By Boštjan Bobič

Conference: Bridging the Gap: VET, Green Skills, and the Family Learning Ecosystem | Conference

Shaping a Resilient and Attractive Vocational Future

Organized in Brussels by the European Parents’ Association (EPA) in official partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in the framework of the EU-co-funded ECOFamilies Project 

👉 REGISTER HERE

📄 DOWNLOAD THE FULL AGENDA (PDF)

Why Attend?

The European green transition is not merely a technical challenge – it is a cultural and social transformation that begins in the home. While EU policy frequently focuses on industry output, parental perceptions remain one of the single strongest influences on career choices and Vocational Education and Training (VET) participation.

Building on the results of the Erasmus+ ECO-FAMILIES Project, this high-level conference breaks institutional silos by bringing together top EU decision-makers, leading European VET networks, civil society leaders, and parental representatives. Moving beyond standard project reviews, the event builds directly on recent EESC Opinions to operationalize green skills, address the “parental perception gap,” and launch a joint Actionable Policy Blueprint for 2030.

Event Snapshot

📅 Date: 8 September 2026

🕒 Time: 14:00 (in-person registration at 13:30) – 17:30 CEST (followed by a Reception)

📍 Venue: European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Rue Belliard 99, 1040 Brussels (Live online streaming available)

🤝 In-Person Exclusive: Interactive tool display and official Policy Networking Reception starting at 17:30 CEST

Key Highlights & Program

📄 DOWNLOAD THE FULL AGENDA & PROGRAM HERE (PDF)

  • High-Level Opening & Keynote: Insights from EESC Rapporteur Nicoletta Merlo, European Commission Director Manuela Geleng (DG EMPL, tbc), and Event Patron Dr. Renate Heinisch.

  • The ECOFamilies Model: Practical tools, AI-powered learning app, and grassroots data from the ECO-FAMILIES Project demonstrating how multigenerational learning boosts green skill adoption.

  • Panel 1 — The Institutional Pulse: Matching training to labor market demand with leaders from Cedefop, EVTA, LLLP, and European Parliament representatives.

  • Panel 2 — Grassroots Reality & VET Attractiveness: Tackling perception gaps directly with frontline perspectives from EfVET, EVBB, OBESSU, and EPA.

  • Launch of the 2030 Actionable Policy Blueprint: Presenting a joint civil society and VET roadmap to guide EU policy implementation through 2030

Institutional Leadership & Key Contributions

This conference brings together top decision-makers, European networks, and civil society leaders to drive the dialogue on green skills and VET attractiveness:

Nicoletta Merlo | EESC Member & Rapporteur

Rapporteur for the landmark EESC Opinion “How to ensure green skills and promote green vocational institutions” (SOC/833-EESC-2025). Nicoletta leads the call for systemic, inclusive educational models that align green skills with European labor market realities.

Brigitte VAN DEN BERGBrigitte van den Berg MEP | Member of the European Parliament (TBC)

Bringing European parliamentary perspectives to the institutional panel, focusing on skills policy, youth opportunities, and aligning EU legislative goals with grassroots education.

President of the European Commission - WikipediaRepresentative (TBC) | Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), European Commission

Delivering the High-Level Keynote on behalf of DG EMPL, bringing institutional insight into how EU employment policies and skill agendas align with grassroots execution.

Jasper van Loo | Department Coordinator for VET and Skills, Cedefop

Leading Cedefop’s work on skills intelligence and labor market analysis, providing crucial evidence-based insights on green skill trends, labor market transition, and future vocational training needs across Europe.

Renate Heinisch | ESMH scientist

Dr. Renate Heinisch | Patron of the Event, EPA Honorary Member & Former EESC/MEP Member

Holder of the Bundesverdienstkreuz, Dr. Heinisch brings decades of European parliamentary and institutional experience, advocating for intergenerational learning and family involvement in education policy.

Virginie Durin | Vice-President, European Parents’ Association (EPA), President of APEL National, France

Championing the family learning ecosystem, Virginie represents the parental voice across Europe, ensuring households are recognized as active partners in the green transition.

Featuring Expert Contributions & Panel Voices From:

  • European Commission (DG EMPL): Delivering a high-level keynote on EU employment policy, skills agendas, and regional execution.

  • European Vocational Training Association (EVTA): Operational perspectives on quality development, work-based learning, and internationalization across European VET providers.

  • Lifelong Learning Platform (LLLP): Advocating for holistic education, active citizenship, and lifelong learning across civil society.

  • European Forum of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (EfVET): Direct insights and frontline experience from technical and vocational education practitioners across Europe.

  • European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB): Best practices on modernizing VET institutes and addressing skills mismatches on the ground.

  • Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions (OBESSU): Bringing the critical perspective of European school students and VET learners to the policy table.

Register Now

To ensure active dialogue and exchange, in-person attendance is strongly encouraged. Join us at the EESC in Brussels to engage directly with policymakers, experience the interactive tool displays, and join the closing Policy Networking Reception.

