EXCEED – Excellence In Green And Digital Manufacturing

 Three Years of War: Ukraine’s Resilience, Europe’s Support & the Future of Skills 🇺🇦 As we mark three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s determination remains unshaken. Despite immense challenges in education, employment, and workforce development, the country has adapted, innovated, and strengthened key alliances to ensure continuous learning, skills development, and economic stability. Education & Skills for Recovery 💡 More than 3,970 schools and 151 vocational centers have been damaged or destroyed, yet Ukraine has reinvented learning through digital platforms, micro-credentials, and transnational education initiatives. The Diia.Digital Education platform has already trained 1.3 million people in digital skills, while EU-backed initiatives like Skills4Recovery are helping learners requalify for in-demand jobs. 📌 The UA Re-emergency Programme is helping displaced learners by collecting and sharing high-quality e-learning materials from the EU and neighboring countries—ensuring that education continues in safer regions. 📌 The Diia.Digital Education platform has already trained 1.3 million people in digital skills, while EU-backed initiatives like Skills4Recovery are supporting both young and adult learners in requalifying for in-demand jobs. Labour Market Challenges & Adaptations ⚙️ The war has reduced the workforce by over 25%, yet new employment measures are creating opportunities for women, youth, veterans, and displaced workers. The State Employment Service (SES) is leading job creation efforts through: ✅ Career counselling & wage subsidies ✅ Self-employment grants for entrepreneurs ✅ Vocational training vouchers to equip workers with new competencies By mid-2024, 93,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) had received employment assistance, with 47,000 securing jobs—a testament to Ukraine’s resilience and adaptability. Planning for Reconstruction & EU Integration 🏗️ Ukraine is already laying the groundwork for its post-war recovery with the Ukraine Plan 2024-2027, focusing on skills, SME growth, and economic modernization. 📌 The EU’s €50 billion Ukraine Facility and a €700 million investment package from the Skills Alliance will further support: ✅ Upskilling & workforce reintegration ✅ Strengthening SMEs & entrepreneurship ✅ Digital & green job creation 🤝 Collaboration is key—Ukraine’s commitment to education, innovation, and economic resilience will define its path towards sustainable recovery and EU integration. The upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 will be a crucial moment for shaping the next steps. 🔗 Read more & join the conversation: Link #StandWithUkraine #SkillsForRecovery #EducationForAll #FutureOfWork #UkraineReconstruction #VocationalTraining #EUIntegration

📢 Monitoring Progress: Key Developments in National VET Implementation Strengthening the attractiveness and responsiveness of Vocational Education and Training (VET) is a top EU priority. Aligning VET curricula with labour market needs, integrating green & digital skills, and expanding work-based learning are shaping the future of skills development across Europe. 🔹 Key 2023 Developments in VET: ✅ Curriculum modernisation – integrating emerging technologies, green, and digital skills. ✅ Work-based learning expansion – strengthening apprenticeships and industry collaborations. ✅ Flexible learning pathways – growth in micro-credentials & modular training. ✅ Investment in infrastructure – upgrading VET facilities & digital platforms. ✅ Stronger progression pathways – better connections between VET and higher education. 📊 Engaging stakeholders – Employers, policymakers, and training providers play a key role in shaping reforms. National VET Implementation Plans (NIPs) focus on quality, inclusivity, and innovation to ensure agile and future-proof learning systems. 🌍 Challenges & Next Steps: 🔹 Ensuring long-term policy continuity despite government changes. 🔹 Securing financial investment for sustained reforms. 🔹 Strengthening collaboration between stakeholders. 📢 The goal remains clear: A flexible, inclusive, and high-quality VET system that supports lifelong learning, economic competitiveness, and individual career growth. 🔗 Learn more: CEDEFOP #VET #SkillsDevelopment #LifelongLearning #Education #Innovation #EUTraining Photo by Juan C. Palacios: https://lnkd.in/d7vWGm8D

