The new call in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET) is open! It supports international cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations active in the field of VET in EU Member States, third countries associated with the Erasmus+ Programme or third countries not associated with the Programme. They aim to support the…
Two new calls in the context of Erasmus + will finance projects specifically dedicated to virtual exchanges in a context unfortunately still strongly conditioned by the limitations on transnational travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The calls are an important opportunity for the Skillman.eu network, since the projects will have to be built on the…
Many European countries have seen a substantial deterioration in women’s training and working conditions in the context of an unprecedented crisis such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Fortunately, the new 2021-2027 programming is increasingly focused (and funded) on gender issues, with numerous calls already published or coming in the next few months. Within the CERV program,…
As part of the Skillman International Forum 2021, a study visit was organized to ATEC – Training Academy, created in December 2003 as a result of a project conceived by the promoters Volkswagen Autoeuropa, Siemens, Bosch, and the German-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with the support of the Portuguese government, with the objective of…
The topic of green immersion and transition is nowadays on everyone’s lips, and it brings a strong impact in our lives and the management of companies concerning sustainability and the Green Economy. In a transitioning and globalized world, better resource management has become crucial for future well-being. At the Skillman International Forum 2021, we decided…
The Digital Revolution, also called the third industrial revolution, is the era of digital electronic equipment that started around the 1980s and is now in its middle phase. In a couple of years, the digital world has grown to become crucial to the functioning of society. The impact that AI has on people’s jobs today…
In the context of the Skillman International Forum 2021, a number of workshops on different topics were implemented. Among them, the one dedicated to VR digital technology drew a lot of attention from the audience, especially amongst the youngest attendees. The workshop was carried out by Giovanni Golfarini and Camilla Meschi, VR trainers at Nkey…
The Skillman International Forum is a major recurrent event that we put together every year. Yet, this time, the goal was more ambitious than ever: hosting it as a hybrid event and bringing people from around the world to attend was indeed a big challenge. Furthermore, the onsite activities of the conference were hosted in…
Last year, the European Commission approved the Skillman’s application on the endorsement of the European Pact for Skills, a shared engagement model for skills development in Europe promoted by the European Commission. The Pact was officially launched on November 10, 2020. Becoming member of the Pact for Skills means joining a growing community of private…
A recent article published by the thematic portal ‘The Manufacturer‘ tackles the topic of the relationship between digitalisation and manufacturing. According to the magazine, manufacturing is undergoing a digital transformation and smart technology, data analytics and connected devices enable manufacturers to dramatically increase their efficiency, productivity and accuracy. Digitalisation is changing the way products are…
The COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying the opportunities and challenges of the digital transition. In this regard, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published the OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2020, which examines trends and analyses emerging opportunities and policy options in the digital economy. The report discusses the steps required to build resilience…
Digital technologies are profoundly changing our daily life, our way of working and doing business, and the way people travel, communicate, and relate with each other. Digital communication, social media interaction, e-commerce, and digital enterprises are steadily transforming our world. They are generating an ever-increasing amount of data, which, if pooled and used, can lead…
Sustainable digitalisation refers to the process of digitalising the economy in a long-lasting, green, and organic way. It aims to support and enable Europe’s twin transitions to a green and digital economy by building on its key strength: innovative SMEs and their business ecosystems. In the long term, the goal of sustainable digitalisation is strengthening…
This article highlights the top 10 digital transformation trends that will help businesses in Europe grow in this year of recovery. After a recession, a prolonged period of improved business activity is considered a phase of economic recovery, and the general direction in which gross domestic product (GDP) grows is the shape of the recovery.…
On 9 March 2021, the Commission presented a vision and outlook for Europe’s digital transformation by 2030. This vision for the EU’s digital decade is built around four cardinal points: Skills, Infrastructure, Business, and Government. The objectives specifically for these four cardinal points can be summarised as follows: Skills ICT practitioners: 20 million + gender…
