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SKILLMAN INTERNATIONAL FORUM
Liverpool | 4–5 November 2025
Travel grants available for the upcoming international conference – limited availability!
Building on the successes of previous editions, the 2025 AS Summit will strategically align the Skillman Network’s global expertise with the role of entrepreneurial competences and the priorities of the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR).
CONFERENCE THEME
With a commitment to delivering tangible outcomes, AS 2025 will highlight synergies between the Skillman Network’s activities and the EUSAIR’s pillars.
Furthermore, the forum will underscore the pivotal role of skills development and entrepreneurship in advancing the Western Balkans’ socio-economic integration into the European Union.
AS 2025 will focus on key themes shaping the future of vocational education, including
Twin transition to green and digital economies
Development of digital skills
Strategies for upskilling and reskilling
to meet evolving industry needs. Emphasising entrepreneurship as a catalyst for sustainable growth, the forum will offer actionable insights to empower stakeholders in addressing challenges across the Western Balkans region.
AS 2025 will bring in Ancona all the relevant stakeholders in skills development, activation and matching, including universities, VET institutions, policy makers, industry and craft associations.
EUSAIR FOCUS
The EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) is a macro-regional strategy adopted by the European Commission and endorsed by the European Council in 2014. The Strategy was jointly developed by the Commission and the Adriatic-Ionian Region countries and stakeholders, which agreed to work together on the areas of common interest for the benefit of each country and the whole region. The general objective of the EUSAIR is to promote economic and social prosperity and growth in the region by improving its attractiveness, competitiveness and connectivity. With four EU members and four non EU countries the strategy will contribute to the further integration of the Western Balkans.
OTHER KEY FOCUSES
Tracks4Crafts
Transforming crafts knowledge for a sustainable, inclusive and economically viable heritage in Europe
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Skills credentialing
dqf.eu solutions for integrating EBSI / blockchain technology into skills credentialing for entrepreneurs
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USE-IPM
Up-skilling researchers for Sustainable Entrepreneurship based on Innovation Process Management
More DetailsSUBMISSIONS
Submissions for the AS 2025 conference are now closed!
The deadline for proposals was
June 10th, midnight CEST.
We thank all applicants for their valuable contributions. The selected proposals have now been integrated into the official programme of the Skillman Alliance Summit 2025.
The Skillman Alliance Summit 2025 will bring together
researchers, practitioners, educators, policymakers, and industry professionals to contribute to the discussion on digital and entrepreneurial competences in macro-regional strategies.
The event will foster dialogue among key stakeholders from the vocational education and training (VET) ecosystem, industry, academia, and policy-making to explore innovative approaches to skills development, upskilling, and reskilling strategies for economic and social integration in the Adriatic and Ionian region.
Academic Papers
Presenting original research, case studies, or conceptual frameworks coherent with the objectives of the conference
VIEW PAPERS
Workshops
Interactive, participatory sessions designed to engage attendees in discussions, problem-solving, or hands-on activities
VIEW WORKSHOPS
AS2025 COMMITEE
Giovanni Crisonà
Skillman.eu President
Elisa Guidi
General Coordinator of projects at
Artex
Paolo Sospiro
Contract lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Marche Polytechnic University
Urs Hauenstein
Visiting Professor of Management Education at Liverpool Hope University
Craig Marsh
Executive Dean, Business, Law and Criminology at Liverpool Hope University
Donato Iacobucci
Full Professor of Applied Economics at Marche Polytechnic University
SPEAKERS
CONFERENCE LOCATION NEW!
The Salone delle Feste is an elegant multipurpose hall located inside the Teatro delle Muse, the largest theater in the Marche region and a cultural landmark in Ancona, Italy.
Housed in a historic 19th-century building overlooking Piazza della Repubblica, the hall combines classical architecture with modern amenities, making it an ideal venue for conferences, gala dinners, and cultural events. The Teatro delle Muse itself hosts a wide range of performances, from opera and symphonic concerts to theater and dance, and serves as the heart of Ancona’s artistic life.
DELEGATES
