hosting the webinar “New mobility services: Anticipating skills and job roles”, organised within the Skillnet project co-funded by Erasmus+ Programme. The webinar will take place online on the 11th of December, 11:15 – 12:15 CET. 

The event is part of the Skillnet series of 18 webinars designed to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET), with the purpose of establishing relevant groups of collaboration and partnerships for future EU project proposals.

The webinar will highlight regional examples on the integration of new mobility services and the development of skills and job roles needed in the sector. 

New mobility services are offering solutions to today’s growing challenges in terms of congestion, lack of space, growing population, air quality, noise, social inclusion, health, economic development, and the creation of jobs. These solutions require skilled and adaptable individuals who are able to drive and support change. However, there is a growing skills shortage in the mobility services sector which could seriously delay the development of the services and hurt customers’ expectations. 

Thus it is required to look into new skills for the future workforce but also opportunities realized through reskilling the workforce. In that context, the webinar aims to bridge the gap between the skills and job roles needed for the new mobility services sector and the workforce.  

To this end, the event aims to:

  • Highlight the relevance of EU funding opportunities and European cooperation in bridging the skills’ gap in the new mobility services sector 
  • Share good practices about how regions and local companies can foster the relevant skills in the population
  • Boost a network of cross-sectoral experts interested in the new mobility services that can be applied for future EU funding opportunities.

Important: How to join the webinar?

Only one registration is given for all the events within the Skillman International Forum (SIF). Hence, to join the event, you have to register to Skillman International Forum and participants will be re-directed from the plenary (main room) to the various sessions in the course the event through break-out rooms.

If you cannot attend the whole SIF, you may access the event at least 15 minutes before the beginning of the webinar “New Mobility Services: Anticipating Skills and Job Roles” (starting time: 11:15 am) so that you can be re-directed to the session.

After registration, you will receive the email with the list of separate sessions among which you have to choose 23 AER – PAVILLION d2.

REGISTER HERE

This webinar is organised as part of the SKILLNET series of webinar on EU funding opportunities. SKILLNET is a project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission aiming to strengthen the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system’s role and capacity to design high-quality VET programmes tailored to current societal needs through enhanced transnational and cross-sectoral partnerships.

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Join us at the Skillman International Forum

By

The sixth edition of the Skillman International Forum is getting closer! Do not miss the opportunity to learn more and contribute to ‘redefining the future of learning’!

On 10th and 11th December, the 2020 edition of the Skillman International Forum (SIF) will be held online. The event is a yearly appointment launched by the Skillman Alliance in order to provide a space for exchanges relevant for improving the framework of education and Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems. This year, the SIF will focus on redefining the future of learning in the advanced manufacturing sector through a variety of activities and contributions.

Through webinars, workshops, roundtables, pavillions, award ceremonies, and a VET cafè held and moderated by international speakers and experts in the TVET field, the conference will offer a space for discussing and analyzing the main challenges faced by the Advanced Manufacturing sector, specifically:

  • The identification of challenges and definition of new approaches in the design of new and innovative curricula during the pandemic
  • The conceptualization of a systematic approach to skills foresight for curricula development
  • The design of curricula balancing Skills for Life and Skills for Work.
  • How the Advanced Manufacturing sector can meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and what are its responsibilities in this regard
  • Social innovation, societal impact, societal challenges, and ethical issues
  • “Twin Transformation”, for a green, digital, smart, and sustainable growth.

The two-day event will be a valuable opportunity for exchanging ideas, keeping informed on publications and innovations, and networking for international projects and cooperation.

AER Pavilions at the Skillman International Forum

The Assembly of European Regions is glad to contribute to this event by hosting two webinars on EU funding opportunities, organised within the Skillnet project co-funded by Erasmus+ Programme. On the 10th of December from 15:30 – 16:30, the webinar on the “Circular economy revolution: Opportunities and needs in the labor market” will focus on the impact and opportunities that the circular economy brings about for employment and social inclusion and how VET programmes can contribute to effectively achieve the circular economy transition.

On the following day, 11th of December from 11:15-12:15, our next webinar “New mobility services: Anticipating skills and job roles” will aim at providing the numerous participants at the SIF with relevant information and examples concerning new jobs and skills needed as a result of the development of new mobility services.

Further information about the two webinars will be shared soon!