Due to EESC security protocols, prior registration for in-person attendance is required.

👉 REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

(In-person seats are limited. Can’t join us in Brussels? The registration form also allows you to sign up for online hybrid access.)

Conference Background & Policy Context

Addressing three critical policy gaps identified across EU decision-making:

  • Bridging Institutional & Sectoral Silos: Education, labor market policy, and civil society often operate independently. This initiative brings VET providers (EVBB, EfVET, EVTA), Cedefop, and educational stakeholders directly into dialogue with civil society and the family ecosystem (EPA) to turn high-level European policies into field-tested solutions.

  • Closing the “Parental Perception Gap”: Parental guidance is a key driver of youth educational trajectories. To reach net-zero economic targets, VET must become a “first choice” career path. Modernizing VET requires an inclusive, multigenerational lifelong learning approach that prepares whole communities for the green economy.

  • Operationalizing EESC Recommendations: The conference acts as a direct delivery mechanism for key findings outlined in EESC Opinion SOC/833 (“How to ensure green skills and promote green vocational institutions”). By launching an Actionable Policy Blueprint for 2030, the event translates institutional policy advice into practical recommendations for EU Member States, VET centers, and civil society networks through 2030

About the ECO-FAMILIES Project

Parents are the ultimate role models for their children, playing a crucial role in fostering positive relationships with the environment and building an eco-minded generation. Facing challenges such as high household carbon footprints, food waste, and rapid climate change, the Erasmus+ ECO-FAMILIES Project was created to empower parents and adult educators with practical, accessible tools for sustainable eco-living practices.

Aligning directly with the EU Green Deal, the EU Climate Pact, the GreenComp framework, and the New European Bauhaus, the project turns European green goals into a cultural, human-centered, and tangible reality in everyday family life.

Core Aims & Objectives:

  • Empowering Adult Educators: Upgrading educator profiles under the GreenComp framework so they can deliver high-quality lifelong learning on green and sustainable competencies to parents.

  • Upskilling Parents for Eco-Living: Providing parents with accessible learning opportunities to adopt eco-friendly lifestyles that positively impact their households, children, and broader communities.

  • Digital Innovation & AI: Enhancing adult learning through engaging, innovative digital resources—including an AI-powered mobile app designed to overcome time constraints and resource barriers.

  • Building Dynamic Community Networks: Fostering local, national, and transnational networks to share best practices, co-design solutions for global green challenges, and create peer-to-peer communication channels for parents.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

📄 DOWNLOAD THE FULL AGENDA & PROGRAM HERE (PDF)

👉 REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

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By EPA

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Traineeship Positions (CIP)

EPA Call for Candidates: CIP 2026

European Association & Project Management Assistants (3 Profiles)

  • Organisation: European Parents’ Association (EPA) AISBL
  • Location: Brussels, Belgium (Hybrid policy applies after onboarding)
  • Contract Type: Convention d’Immersion Professionnelle (CIP)
  • Duration: 3 to 6 months, tbd
  • Timeline: Multiple start dates available over the course of 2026
  • Remuneration: Legal minimum allowance of 1.116,80 € gross/month (Belgian indexation), reimbursement of travel expenses when travelling for EPA

About the European Parents’ Association (EPA)

EPA is the only EU-level organisation exclusively representing parents, gathering 29 member organisations across Europe. We work actively in the educational sector, cooperating closely with EU institutions and civil society networks (such as the Lifelong Learning Platform) to promote parental involvement and equitable education.

About the Traineeships

We are seeking three to four dynamic trainees to join our Brussels team. All trainees will gain a 360-degree understanding of running a transnational European network (AISBL), interacting with EU governance bodies, and working daily in a high-level English speaking environment.

While all trainees will support the core lifecycle of the association (events, statutory meetings, and network representation), each will spearhead a specific track:

 

Profile 1: Education Policy & Research Assistant

Focus: Desk research and monitoring of EU educational policies.

  • Key Responsibilities:
    • Conduct targeted desk research on European educational directives and policies as requested by EU institutions or partners.
    • Draft analytical briefings and structured reporting following public conferences, working groups, and workshops at the European Commission or European Parliament.
  • Ideal Background: Degree in International Relations, European Studies, Educational Sciences, or Political Science. Strong analytical mindset and passion for desk research.


Profile 2: EU Projects Assistant

Focus: Hands-on assistance with EU-funded consortia deliverables.

  • Key Responsibilities:
    • Support ongoing initiatives and project actions across fields like Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), media literacy, and school inclusion (NextGen Parenting, DeCiTeL, GenAI4ED, GrowWell, Code4Europe, ECOFamilies, ELNE Network…).
    • Assist with administrative reporting, data gathering, and operational tracking for project consortia.
  • Ideal Background: Degree in European Project Management, Business Administration, or International Relations. Highly organised, structured, and detail-oriented.

