Christos Vatalachos’ Post

✨ Last week, I had the pleasure of joining an inspiring panel at Cedefop workshop “Microcredentials and the Future of Learning” — an event that brought together hundreds of experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore how microcredentials are reshaping education and work in Europe and beyond. Our discussion focused on how microcredentials can increase equity in education and training systems and on their potentially transformative role in the next 5–10 years and beyond. From quality assurance to digital innovation, the exchanges highlighted how microcredentials are redefining how learning is valued and recognized across sectors and borders. It was a privilege to contribute insights from the European Training Foundation perspective, exploring how microcredentials can support skills development, employability, and recognition across diverse economies — especially where informal and non-formal learning play a vital role. A warm thank you to Cedefop and especially Anastasia Pouliou for leading such a rich and forward-looking dialogue. The future of learning is indeed being co-created — one credential at a time. #Microcredentials #FutureOfLearning #LifelongLearning #Skills #ETF #Cedefop #VET #Innovation #Equity

📌 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐩’𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐤𝐢 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 We’re proud to share that EVBB was represented by Ana Verdugo Blanco at the recent “Financing Adult Learning: The Role of Public Funding” conference, organized by Cedefop in Thessaloniki on 20–21 October 2025.                              The conference addressed Europe’s commitment to increasing adult participation in learning, a cornerstone for improving employability, boosting innovation, ensuring social fairness, and closing digital skills gaps. As highlighted in the widely cited Draghi report, Europe aims not only to match but to exceed global standards in providing lifelong learning opportunities and good jobs for all.   The event explored the range of funding instruments across EU Member States, focusing on: - Public co-financing mechanisms, including grants, tax incentives, and publicly funded provision. - Financial support for individuals, especially individual learning accounts. - Employer engagement, including training funds and cost-sharing arrangements.   Currently, public support for adult learning in the EU stands at around 0.5% of GDP, covering roughly one-third of total funding, with the rest mostly provided by employers. This underscores the vital role of governments in co-financing adult learning and the need to strike a balance between different funding instruments to maximize impact.   Ana’s participation highlighted EVBB’s commitment to fostering lifelong learning and supporting stakeholders in designing sustainable adult learning financing models.   Key takeaway: bridging public funding, employer contributions, and individual learning accounts is essential to make adult learning accessible, equitable, and impactful.   Thank you to Cedefop for convening this timely dialogue. We look forward to applying these insights across our networks and initiatives!   #AdultLearning #LifelongLearning #SkillsDevelopment #EducationFunding #EVBB #Cedefop #Upskilling #Reskilling

📘 How can we build an effective accreditation system for vocational training? Within the European project MiCrocVET – Developing a common approach to Micro-credentials for non-formal C-VET providers, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme 🇪🇺, the partners are defining shared standards to make non-formal training more transparent, reliable and recognised across Europe. Accreditation lies at the heart of this process: it ensures that every training pathway meets high standards of quality, consistency and validation, in line with key European references such as the EQF, the ESCO skills taxonomy, and the EU Council Recommendation on Micro-credentials (2022). An effective accreditation system should include:✔️ a clear governance structure, with well-defined roles for those who deliver, assess and certify;✔️ a quality assurance strategy based on European standards such as EQAVET;✔️ a transparent process guiding each course from design to the final issuing of the credential. The project is coordinated by MARKEUT SKILLS Sociedad Limitada (Spain) and implemented in partnership with E&D Knowledge Consulting (Portugal), Kainotomia & SIA EE (Greece) and OpenCom I.S.S.C. (Italy) 🌍 🔗 Through this approach, MiCrocVET is helping to build a more reliable, flexible and Europe-wide recognised training ecosystem, where every skill can be valued and certified. 💡 #MiCrocVET #ErasmusPlus #OpenCom #Microcredentials #VocationalTraining #LifelongLearning #VET #EuropeanEducation #QualityAssurance #InnovationInEducation

📊 Good training doesn’t end with a certificate — it starts with continuous improvement. Within the European project MiCrocVET – Developing a common approach to Micro-credentials for non-formal C-VET providers, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme 🇪🇺, evaluation plays a central role in ensuring that every micro-credential remains useful, up to date and recognised over time. An effective evaluation and adjustment system is built on three main pillars: 🔹 Feedback collection: listening regularly to learners, trainers and employers helps understand how well the courses meet real market and social needs.🔹 Performance indicators: tracking learner results, completion rates and professional outcomes provides a clear measure of impact.🔹 Ongoing updates: adapting programmes, workloads and EQF reference levels keeps courses relevant and aligned with the evolving world of work. Only through this process of continuous evaluation and improvement can we create learning pathways that are credible, transparent and recognised across Europe 🌍 The project is coordinated by MARKEUT SKILLS Sociedad Limitada (Spain) and carried out in partnership with E&D Knowledge Consulting (Portugal), Kainotomia & SIA EE (Greece) and OpenCom I.S.S.C. (Italy) 💡 #MiCrocVET #ErasmusPlus #OpenCom #Microcredentials #VocationalTraining #LifelongLearning #VET #EuropeanEducation #QualityAssurance #InnovationInEducation #Evaluation

