Events

Main themes of the VI International Congress on Education and Training:

Digital skills are the foundation of a new innovative economy
Digital competencies and keeping up with the rapid development of technology are challenges not only for younger generations but for every generation.
Digital skills are crucial for professional development, job freedom, exploration and pursuit of passions,
communication, and leisure activities. The increasing use of Artificial Intelligence in education and
vocational training – particularly in defining the benefits and risks it brings – is one of the most significant digital challenges of the 21st century. Digital transformation is also one of the European Commission’s priorities, as reflected also on EU 2021-2027 funding programmes (RRF, ESF+, Digital Europe, Erasmus+).
Key issues in this area include:
How to design an education and training system transformation considering digitalization and rapid
technological changes? In what ways can a digital society and technologies drive new approaches to learning, discovering, and pursuing passions? How does the development of digital competencies suport innovative economy?

European Universities and Centres of Vocational Excellence
European Universities and Centres of Vocational excellence, as part of the vision for a new European
Education Area by 2025, aim to enhance the collaboration between education and training stakeholders and businesses for the better education of people of all ages. European Universities are currently a crucial topic in the context of a transnational alliance of higher education institutions across the European Union.
Centres of Vocational excellence are a flagship of Erasmus+.
Key issues in this area include:
How does the EU funding (ex. Erasmus+; ESF+ etc.) support the implementation of the European University concept and Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs)? What are European Universities and CoVEs, and what benefits do they bring to learners, doctoral candidates, and young researchers? How do European Universities and Centres of Vocational excellence support research excellence and knowledge transfer? How do they facilitate knowledge and experience exchange? Why are European Universities and Centres of Vocational Excellence referred to as the key to innovative teaching, research, and learning?

European and global trends in the transformation of climate education and the development of green skills for fair transition in the labour market
One of the critical challenges of the 21st century is to address the climate crisis, develop a low-emission
economy with the principles of a just transition, promote the renewable energy sector, and achieve
ambitious climate policy goals in line with the Paris Agreement and the EU Green Deal. It is worth
emphasizing that different EU-funds ( Recovery and Resilience Facility, Just Transition Fund, European
Social Fund Plus, Erasmus+) provide significant support for the development of green skills. The
Communication of 1 February 2023 on the Green Deal Industrial Plan gives new urgency to the development of skills for the green transition with skills being one of its four pillars.
Raising awareness about the impacts of climate change and mitigation and adaptation strategies to
changing climate realities is also one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This
commitment is reflected in the Lima Ministerial Declaration on Education and Awareness (COP20) and the Declaration on Children, Youth, and Climate Action (COP25), and European Declaration on Global Education towards 2050, which call on governments to incorporate climate-related topics into school curricula and integrate climate awareness into national development plans and climate change strategies.
Key issues in this area include:
How can we raise climate awareness among the younger generation and develop green competencies and
skills? Why is education and training crucial for achieving a net-zero economy and technologies? What are the European and global experiences in implementing green education and training? How can we build climate strategies for teaching and learning in Education and training? What are the principles of a just transition that promote social and intergenerational justice?

Social inclusion, equal opportunities and solidarity
Solidarity and integration in education and training and skills policies as a tool to ensure social inclusion.
Promoting excellence is not only about supporting the best, but also ensuring that nobody is left behind, for example those young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) or adults in need of upskilling and reskilling, in line with the objectives of the European Year of Skills. The EU Pillar of social rights sets principles and rights essential for fair and well-functioning labour markets and welfare systems in 21st century Europe. Promoting diversity, integration, and social justice in Education and training Institutions and skills policies. Best practices for creating inclusive Education and training environments. Addressing educational disparities, integrating Ukrainian refugees into education and training and supporting marginalized learners and at risk groups, also through cooperation with businesses.
Key issues in this area include:
What solutions does the European Social Fund and Erasmus+ promote to counteract exclusion and
unemployment?
The role of education in shaping empathy, tolerance, and understanding. How do education and training
institutions support learners and E&T staff from Ukraine? Global and European support programs for youth from Ukraine. What are the foundations and principles of accessibility policies in European and global education systems? Why does the Erasmus+ programme is one of the keys to interdisciplinarity, tolerance, and openness?

The main goals of the Congress are to:
•    Stimulate new ideas for Erasmus+ international cooperation projects, which would promote four horizontal   priorities of the Erasmus+ programme in educational institutions;
•    Raise awareness and stress the importance of digital transformation, transnational alliance of higher education institutions across the European Union and development of green skills,
•    Promote excellence, social inclusion (upskilling and reskilling), equal opportunities and solidarity in education and training;
•    Provide cross-sectoral networking on the topics discussed during Congress’s panels;
•    Raise awareness of the Erasmus+ Programme.

Expected results of the Congress:

The participants of the Congress will:
•    Establish new contacts for future Erasmus+ projects;
•    Broaden their knowledge on the topics of digital transformation, green skills, global trends in the transformation of climate education, social inclusion;
•    Explore the themes of solidarity and integration in education and training and skills policies;
•    Promote excellence, social inclusion (upskilling and reskilling), equal opportunities and solidarity in education and training;
•    Explore the themes of the Congress and incorporate them in the learning processes in educational institutions;
•    Build a community through joint experience with former and current Erasmus+ project participants and other stakeholders by participating in the event;
•    Gain a better understanding of the importance of the Erasmus+ priorities
•    Increase the quality of their organisations' everyday life.

10 places for participants from Poland
10 places for participants from other countries

Congress  is open to a wide range of cross-sectoral participants: teachers/students/trainers/providers/VET project coordinators/ apprenticies/competitors for Euroskills and Worldskills who study/work in institutions focused on raising awareness of the Erasmus+ Programme and are interested in broaden their knowledge of EU fundings , VET education standards, digital skills, transnational alliance of higher education, climate change and green skills  and social inclusion.

We welcome newcomers as well as organizations already having some experience in projectspreparation and implementation.