Charting Tomorrow’s Workforce: Europe’s IVET Takes Center Stage 📢 How is Europe preparing young people for the jobs of the future? Cedefop’s latest report, IVET in Focus: Data-Driven Solutions for Europe's Labour Market Challenges, highlights how Initial Vocational Education and Training (IVET) provides students with the practical skills required for the digital and green transitions. With 49% of EU upper-secondary students selecting VET, the system is proving to be a reliable pathway to both higher education and high-quality employment. However, gender discrepancies remain, particularly in STEM careers. 🔹 Key Takeaways: ✅ Growing Popularity: 49% of EU upper-secondary students enroll in VET, and 72.6% have direct access to postsecondary education. ✅ Hands-on Learning: 64.5% of recent graduates gain valuable work experience, exceeding EU targets. ✅ High Employability: IVET graduates achieve an 81% employment rate, particularly in engineering & manufacturing. ✅ Gender Gap: Only 41.9% of women enter VET, with even fewer pursue STEM careers. ✅ Data-Driven Innovation: Cedefop's tools and analytics ensure adaptive, inclusive, and future-proof VET policies. 🚀 The Call for Action: 📊 Explore cedefop’s most recent data via the European VET Policy Dashboard and see how evidence-based strategies are shaping Europe’s future workforce to build an inclusive, resilient, and skilled labor market together! 🔗 Read more: Cedefop #VET #IVET #SkillsForFuture #Education #FutureOfWork #Cedefop Image source: Photo

Thank you a lot for hosting us at your premises PrintoCent!

The EXCEED on-site visit to Oulu, Finland, in the framework of the Upskilling pathway for VET professionals, kicked off with insightful visits and valuable collaborations. We started by visiting a unique and innovative partner organization situated in Oulu. 💡 The FabLab at University of Oulu University inspired by its cutting-edge technology and hands-on approach to design, FAB city concept and participatory approach to innovation. 🛠️ Sähkö-Rantek Oy provided an inside look into their groundbreaking work in the electrical and automation industry, showcasing the role of innovation in everyday technologies. ⚡ Meanwhile, VTT’s PrintoCent demonstrated its expertise in advanced printing technologies, offering a glimpse into the future of manufacturing. Throughout the 2 days of activities, partners and trainers gathered for workshops on designing innovative curricula, applying EQAVET principles, and reviewing the EXCEED project’s progress and key results. We have workers on the design of the 3 higher VET innovative curricula, out of the 5 that will be developed from scratch within the EXCEED project. Together with the OSAO team, We have explored a Finnish educational system and competence-based approach to education. This training was another step forward in building strong, future-focused pathways for skill development and training in the VET sector. We are excited about the collaborations and outcomes ahead! 💼 #EXCEEDProject #Innovation #Collaboration #SkillDevelopment #VET #IndustryPartnerships Centoform AMSP ČR ART-ER S. cons. p. a. Sustainable Development Unit - ATHENA RC CIS - Unindustria Reggio Emilia Clust-ER Greentech Energia e Sviluppo Sostenibile Clust-ER Innovate Comau ActivaFP Departament d'Educació Institut Escola del Treball HELMEPA - Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association INSTITUT INPRO, a.s. MACON OY Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

🌍 Join Us for a Key Discussion on Higher Education and Sustainable Development at ECOSOC 2025! 🎓🔗 The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), in collaboration with York University, Columbia University, and UNESCO, is honored to host a virtual side event at the 2025 ECOSOC Partnership Forum. This session will dive into the crucial role of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in higher education—a key driver of global sustainability efforts. 📅 Date: February 4, 2025 ⏰ Time: 9:00-10:30 AM ET 📍 Venue: Zoom 🔗Click here to register As a preview of a special issue of the Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, this event will bring together scholars and experts from across the globe to discuss: ✅ How higher education can better support the 2030 Agenda ✅ The impact of universities on climate action, economic growth, and social justice ✅ Rethinking progress indicators and ensuring inclusive voices in ESD ✅ The future of sustainable higher education and its role in policy & practice Join us as we explore solutions that will shape the future of ESD in higher education! Let’s challenge the status quo and work towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and impactful education system. 📢 Tag your network and spread the word! #ESD #HigherEducation #SDGs #ECOSOC2025 #Sustainability