Digital transformation is undoubtedly one of the hottest topics that deserve the most attention around the world. 2020 and the global pandemic we are currently experiencing have certainly changed the course and development of this topic in every part of the world: while on the one hand there has been a benefit dictated by the…
The training was held on (September 24th, 2021, 10:30/12:30 CET) Background and focus: On 17 December 2020, after months of painstaking inter-institutional negotiations against the backdrop of a global pandemic, the European Union adopted the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), its long-term budget for 2021-2027. Together with the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument, the MFF represents an unprecedented €1.8…
The webinar was hosted on (September 22nd, 14:30/16:30 CET) Background and focus: The aim of this webinar is to shed light on the main barriers hindering women’s access to WBL programmes around the world – especially in male-dominated sectors – as well as to present some possible solutions that could address this challenge. The presentation…
New entrepreneurs often struggle to convert their business ideas into functioning businesses. Initial enthusiasm and big dreams are often dampened by the vast maze of practical obstacles and challenges that need to be overcome. Without a clear and structured business plan, it is easy to get lost in this maze, failing to bring even the…
The webinar was hosted on (September 9th, 14:00/15:00 CET) Background and focus: Classroom situations around the world are becoming more and more diverse due to factors such as migration, multiculturalism, and inclusion. In order for educators to increase their output quality, these challenges should be addressed within a classroom and environmental context. Many educators still…
Some days ago we introduced the Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs programme aimed at facilitating business exchanges between New Entrepreneurs and experienced Host Entrepreneurs in Europe. Would you instead like to do an experience with an entrepreneur from Singapore? From 2018 it is possible to establish a business-to-business exchange in Singapore, Israel, and some USA states.…
Today, we will introduce a European mobility scheme for entrepreneurs, called Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs, initiated by the European Commission in 2009. The programme aims to offer opportunities to aspiring or newly established entrepreneurs to go abroad within Europe to develop their entrepreneurial competencies in running a small business with an experienced entrepreneur, for a…
Last spring, the Italy Mobility team (that manages students’ mobility programs in Pistoia, Italy) had the pleasure of welcoming two new groups from Fundacion Benefico Docente Ciudad de los Muchachos (Spain). For the fifth year in a row, Jaime González, the Erasmus+ project coordinator at Ciudad de los Muchachos, has chosen Pistoia as the destination…
Since their introduction in 1987, European Mobility programmes have been very successful. Among the different kinds of Erasmus Plus projects, we can find vocational education and training VET mobilities. The purpose of these activities funded by Erasmus+ is to provide learning opportunities to individuals and to support internationalization and institutional development of VET providers and…
The European Commission announced the new programme of Erasmus+ 2021-2027 with a budget of €26.2 billion, (compared to €14.7 billion for 2014-2020) to support mobility across the European Union and beyond. The programme will seek to be even more inclusive and to support the green and digital transitions, as set out in the European Education…
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been big progress over the last decades: More girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are…
The webinar was held on (July 15th, 15:00/16:00 CET) Background and focus: The H2020 project FIT4FoF identifies new skills and job profiles for Industry 4.0 and develops a unique educational and training framework tailor-made to all relevant actors, including the shop-floor workforce. During this event, we learned from several project partners about the approach to…
Gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most widespread human rights abuses in the world, affecting individuals everywhere, with consequences that reach beyond the individual and can affect entire families and communities. Humanitarian crises and situations of fragility more broadly can exacerbate exposure to different forms of GBV. GBV interventions refer to core crisis programming…
Gender-based violence is a continuum, whose foundations can be found in everyday attitudes and behaviours that are often left unchallenged. It describes the violence that targets individuals or groups on the basis of their gender. This includes physical, mental, or sexual harm as well as the threat of this harm and coercion. “Sexual violence”, “violence…
