On 23 February 2024, the EESC and the European Commission are organising the Meet the Champions of Excellence event in Brussels as part of the European Year of Skills. The event 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: witness the skills of 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 in seizing current and future job opportunities. 

Exploring Opportunities in VET: 

Parallel 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 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. 

You can find more information about the program here. 

The European Year of Skills is closely followed up upon by ERRIN's Science and Education for Society Working Group. You can discover here the specific Skills-related topics that have been addressed in the 2023 Working Group meetings.