🌟 Thank You for Joining Us! 🌟 We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended the Third Session of the EXCEED - Upskilling Programme for VET Professionals on 23/01/2025! The session explored the Application of Skills Intelligence and the evolution of skills in the advanced manufacturing sector amidst the digital and green transition. With insightful presentations by Stelina Chatzichristou and Katerina Tzafilkou from Cedefop, participants gained valuable perspectives on EU labour market trends and essential skills for the future. Also, Ari Vuokila, on behalf of Exceed Consortium, presented the results of the EXCEED Observatory, on the Skills Evolution within the AM sector. 🎓 Missed the session or want to dive deeper? The training materials and additional resources are now available on the EXCEED website: https://lnkd.in/d8q8SndM Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s continue driving excellence in green and digital manufacturing together! 💡🌍 #EXCEEDproject #VETUpskilling #GreenTransition #DigitalSkills #AdvancedManufacturing #SkillsForTheFuture

🎄✨ Season’s Greetings from the EXCEED Team! ✨🎄 As the holiday season is upon us, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of our journey this year. Your dedication and enthusiasm inspire us to continue driving innovation in green and digital manufacturing. 🎁 Looking for something to dive into over the holidays? Explore our latest materials and resources here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dvhncJyS 🎯 Save the Date: We can’t wait to see you again on 23rd January 2025 at 09:30 CET for our next session, where we’ll discuss skills evolution in advanced manufacturing during the digital and green transition. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year! 🌟 #SeasonGreetings #Innovation #Sustainability #EXCEED Centoform AMSP ČR ART-ER S. cons. p. a. Sustainable Development Unit - ATHENA RC CIS - Unindustria Reggio Emilia Clust-ER Greentech Energia e Sviluppo Sostenibile Clust-ER Innovate Comau ActivaFP Departament d'Educació Institut Escola del Treball HELMEPA - Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association INSTITUT INPRO, a.s. MACON OY Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

🚀 Unlock the Future of Education and Skills! 🌍 Thank you to everyone who joined us on December 12, 2024, for an enlightening session. A huge thank you to our incredible speakers for making the session an insightful and impactful event. 💡 Key Highlights: 💬 Valentina Grganovic, explored how ESCO connects skills, education, and the labor market, incorporating green and digital transformations. 💬 Isabel Ladrón Arroyo, presented the EU’s approach to micro-credentials, empowering lifelong learning and employability. 💬 Kia Likitalo, Highlighted the European Digital Credentials (EDC) infrastructure for secure, digital-native certification. 📽️ Missed the session or want to revisit the insights? Access the recordings and materials here: https://lnkd.in/d8q8SndM Stay tuned for more events as we continue shaping the future of skills and education together! #ESCO #MicroCredentials #DigitalEducation #LifelongLearning #FutureOfWork #EUInitiatives

CzechInvest hosted by ART-ER to explore the Emilia-Romagna ecosystem On December 10 in Bologna, a meeting was held to foster mutual understanding between ART-ER S. cons. p. a. and a delegation from the Czech Republic, visiting on the occasion of the S3 Conference in Rimini. The delegation was led by CzechInvest, the national organization dedicated to attracting investments. The event addressed key topics for both the Emilia-Romagna region and the Czech Republic, focusing on research, development, innovation and training. Best practices in vocational training and initiatives supported by regional laws for attracting, retaining, and enhancing talent were examined in detail. This theme will see collaboration between Emilia-Romagna and CzechInvest, members of the Policy Board of the European project #EXCEED – Excellence in Green and Digital Manufacturing. EXCEED is a European initiative aimed at creating a network of six centres of vocational excellence across five countries, to support innovation and sustainable competitiveness in the advanced manufacturing sector.