In a truly democratic society, there should be no place for any kind of discrimination or violence. Gender education should be considered at all levels, at all annual groups and curricula to improve education in this subject. GBVH that occurs in educational institutions on a systematic basis has long-term impacts on students’ learning, health, wellbeing,…
In June 2021, the Skillman Alliance strengthened its cooperation with ITECH (VET School ITECH Elbinsel Wilhelmsburg) by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding. This new cooperation is aimed at establishing a mutually beneficial collaboration with the ultimate goal of contributing to the development and promotion of both parties’ activities. ITECH provides high-quality VET in dual…
Despite the positive developments in recent decades and the fact that formal equality does exist in most European countries, gender inequalities still persist in many aspects of the sports world, from doing sport to coaching or administration, media representation, and at all levels – in grassroots sport as well as in elite sport. Progress remains…
In June 2021, the Skillman Alliance strengthened its cooperation with NKey srl a highly qualified Italian ICT company with experience in research and development of integrated systems and services for business innovation. Since 2010, Nkey has been actively participating in European Projects developed within the Erasmus+ programme. This participation also led to the “VIRAL for Local…
In today’s world, could we shift traditional gender relations in sports that have traditionally privileged men, and fight gender inequality in sport? We believe it is a very hard question, but we definitely know that in order to make a change towards gender equality we need to start taking massive actions on a grassroots level…
The role of sex stereotypes and gender roles in the sex differences observed in sport and exercise has been extensively investigated in sport psychology, with past studies showing that stereotypes are internalized into the self during the socialization process. When we talk about children at a young age (2-6 years) who have not yet developed…
Sports and gender equality are related in many ways. Sport is a social and cultural activity in which social constructions of masculinity and femininity play a key role. Traditionally, sports have always been dominated by men, both in terms of participation and governance. Women were excluded from the first modern Olympic Games, held in Athens…
The Gender Equality Index is a tool that measures the progress of gender equality in the EU. The GEI was developed by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) to highlight areas that need improvement at different levels, ultimately supporting policymakers to design more effective gender equality measures. The thematic focus of Index 2020 is…
Adaptive Microlearning The webinar was held on (June 24th, 14:00/15:00 CET) Adaptive microlearning guarantees tailored training by exploiting the potential of cloud computing and Big Data. Adaptive microlearning is a flexible, on-demand approach to delivering content – it is short, focused, and relevant, giving learners what they want and need, even under conditions of so-called…
Youth initiatives can play an impressive role in responding to gender inequality and gender-based violence. With their work, they can influence societies at different levels from the empowerment and support for young people by the promotion and shearing of the correct information to promotion, supporting changes in law and state policies. However, youth organizations that…
The EU Commission defines “Gender Equality” as promoting equal economic independence for women and men, closing the gender pay gap, advancing gender balance in decision making, ending gender-based violence and promoting gender equality beyond the EU. The topic is so crucial for the EU that a strategy (2020-2025) to achieve a Union of Equality was proposed by the…
The webinar was held on (June 16th, 14:30/16:00 CET) Background and focus: Student-centered pedagogy has been conceptualized and discussed as early as the beginning of the XX century, and it has now reached massive popularity in the education sector. Nowadays, there is a general consensus that this form of pedagogy should be adopted at all…
The European Union is a global leader in gender equality: 14 of the top 20 countries worldwide on gender equality are the EU Member States. Thanks to robust equal treatment legislation and jurisprudence, efforts to mainstream the gender perspectives into different policy areas, and laws to address particular inequalities, the EU has made significant progress…
Janis Hermanis, the coordinator of the Erasmus+ KABADA project, was interviewed by Skillman and shared valuable information about the online digital tool that is being developed under the umbrella of the project and that will change the lives of many entrepreneurs in the near future. Janis clarified many aspects of the Kabada tool, already anticipating…
Social inclusion in TVET and skills – Leaving no one behind The webinar was held on (June 23rd, 10:00/11:00 CET) TVET policies and programmes are of core importance to ensure that all people can enjoy inclusive skills development leading to both individuals’ affirmation and the creation of diversified learning environments. As reported by Srinvas Reddy,…