Visit the SIF Event Page
REGISTER HERE

Here you find the tutorial to register to the Skillnet webinars (1.15 min)

Photo by Skillman International Forum

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

SKILLNET Opportunities I: Webinars on EU Funding Opportunities

By

Interested in knowing more about how you can be involved in the SKILLNET project and what opportunities are available to you? AER is launching an informative campaign on  SKILLNET’s core activities to answer these questions and ensure that our members and broader audience can gain the most out of the project! In the first contribution, we cover the 18 webinars on EU funding opportunities and the newly established Partnership in Focus hub – Read the full article and get involved! 

SKILLNET – Context and Aims

SKILLNET is a project co-financed by the Erasmus + programme and it aims to strengthen and improve the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system’s capacity to design effective and high-quality programmes that are tailored to current societal conditions and needs. Specifically, SKILLNET comes from the identification of challenges to the current  VET systems – such as the globalisation and internationalisation of the economies and job markets, the transformation towards information and knowledge-based society, and the ineffectiveness of the current VET systems in adapting to these conditions leading to a widespread skills mismatch between the market needs and the workforce. As a result, a major rethinking and redesigning VET systems’ framework is a top priority for VET providers, policy and decisions makers and all the stakeholders working within VET systems. In doing so, SKILLNET attaches core importance to the establishment of enhanced transnational and cross-sectoral partnerships promoting exchanges and joint actions among experts from different regions/countries and fields.

Webinars on EU Funding Opportunities – Scope and Goals 

In this framework, SKILLNET focuses on both ideas and actions. By launching a series of 18 webinars on EU funding opportunities, it offers a space for experts in various field and from different background to exchange, network, and establish relevant groups of collaboration that can be applied in the design and submission of future EU project proposals – especially having regard to the Work Program set by the European Commission for the next years that aims to address mentioned challenges through the implementation of policy activities and funding opportunities. Webinars will be a valuable occasion to set the basis for new EU projects through cooperation and strategic thinking.

In summary, the webinars aim to provide a space for :  

  • sharing knowledge and experiences
  • sharing opportunities
  • creating connections for future partnerships within EU calls

Webinars on EU Funding Opportunities – Themes, Structure, and Room for your Involvement

Each webinar is open to all interested parties and focused on a specific theme that is relevant for VET systems, as well as for policy and decision-makers that want to improve the effectiveness of their educational and working offers and environments. Five webinars have already taken place focusing on: Capacity building in Higher Education; Skills and Education Guarantee Pilot; Knowledge Alliances in the Maritime Sector; Implementation of Innovative VET Policies through Transnational Cooperation; and Youth policy Partnerships. 

Since it joined the project in June, AER has played a major role in the organisation of the webinars being in the lead of the action’s coordination. While the project offers remarkable synergies with the activities of both Committee 1 and Committee 3, the webinars can serve as online activity for knowledge and experience sharing. Given this linkage between SKILLNET and the Committees, the topics of the upcoming webinars are selected based on the AER Action Plan and further specified together with the members that expressed needs at Committees’ meetings. 

In summary, AER’s members, partners, and stakeholders are encouraged to participate to the webinars’ activity by: 

  • Joining as participants to acquire new expertise and experiences on VET related themes that are of interest to policy/decision-makers; 
  • Joining as speakers to share their expertise and experiences on the specific theme of the webinar (as well as to acquire new expertise through exchanging with other panelists);
  • Joining as participants or speakers to network and to establish relevant partnerships with other experts from different regions/countries and sectors;
  • Informing us about themes related to VET systems and EU funding opportunities that are important to address in dedicated webinars. 

Partnerships in Focus – The Series and the Hub

Each webinar is followed by a Partnership in Focus bulletin/article summarising the main information exchanged during the online event, highlighting the relevant field of intervention identified and possible scopes and actors for partnerships.  

Additionally, we have launched a dedicated hub within the AER website – the Partnerships in Focus Hub to ensure that all the information concerning the relevant fields of partnerships are well stored and available to all interested parties. The hub will be updated after the release of each Partnership in Focus bulletin/article and we encourage you to check the hub regularly as to be dully informed about the ongoing work and available opportunities for you!

– Coming Soon –  

The upcoming webinar on EU funding opportunities is close! On October 21st experts will meet to discuss  “Lifelong Learning: Up-skilling and Reskilling 50+”. Read the article to know more!

Stay tuned! We will continue our informative campaign on the SKILLNET’s activities and opportunities for members and stakeholders. The upcoming contribution will cover:

  • SKILLNET Opportunities II: Peer Learning Clubs and Youth Policy Forum 
  • SKILLNET Opportunities III: Skillman International Forum

If you want to know more, contact AER team:

Photo from Unsplash.

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Lifelong learning: Upskilling and reskilling of 50+

By

 

We are pleased to invite you to the webinar “Lifelong learning: upskilling and reskilling of 50+” that aims to bridge the gap between the need for reskilling and upskilling and funding opportunities and programmes offered by the EU.

