About the event
Get inspired by vocational excellence at our event on 23 February 2024, hosted at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels. Co-organized by the EESC and the European Commission, this gathering will highlight the value of vocational education and training (VET) and encourage young people to choose VET as an effective learning and career path.
Key Highlights:
500 Participants, 400 Young Minds: engage with a diverse and inspiring community, where 400 young individuals converge to explore the boundless opportunities within vocational education and training (VET).
Champions of Excellence: meet recent EU champions from WorldSkills, EuroSkills, and Abylimpics in more than 20 different disciplines and learn from their experiences and achievements.
Panel Discussion: Commissioner Nicolas Schmit and EESC President Oliver Röpke will exchange with the champions and talk about VET excellence and the essential role of VET to seize current and future job opportunities.
Exploring Opportunities in VET:
Workshop Sessions: engage in discussions and be inspired by VET learners on critical topics such as skills for the future, gender stereotypes, and learning mobility.
Interactive Stands and Skills Demonstrations: visit our 20 interactive stands, including skills demonstrations in mechanical engineering, robot system integration, car painting, floristry, and more. Connect with organizations shaping the future of vocational education.
Programme
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8:30 – 9:30 5th floor (Atrium 5 & Foyer 5) 6th floor (Atrium 6 & Foyer 6) |
Arrival of participants & registration Welcome coffee Interact with the Champions of Excellence, who are available to meet and discuss with the participants (also during the breaks) in Atrium 6 Visit of the stand activities, which remain open throughout the event: around 20 stands, including skills demonstrations, are displayed on the 5th and 6th floor of the building Check the map of the venue here. Wall of ideas (6th floor): leave your mark and contribute with ideas in response to a variety of questions and statements Photo booth (5th floor): seize the moment and capture memories! |
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9:30 – 10:15 Room JDE 62 + listening rooms JDE 52 and JDE 51 (interpretation in various languages) |
Interactive overview of the eventModerator: Rogier Elshout
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10:15 – 11:15 Room JDE 62 + listening rooms JDE 52 and JDE 51 (interpretation in various languages)
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High level panel discussion with Champions of ExcellenceRecording as from 44:37 Moderator: Rogier Elshout
Q&A with the audience |
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11:15 – 11:45 |
Coffee break & visiting of stands, skills demonstrations & wall of ideas Meet the Champions (6th floor) area in Atrium 6 Photo booth (5th floor): seize the moment and capture memories in delightful snapshots! |
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11:45 – 12:30/45 |
Parallel Workshops
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12:30 – 13:00 |
Visits of stands, skills demonstrations, wall of ideas, photo booth |
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13:00 – 14:00 |
Lunch and Visits of stands, skills demonstrations, wall of ideas, photo booth |
Meet the champions
This is a gathering of extraordinary champions, winners from skills competitions in their respective fields coming from all over Europe!
Speakers
Oliver Röpke
President of the European Economic and Social Committee
Nicolas Schmit
Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights
Articles
Want to find out how vocational training could help you land your dream job? Then get ready to Meet the Champions of Excellence – around 40 inspiring young people who’ll be sharing their pathways to success and showcasing their skills as part of a special event on 23 February. The event is co-organised by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee.
In 2018, João Teixeira enrolled in a training programme with a professional development centre in Ermesinde, Portugal. That decision led him to the dream job he has today, working as an instructor to a new generation of product designers, and enabled him to go on to win the gold medal in the 2022 WorldSkills competition.
Garikoitz Mujika’s journey began in 2020 when he enrolled in a degree in mechanical manufacturing with La Salle Berrozpe training centre in Andoain, Spain. His choice led him directly to his dream job as a mechanical designer and manufacturer, and an award at EuroSkills in 2023.
A Belgian creative hub recently teamed up with a vocational school and its students to build an affordable demining robot, destined for Ukraine.
Zsolt Koncsik is a Hungarian Champion, currently a Bsc Computer Engineer student at Budapest University of Technology and Economics. Before that, from 2016 to 2022, he studied at BMSZC Pataky István Híradásipari és Informatikai Technikum in Budapest.