Gender Equality: what do you personally know about it? 21st century: hundreds of conventions, thousands of bills (or shall we say recommendations?) about gender equality are being put in place, but have we really achieved the purpose? If we only take into consideration the European context, the Gender Equality Index score has increased by only…
The newly published book “Powering a Learning Society During an Age of Disruption” is now available on both ADB and Springer websites as follows: ADB: https://www.adb.org/publications/powering-learning-society-during-age-disruption Springer: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-16-0983-1#toc Press release by ADB: https://www.adb.org/news/promoting-learning-society-key-equitable-education-amid-covid-19-adb-book It is an open access book and can thus be downloaded for free by anyone. Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz wrote a Foreword to the…
“Skillman” was launched in 2014 and received the European Commission support in 2015 in the field of education and training. In its specific field of intervention, it is currently becoming the largest EU multilateral network combining a solid knowledge of skills needs and training practices with a well organised systemic and sector-related information system. The network…
Undoubtedly, this is an age of disruption. This newly edited volume by Sungsup Ra, Shanti Jagannathan, and Rupert Maclean titled “Powering a Learning Society During an Age of Disruption” critically discusses the roles and benefits of encouraging and actively promoting effective lifelong learning societies during a time of all-pervasive change. This change is occurring within…
In May 2021, the Skillman Alliance reiterated its collaboration with the DITES partner (Digital Technologies, Education and Society)”, through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding on the European ECOLHE project. DITES is a public research center based in Italy, aimed at providing a space for research and experimentation within the “Link Campus…
Dear members and colleagues, We are pleased to announce that registrations are open for the upcoming training on “Unboxing the multiannual financial framework – cohesion & rural development funds”. Background and focus: On 17 December 2020, after months of painstaking inter-institutional negotiations against the backdrop of a global pandemic, the European Union adopted the Multiannual…
The training will start in2021/05/26 10:00:00 (May 26th, 10:30/12:30 CET) Background and focus: On 17 December 2020, after months of painstaking inter-institutional negotiations against the backdrop of a global pandemic, the European Union adopted the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), its long-term budget for 2021-2027. Together with the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument, the MFF represents an unprecedented €1.8…
The webinar was held on (July 13th, 10:00/11:00 CET) Background and focus: The Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector has a major role to play in providing the skills Europe will need in the future. Moreover, countries with well-designed vocational training programs find it easier to avoid youth unemployment, even in times of crisis.…
EAPRIL (the European Association for Practitioner Research on Improving Learning), an active partner of the SKillman alliance, will be hosting its main annual Conference, on the topic of “Learning in the age of Industry 4.0” on November 24-26, 2021, in Kufstein (Tyrol), Austria. The event aims at addressing the changing goals of our lifelong learners.…
Skillman had a booth at the ITCILO Virtual Skills Fair on April 21-22, 2021. The objective of the fair was the development of partnerships among participating institutions, which may lead to solutions for the implementation of future-focused skills development initiatives. Participants had the opportunity to learn from experts, share their experiences with others, interact with participants…
The Skillman online interview with Claudio Galli, Director Human Resources Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Kohler, and Rossella Brindani, International Departments Manager at Cis business training school, was recently carried out and published on the Skillman official Youtube account. The interview tackled a number of topics related to skills development, green and digital transformation, micro-learning…
Dear members and colleagues, It is with great pleasure that we officially invite you to the next Skillman webinar about “Opportunities and threats of digital teaching and learning in the context of Work-Based Learning” on May 6th at 14:30-16:00 CET. The webinar is organized in collaboration with the European Training Foundation, the Assembly of European…
The webinar was hosted on (May 6th, 14:30/16:00 CET) Background and focus: Introducing digital teaching and learning (DTL) methodologies in education has been a trend for many years. The pandemic has generated a boost in these reforms in all countries. Priority has been given to the school-based component of education, with the ministries investing in…
In March 2021, the Skillman Alliance expanded with the entry of a new company into its network: NeroSuBianco Srl, an Italian organisation composed of a team of high-level specialists offering consultancy, analysis and optimisation of both processes and investment planning in new technologies. NeroSuBianco supports those companies who are evaluating, planning or implementing technological, productive…
