Online conference «European Year of Skills: what comes next?»
On April 30, Associate Professor of Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic National University Olena Skuibida took part in the online conference «European Year of Skills: what comes next?» organized by the European Commission.
European Commissioners and Members of the European Parliament, politicians, government officials, trade unions, representatives of higher education institutions and businesses discussed the importance of improving skills and competencies throughout life, retraining, and the transition to the digital economy.
The conference was opened by Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Europe Fit for the Digital Age. During the panel discussion, national coordinators shared their experiences and achievements gained during the European Year of Skills in different countries. Yurii Balanyuk, the national coordinator of the European Year of Skills in Ukraine, took part in the conference. At the session «Skills Revolution: An Imperative for Europe Today and Tomorrow», participants discussed plans for approaches to the development of the qualifications system, resource management, employment, the field of upskilling and micro-skilling, as well as the development of partnerships to solve social problems.
Particular attention was paid to how providers of educational services (e.g. educational institutions) can prioritize the development of the skills of future specialists during the implementation of educational and training programs, prepare future specialists in accordance with the requirements and realities of the modern labor market. There were lively discussions on the topics of smart and transversal skills, human superiority over artificial intelligence, and financing public-private partnerships.
As part of the «inspirational moment», motivational speeches were delivered to young people about the importance of learning and acquiring new knowledge, and building their own educational and professional trajectories. The event was closed by Nicolas Schmidt, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, emphasizing that the European Year of Skills does not end there, but the priority is to implement the acquired knowledge in practice.
Let’s develop together!