Reflections from the Global Education Partnerships Forum 2025 (GEP Forum) 29.–30.10.2025 in Helsinki Congress Paasitorni I had the pleasure of attending the #GEPForum2025 organised by FinCEED - the Finnish Centre of Expertise in Education and Development and Opetushallitus | Utbildningsstyrelsen | Finnish National Agency for Education. Here are some take-aways: * The theme “Future of Multi-Stakeholder Cooperation Environment – Where and How to Navigate Next?” brought into sharp focus how collaboration across sectors, geographies and types of stakeholders is more important than ever. Three focus areas were emphasized in the sessions: * The rising role of vocational education and training (VET) globally — including inclusive curricula, entrepreneurial skills and local labour market alignment. * Current trends in digital education — from EdTech and AI to inclusion, data ethics and lifelong learning. * Lessons for successful commercial cooperation and development partnerships — how to design, finance and sustain impactful multi-stakeholder models. The structure of the forum was very effective: keynote speech, fireside chats, parallel sessions, and dedicated matchmaking/networking segments. * A highlight for me were the keynotes - especially the « Beyond the MoU: What Really Makes Partnerships Work Across Borders and Sectors » by Elizabeth Eta, PhD. She talked about #challenges, the invisible « ghosts » and #goodpractises in partnerships. What also stood out was the emphasis on #cocreation: not just “education for development” but education with partners, across public/private, local/global divides. Many sessions featured concrete case-studies (e.g., digital innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa, inclusive VET curriculum development in Kenya) which ground the discussions in lived contexts. * For organisations working in education (whether pre-school, VET, higher ed, EdTech, policy), this forum reminds us that impact comes through partnership—especially across sectors. * If you’re looking to engage in international education development or digital education innovation, now is a great time to explore alliances and models that embrace multiple stakeholders. * The themes of inclusion, vocational relevance, digital transformation and sustainability are no longer “nice to have” but core. #GEPForum2025 #EducationInnovation #Partnerships #EdTech #VET #GlobalEducation

📘 How MiCrocVET contributes to the recognition of non-formal learning in Europe 🇪🇺 The European project MiCrocVET – Developing a common approach to Micro-credentials for non-formal C-VET providers, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, promotes a shared European language around micro-credentials , the small-scale certifications that give value to skills gained outside traditional education and training paths 🎓 One of the project’s key outputs is the document “Standards and Procedures for implementing micro-credentials in non-formal C-VET providers”, a practical guide designed for training organisations, businesses and third-sector bodies 🧭 The project is led by MARKEUT SKILLS Sociedad Limitada (Spain) and carried out in partnership with E&D Knowledge Consulting (Portugal), Kainotomia & SIA EE (Greece) and OpenCom I.S.S.C. (Italy) 🌍 Together, the partners are working to make vocational education and training more flexible, inclusive and recognised across Europe 💡 👉 Read the full article and discover the document here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e8BiJ-qh #MiCrocVET #ErasmusPlus #OpenCom #Microcredentials #VocationalTraining #VET #LifelongLearning #InnovationInEducation #EuropeanEducation

A couple of days ago I joined “EU priorities in VET – from Osnabrück to Herning and beyond”, a Cedefop event exploring how Vocational Education & Training across Europe can adapt, modernize, and become inclusive and sustainable. Key reflections: VET must evolve beyond traditional training models. Digital tools and AI-enabled learning analytics can personalize skill paths; ESG-based modules can prepare learners for green job markets; and flexible credentials are essential to reach vulnerable learners. For Neireva, this event reinforced our conviction that education, sustainability, and technology must converge. We’re keen to support VET institutions with curriculum co-development, digital tools, and capacity building — bridging what’s currently policy talk into actionable, measurable practice. Many thanks to Cedefop, the speakers, and all participants for the stimulating exchange. Looking forward to follow-up collaboration. #VETnationalplans #ReferNet #VET #VocationalEducation #DigitalLearning #ESG #Skills #LifelongLearning #EU #Neireva #Innovation

I appreciate this line from Bethany Simunich, PhD in her article in The EvoLLLution, Building the Online Learning Ecosystem Institutions Need and Students Deserve" https://lnkd.in/gkb8q9gA: "Institutions don’t need to build this ecosystem overnight, but they do need to build it on purpose." #onlinelearning #highered

Read the new article "Building the Online Learning Ecosystem Institutions Need and Students Deserve" from QM's own Bethany Simunich, PhD in The EvoLLLution! The article highlights why it's imperative that institutions build a holistic online learning ecosystem that prioritizes accessibility, engagement and comprehensive student support. https://lnkd.in/gJgSFAjr

In terms of online strategy, ”Success depends on coordinated action: shared design standards, consistent and robust learner support, aligned staffing models and consistent modality definitions and institutional policies that ensure learners know what to expect. “