Skillman will have a booth at the ITCILO Virtual Skills Fair that will take place on April 21-22, 2021. The objective of the fair is the development of partnerships among participating institutions, which may lead to solutions for the implementation of future-focused skills development initiatives. The two-day event will closely mirror the flow and appearance…
Dear Skillman members and colleagues, We are very pleased to invite you to two new exciting webinars, organized in collaboration with the Assembly of European Regions, IVETA, the European Network of Innovation for Inclusion and EAPRIL. “Creating Effective Innovation Ecosystems” 19 April 2021 at 10:00 CET a webinar on how to encourage citizen participation of…
The world of work is being impacted by a fourth industrial revolution, transformed by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. With forecasts suggesting large shares of workers, displaced by automation, in need of upskilling/reskilling, the design of active skills policies is necessary. Conventional methods used to anticipate technological change and changing skill needs, such as…
Dear Skillman members and colleagues, We are delighted to invite you to another Skillman webinar, on “SELFIE – Supporting schools for learning in the digital age”. This interesting appointment will take place on Wednesday, April 7th, at 14:30 PM Central European Time. The topics addressed in the webinar are very relevant in the current world…
Selfie: supporting schools for learning in the digital age The webinar was held on (April 7th, 14:30/16:00 CET) Background and focus: Digital technologies are changing all aspects of our life. Inevitably, the way we teach and learn in schools is also affected. But the effective introduction of digital technologies in education is not straightforward. Teachers…
Creating Effective Innovative Ecosystems The webinar was held on (April 19th, 10:00/11:00 CET) An innovation ecosystem describes the complex set of relationships among very diverse actors and entities, which work for technology development and innovation in a territory. Amongst others, this includes the material resources and human capital of universities, colleges of engineering, business schools,…
Technical Vocational Education & Training and Civic Participation The webinar was held on (April 20th, 10:00/11:00 CET) Civic participation is a process in which people take collective action to address issues of public concern and can adopt many forms: from individual volunteering, community engagement efforts and organisational involvement to governmental support. With regard to governments,…
This will be a very rich week in terms of knowledge sharing and networking opportunities. The Skillman Alliance officially invites you to join our two webinars on the following topics: Ambitious Skills and Innovation Strategies: A territorial approach 25 March, 10:00 CET Innovation and Farming: Applications of Advanced Manufacturing in the Food Value Chain…
As part of the initiatives set up by ETF (European Training Foundation) called #LearningConnects and aimed at helping people face the challenges posed by Covid-19 and ensure that learning continues to connect individuals and institutions, Giovanni Crisonà, leader of the Skillman network, participated as keynote speaker in a Facebook Live interview on the topic “Digital…
Eapril (European Association for Practitioner Research on Improving Learning), one of the most active partners within the Skillman Alliance, will be hosting its main annual Conference, on the topic of “Learning in the age of Industry 4.0” on November 24-26, 2021, in Kufstein (Tyrol), Austria. The event aims at addressing the changing goals of our…
The European Training Foundation, a long-standing Skillman partner, hosted a two-day online event called “Centres of Vocational Excellence as Engines for Vocational Education and Training development”. Giovanni Crisonà, Skillman leader, will participate as a keynote speaker on DAY 1, presenting the main achievements that stemmed out from the cooperation with ETF and leading a dynamic…
The Warnborough College and IVETA, the International Vocational Education and Training Association, are hosting together with the Skillman Alliance the Econference: Sustainable innovative learning and teaching, on April 28th, 2021. The conference will bring together experts, professionals and other education stakeholders to share their experiences and ideas in order to create sustainable and efficient learning…
Innovation and farming: applications of Advanced Manufacturing in the food value chain The webinar was held on (March 26th, 10:00/11:00 CET) As is the case in other industries, agriculture is currently making extensive use of data mobility, industry 4.0, and new technologies that unlock productivity and cost savings. High-tech solutions are available to both local…
Ambitious Skills and Innovation Strategies: A territorial Approach The webinar was held on (March 25th, 10:00/11:00 CET) In the context of regional innovation strategies, rural areas should play an essential role, not just as a source of raw material and places to locate space-intensive activities, but as genuine partners. Place-based approaches call for cooperation at…
