FPEmpresa has met last 28th of October with the Spanish EfVET partners at the EfVET 2022 Annual Conference in Kuopio (Finland). The conference took place from 26th to 29th October and was organised by two Finnish EfVET members, Ylä-Savo Vocational College and Savo Vocational College. FPEmpresa was represented by Carlos de Olagüe, the Association’s Madrid and International Coordinator.

The theme of the congress was ‘The future skills revolution for VET and CVET in Europe’, whose main objective was to provide training providers with the opportunity to share learning and teaching experiences. Also, as new skills in the education system and to share best practices among other EfVET members.

“As EfVET’s national representative, a new challenge that I am looking forward to, I have to thank the organisation of this Congress that has allowed us to learn about different educational and work experiences, as well as different social, cultural and political perspectives”, says Carlos de Olagüe.

Future skills revolution

During the event, a wide variety of topics have been discussed according to the programme: Finnish education, presentation of new EfVET members, working sessions, round tables, among others. The General Assembly also approved the re-election of the current board, so that the Executive Management Team is composed of 4 members and 2 co-opted members: Joaquín James Calleja (Malta); Stefano Tirati (Learningdigital. eu – Italy); Arja Flinkman (South Savo Education Ltd – Finland); Marta Almeida Santos (Ensinus Group – Portugal); Panagiotis G. Anastassopoulos (P- Consulting – Greece); Leif Haar (Denmark); and Vibeke Holtum Norgaard (Technical Education Copenhagen – Copenhagen).

The budget and the strategic plan 2023 were also approved and the next congress to be held in October 2023 in Rhodes (Greece) was presented.

The EfVET Annual Conference is held every year as a meeting point for VET professionals from Europe, Asia and America. EfVET confirms that, in each edition, more than 200 delegates from different countries gather every time, even when the coronavirus pandemic appeared.

FPEmpresa, member and new representative of EfVET Spain, has met with the EfVET Europe Committee on 10th of september in Brussels to propose a new work plan for the year 2023. FPEmpresa was represented by Carlos de Olagüe Smithson, International and Madrid coordinator of the Association.

The EfVET representatives that also has attend at the event were Professor Joaquín James Calleja (Malta); Stefano Tirati (Learningdigital.eu – Italy); Arja Flinkman (South Savo Education Ltd – Finland); Marta Almeida Santos (Ensinus Group – Portugal); Panagiotis G. Anastassopoulos (P- Consulting – Greece); Leif Haar (Denmark); Vibeke Holtum Norgaard (Technical Education Copenhagen – Copenhagen); Silvia Liuti (FORMA. Azione srl – Italy); Gaby Tinnemeier (Germany), Giorgos Giorgakis (Eurosucess Consulting – Cyprus); Paulius Cepas (Kaunas technical vocational education centre – Lithuania); Tibor Dori (Euro-Contact Business School – Hungary); Marloes de Vries (The Netherlands), Jussi Kajander (Luovi Vocational College – Finland), Luis Costa (ANESPO – Portugal) and Jon Harding (Bridgwater College – UK).

This meeting has been very important for all the members of EfVET Spain, including FPEmpresa. From now, Carlos Olagüe will be the new representative of the Spanish EfVET members, taking over from Nacho Camacho. “I will take over the position held until now by Nacho Camacho, from the company Incoma, as representative of EfVET Spain. He has carried out his work as a representative with great professionalism for many years and now it is my turn to take on this new challenge, which I am looking forward to”, says Carlos de Olagüe.

Points to discuss

The main point of the EfVET Council was to prepare the organisation of the next Annual Congress will take place at the end of october in Kuopio (Finland), under the slogan “The Future Skills Revolution for VET and CVET in Europe”.

Other important issues were also discussed, such as analysing the activities carried out during the year 2022 and proposing a new work plan and budget for 2023. “I called a meeting tha last 6th of september with the different members of EfVET Spain to pick up their opinions and take them to the assembly in Brussels. Once there, a new line of work for 2023 was created, including a new strategic plan 2022-2026 that will be presented at the Kuopio Congress. This will be the big moment when we all meet again to exchange views with each other”, concludes the international representative of FPEmpresa.