Our representative had the opportunity to briefly present the achievements of our Erasmus+ project “Prevention of Youth Risky Viral Trends” (2022-1-BG01-KA220-YOU-000085174) to fellow participants. Project brochures were also distributed during the networking cocktail reception, offering further insight into our work and impact.
30 June – 1 July 2025 | Brussels
On 30 June and 1 July 2025, key stakeholders from across Europe gathered in Brussels for a high-level event focused on strengthening apprenticeships and skills development to support the Union of Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal. The event, moderated by Ms Vicki Donlevy, Technical Director at Ecorys, brought together policymakers, education and training providers, business and labour representatives, and apprentices themselves.
The event opened on Monday afternoon with registration and networking over coffee, followed by an inspiring welcome from Ms Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness. Ms Mînzatu also presided over the official signing ceremony welcoming new members to the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA). This was followed by a strategic update on the progress of both the EAfA and the Pact for Skills, delivered by Ms Manuela Geleng, Director for Jobs and Skills at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.
One of the key discussions of the day centred on the role of social partners in fostering skills for a greener, more resilient Europe. Moderated by Ms Flavia Colonnese of Ecorys, this panel featured insights from representatives of major European social partner organisations, including BusinessEurope, the European Trade Union Confederation, SMEunited, and SGI Europe.
After a short networking break, participants engaged in the first panel discussion exploring how vocational education and training (VET) and apprenticeships can support clean technologies and green skills development for learners of all ages. Contributions came from speakers representing institutions such as AFPA (France), BMW Group, Hogeschool Utrecht (Netherlands), and the Ministry of Education of Greece.
The day concluded with the announcement of the 2025 EAfA Champions, celebrating outstanding contributions to apprenticeship excellence. The evening continued with the “Apprenticeship Café,” offering participants the opportunity to network and explore exhibits presented by selected EAfA members.
Day two began with reflections from the European Apprentices Network, presented by Mr Albert P. H. Janssens of OBESSU, highlighting youth voices and priorities. This set the tone for a morning of in-depth discussions on fostering skills for a sustainable and competitive Europe.
The second panel, moderated by Ms Andrea Leruste of DG EMPL, focused on on-the-ground experiences in promoting skills for the Clean Industrial Deal. Speakers included representatives from the European Training Foundation, the Polish Ministry of Education, CETMAR (Spain), and Fundación Biodiversidad.
This was followed by a third panel session on enhancing STEM teaching in apprenticeships, especially within clean technologies and energy-intensive industries. Moderated by Ms Vicki Donlevy, the discussion featured expert insights from Cedefop, IBM, the European Builders Confederation, and the Colleges for European Data Center Education (CEDCE).
Ms Manuela Geleng offered closing remarks at the end of the morning sessions, summarising key insights and policy takeaways.
In the afternoon, attention turned to the work of the five EAfA thematic communities. After a welcome from Danae Nicosia, Deputy Project Manager at Ecorys and Master of Ceremony for the session, representatives from each community presented updates and outcomes:
– Michael Fitzgerald (ESB Networks) spoke on the Green and Digital community,
– Andreas Gabriel (Euro App Mobility) addressed Mobility,
– Sergi Alegre Calero (Fundesplai) shared work on Social Inclusion and Gender Equality,
– Alicia Gaban (EARLALL) reported on Cities and Regions,
– and Magda Janiak (WSEI University) introduced the Higher Apprenticeships community.
Following these presentations, participants took part in a series of parallel thematic sessions. Topics included promoting female participation in STEM and the sustainable energy sector, integrating mobility into apprenticeships through the Danish model, enhancing inclusion in dual education systems, driving innovation through higher apprenticeships, and the pivotal role of cities and regions in fostering apprenticeship ecosystems.
The day ended with a collective reflection from moderators of the parallel sessions and final conclusions offered by Anna Barbieri, Team Leader at DG EMPL, bringing a dynamic and collaborative event to a close.
Master of Ceremony Participants
The following representatives from organisations across Europe actively contributed to the event’s success as participants in the Master of Ceremony sessions:
Prof. Tatjana Marinkovic represented the Academy of Applied Studies Polytechnics, bringing forward expertise in applied learning. From the Association Follow Me, Mrs. Valentina Sabeva contributed perspectives on inclusive education. Mrs. Véronique Brom attended on behalf of the Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications Éco-construction et Efficacité Énergétique Grand Est, focusing on vocational excellence in sustainable construction.
Mr. Samuel Bogdan represented the Centre for Promoting Lifelong Learning, while Mrs. Ezgi Ünal took part from DTecHUB, highlighting digital transformation in technical education. Representing Epidotin, Mrs. Ifigeneia Vlachogianni shared approaches to innovation in education.
Mr. Oumkelthoum Imigine joined from ESCOLA EUROPEA – INTERMODAL TRANSPORT, AEIE, focusing on transport and logistics training. Mr. Pedro Gonçalves represented EURATEX, the European Apparel and Textile Confederation, contributing insights on the textile sector’s upskilling needs.
Mr. Sylvain Jonquet brought the chemical industry’s perspective on skills development through France Chimie, while Ms. Ligita Baleisyte contributed from Girls Go Circular, a project coordinated by EIT RawMaterials, promoting gender equality in digital and green sectors.
Hanse-Parlament was represented by Dr. Max Hogeforster, with a focus on strengthening SME-led apprenticeship networks. Mr. Laurent de Potter joined from IFAPME, Belgium’s key alternance training body, sharing innovative models for dual education.
Mr. Federico Campos De Porras represented the Spanish organisation Instituto para el fomento del desarrollo y la formación S.L, and Mrs. Marion Bardet brought insights from LVMH, highlighting the role of apprenticeships in the luxury sector.
Mrs. Radosveta Gospodinova participated on behalf of the National Crafts Chamber, advocating for traditional craft professions, while Mr. Mathieu Schaefer shared perspectives from OSENGO, a training provider committed to inclusion and employability.
Representing SolarPower Europe, Mr. Jacopo Piccagli emphasised the role of skills in supporting the green energy transition. Mr. Carlo Dragomir took part from The Association for the Promotion of Education in the Hospitality Industry – APIO, with a focus on tourism and service sectors.
Mr. Firdeus Kasaj represented Unyocorp, a company promoting entrepreneurship and practical learning, and finally, Mrs. Malgosia Bartosik shared her expertise from WindEurope, underlining the importance of workforce development in the wind energy industry.