 

This webinar will highlight regional examples on upskilling and re-skilling and provide insights into the funding mechanisms used.

In the context of rapidly changing labour markets, the upskilling and re-skilling of adults has become a priority. Technological changes and digitalisation require new skills, while many regions in Europe are faced with both an ageing population and labour and skills shortages. People over 50 oftentimes are not the target group approached for the majority of employers and there is a consistent association between ageing and reduced participation in learning. Effective social inclusion and employment policies, therefore, require strong and regularly updated skill foundations.

During this webinar, Ms Elena Romanini,  Senior Project Manager, Skillman, will explain different programmes and funds on lifelong learning offered by the European Union.  Mr Michael Heaney, Chief Executive Officer, Údarás na Gaeltachta will share possibilities in which programmes and projects on re-skilling and upskilling are financed and implemented from the regional perspective. Ms Ana Gale, Director of Uciliste Studium – Institution for Adult Education will emphasize the importance of the development of the skills in accordance with the industry needs.  She will share the implementation example on cross-border cooperation in the field of upskilling and reskilling adults.

The webinar will cover:

  • 10.00 – 10.10 Introduction to the Skillman network and to the webinar (Valentina De Vico, Skillman Communication Manager)
  • 10.10 – 10.20 EU fund opportunities for lifelong learning (Elena Romanini, Skillman Senior Project Manager)
  • 10.20 – 10.30 Empowering adults to reskill and upskill (Michael Heaney, Chief Executive Officer, Údarás na Gaeltachta)
  • 10.30 – 10.40 Cross-border cooperation in the field of lifelong learning (Ana Gale, Director, Uciliste Studium – Institution for Adult Education)
  • 10.40 – 11.05 Panel discussion and Q&A session
  • 11.05 – 11.15 Closing remarks

 

This webinar is organised in the context of SKILLNET, an EU-funded project which aims to strengthen the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system’s role and capacity to design high-quality VET programmes tailored to current societal needs through enhanced transnational and cross-sectoral partnerships.

 REWATCH IT NOW! 

   

Join the webinar on lifelong learning: upskilling and re-skilling of 50+

By

In the framework of SKILLNET project – Sector Skills Network in Advanced Manufacturing, a webinar will take place on October 21, 10:00/11:15 CET  dedicated to Lifelong learning: upskilling and re-skilling of 50+.

The event is part of a series of 18 webinars designed to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET), with the purpose of establishing relevant groups of collaboration and partnerships for future EU project proposals.

This webinar will be a valuable occasion for participants from different countries and institutions to get insights from key speakers and to interact with experts in the field of lifelong learning. 

Due to the rapidly changing labour markets and multiple challenges, such as digitalisation, technological changes, labour shortage, ageing societies and social inclusion, unemployment, upskilling and re–skilling adults became an urgent priority for European policy-makers and stakeholders. 

Thus, the webinar aims to bridge the gap between the need for re-skilling and upskilling and funding opportunities and programmes offered by the EU.  People over 50 oftentimes are not the target group approached for the majority of employers and there is association between ageing and reduced participation in learning which is why there is a need for training and retraining people over 50 to make them able to re-enter the labour market.

The objectives of the webinar are: 

  • to highlight the relevance of EU funding opportunities and European cooperation in the field of lifelong learning
  • to share regional good practice on upskilling and re-skilling and encourage people to educate themselves 
  • to foster networking between experts in the field of lifelong learning and other interested parties

The webinar will cover:

  • 10.00 – 10.10 Introduction to the Skillman network and to the webinar (Valentina De Vico, Skillman Communication Manager)
  • 10.10 – 10.20 EU fund opportunities for lifelong learning (Elena Romanini, Skillman Senior Project Manager)
  • 10.20 – 10.30 Empowering adults to reskill and upskill (Michael Heaney, Chief Executive Officer, Údarás na Gaeltachta)  
  • 10.30 – 10.40 Cross-border cooperation in the field of lifelong learning (Ana Gale, Director, Uciliste Studium – Institution for Adult Education)
  • 10.40 – 11.05 Panel discussion and Q&A session
  • 11.05 – 11.15 Closing remarks
REGISTER HERE

Photo by krakenimages on Unsplash

Follow AER!
Facebooktwitterlinkedinrss

Library

Statutory Documents
AER Strategies
Minutes
Media Kit
Activity Reports
Newsletters
European Regions Map

Join AER!

Become a Member

Job Opportunities

Sign up for our Newsletter

Search

Website map