Profile 3: Communications Assistant

Focus: Content creation, public relations, and stakeholder engagement.

  • Key Responsibilities:
    • Draft and format professional content for EPA’s newsletter, website updates, and educational social media campaigns.
    • Assist in preparing informational digital and print materials (brochures, event invitations, project flyers).
  • Ideal Background: Degree in Communications, Journalism, Graphic Design, or Marketing. Creative flair, familiarity with digital tools (e.g., Canva, Mailchimp, CMS tools), and social media management.

Core Requirements & Competencies (All Profiles)

  • Language: Fluency in English (written and spoken) is mandatory; working knowledge of other languages is an asset.
  • Eligibility: Applicants must be eligible to work in Belgium and eligible for a CIP contract under Brussels regional regulations (Actiris framework. EPA does not sponsor work permits due to limited capacity to handle the bureaucratic burden.)
  • Skills: Proactive attitude, strong multicultural teamwork skills, and ability to handle digital filing and data management systems.

What We Offer

  • Mentorship: Direct, daily guidance and supervision, including structured monitoring evaluations.
  • Professional Growth: Real ownership over tasks and direct exposure to high-level EU stakeholders.
  • Work Environment: A welcoming office space in Brussels with structural hybrid/teleworking options once onboarding is successfully completed.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a short Cover Letter in English to office@europarents.eu, clearly stating in the subject line which profile you are applying for (e.g., Application: EU Projects Assistant Trainee).

Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis throughout 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

 

 

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The NextGen Parenting podcast playlist

The NextGen Parenting podcast playlist is now available on YouTube. The series brings together expert conversations on digital parenting, digital safety, media literacy, online behaviour, cyber violence, gender stereotypes and positive support for young people. The playlist is intended for parents, adult educators, teachers, counsellors and professionals working with families and young people.

Explore the full NextGen Parenting podcast playlist and discover expert conversations from across the partnership: https://tinyurl.com/NextGenPodcasts

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By EPA

Upcoming Webinar: Bridging the Gap – How Parents and Teachers Talk “Digital”

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming webinar in the Code4Europe webinar series.

As technology increasingly shapes our children’s futures, many of us are left wondering: How can we support our children’s digital education without being experts ourselves? And how can we make sure the educational and the home environment are on the same page and don’t tug in different directions? 

To answer this question, we are thrilled to welcome our special guest speaker, Dr. Louise Heeran Flynn from Trinity College Dublin. Drawing from her extensive expertise, Dr. Heeran Flynn will share invaluable insights on how parents and teachers can team up effectively to make digital learning a success both at school and at home.

This event is part of the CodeWeek initiative, dedicated to helping families and educators build a stronger digital future together.

📅 Event Details:

  • Date: June 17, 2026

  • Time: 17:00 CEST

  • Location: Online

  • Cost: Free (Registration required)

  • Funding: Funded by the European Union

📝 How to Join:

Please share this event widely with your networks, schools, and parent communities!

👉 Click here to register and secure your spot

Upcoming events
By EPA

A New Chapter for EPA: Strengthening the Voice of Parents Across Europe

We are thrilled to share some momentous news that marks a historic turning point for our association. As we move into 2026, the European Parents’ Association has officially entered into a Strategic Grant Agreement (SGA) with the European Commission under the Erasmus+ program.

This partnership is a profound recognition of a truth we have championed for years: parents are vital partners in shaping the European Education Area.

"For EPA, this is more than just funding; it is a commitment to growth, professionalization, and deep-rooted inclusion." 

What This Means for Families and Communities

With the launch of our new project EURO-PARENTS, we are scaling up our operations to ensure that grassroots family experiences directly inform EU policy. Over the next two years, you will see EPA transforming its capabilities:

  • Expanding our reach: We are actively reaching out to underrepresented regions and minority groups across Europe.
  • Accessibility & multilingualism: We believe language should never be a barrier to advocacy. Our website and core toolkits will therefore be available in at least 4 European languages plus Simple English.
  • Equipping parents for the future: We are delivering concrete resources on the issues that matter most to modern households - from digital literacy and AI in education to youth mental health, vocational training and education, and green skills.
  • Collecting good practices: We are launching an online EPA Knowledge Base to powerfully bring our members’ proven success stories and good practices out into the world, so that others do not have to reinvent the wheel.
  • Training more parents: We are stepping up our training delivered to members and grass-roots communities. 

Building a More Family-Friendly Europe

Our goal is simple: to cultivate a stronger, more inclusive EPA that provides invaluable resources to national communities and projects a proud, unified voice in Brussels.

Whether you are a parent looking for guidance, a national organization looking to collaborate, or an ally in education, you are part of this journey. Together, we are co-creating the future of European education. 

🔍 Explore the Full Strategy

Want to see the specific pillars, measurable targets, and formal governance structures driving this initiative?

 

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