The webinar was held on17 March 2021 Background and focus: During the webinar, international experts and practitioners will discuss the role of work-based coordinators in schools and in companies. ETF will introduce the specificities of the different roles in the most established EU work-based learning systems as well as presenting solutions adopted by countries that…
European parliament NewsIn a resolution adopted today on the European Skills Agenda, MEPs call for significant investments to close the digital skills gap. With a view to the green and digital transition, MEPs emphasise the importance of training and learning new skills for workers in industries and sectors that are undergoing fundamental changes. They also…
In 2019, the participants of the SIF-Skillman International Forum in Florence, Italy, finalized and agreed to sign the Skillman Florence Declaration, a seven-page document that lists a series of views on sustainable and inclusive growth in the area of skills development for employability. The endorsers of the Skillman Florence Declaration highlighted the need to implement…
The Skillman Desk service is a useful platform that the Skillman Alliance has designed to support the implementation and dissemination of the relevant existing European tools and initiatives in the field of TVET. Our service is crucial in the promotion and sharing (among a variety of international stakeholders) of detailed information about the tools, their…
Our Skillnet partner IVETA, the International Vocational Education and Training Association, is hosting a webinar on February 26th, 2021, on “The importance of certification and accreditation in TVET”. For more info and to register, please visit the dedicated page. IVETA is a network of vocational educators that includes vocational skills training organisations, business and industrial…
Megatrends such as digitalization, industry 4.0, climate change, and migration have been affecting our society, causing structural changes in the economy, as well as in the world of work and employment. Furthermore, in times of disruption as the ones we are facing, novel models of teaching and learning and more comprehensively, a substantial reengineering of…
https://youtu.be/rVlQqMomojw
EACEA’s new generation of funding programmes for the period 2021-2027 has now been politically agreed. EACEA’s funding programmes for this period will be: Erasmus+ Creative Europe the European Solidary Corps the Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV). These programmes will build on the success of their predecessors (Erasmus+, Creative Europe, the European Solidarity Corps and Europe…
ITKAM, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Germany, and one of the Centers of Vocational Excellence of the Skillman network, will participate in the Final Public Conference of the AlpBioEco project online on February 11, 2020, targeted at companies and institutions interested in circular economy. AlpBioEco is a project of the Interreg Alpine Space program…
The Skillman Secretariat is honoured to invite you to the Skillman Webinar on “Teachers Training Needs Analysis (TNA)“, on February 10th, 10:00/11:30 CET, organized in collaboration with the European Training Foundation. The event will focus on understanding what the teachers’ needs are at school and individual level. Furthermore, keynote speakers are going to highlight the importance…
Teachers training needs analysis Background and focus: The event is organized in collaboration with the European Training Foundation. It will focus on understanding what the teachers’ needs are at school and individual level. Furthermore, keynote speakers are going to highlight the importance of upskilling staff and experts and adopting new pedagogic approaches and methodologies, especially…
Officially our SWOST project has kicked off! The launching of the project was hosted online by lead applicant CSCS, on January 18th, 2021. The meeting served to bring all project partners together and officially launch the activities of the project. The first meeting was dedicated to general project implementation issues among partners from Italian Centro…
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How to encourage young people and provide them with adequate support so they remain interested in learning in a global context that is particularly challenging? Skillman is proud to host two webinars in collaboration with the Assembly of European Regions, IVETA, EAPRIL and ETF, which will provide an opportunity to share regional experiences and hear…
Technical and vocational education & training during times of lockdown & pandemic The pandemic is hitting young people particularly. It is increasing the impact of social inequalities and the digital divide and is having an increasingly negative impact on youth mental health. The webinar will be an opportunity to hear about the CEDEFOP toolkit on…
New enthusiasm for vocational education & training: boosting self-confidence in young people Background and focus: One of the challenges in Technical and Vocational Education and Training is that it is often associated with negative representations such as the difficulty to follow general education or attend university. Objective: Share experiences on how to make young people…