EARLALL Annual Meeting 2024: Strengthening Strategic Vision and Governance

19/11/2024

From 13 to 15 November, EARLALL’s Annual Meeting 2024 brought together representatives from its member regions and associate members in Barcelona. Hosted by the Government of Catalonia, the event featured officials, including Mr. Ricard Coma Montoro, Director General of Vocational Training of the Generalitat de Catalunya and Mr. Juan José Torres, Director of the Catalan Public Employment Service (SOC) within the Department of Employment. In their opening addresses, they reaffirmed Catalonia’s dedication to strengthening vocational education and lifelong learning to develop a workforce equipped for Europe’s dynamic labour market. They also emphasised the importance of regional collaboration to sustain joint initiatives and explore new opportunities for cooperation.

Following the welcome, Inge Gorostiaga Luzarraga, Director of Technology and Advanced Learning, representing the Basque Country, which currently holds the Presidency of EARLALL until November 2024, addressed the participants. Speaking as the outgoing President, she expressed her gratitude and pride on behalf of the Basque Country, stating:

“As we near the end of the Basque Country’s presidency of EARLALL, we reflect with gratitude and pride on the journey we have undertaken together since 2015. EARLALL is now stronger, more agile, and better positioned to fulfil its mission. During our presidency, we have fostered closer collaboration with key EU institutions and international organisations, including the Committee of the Regions, UNESCO, the OECD, and European networks. We are proud of what we have achieved together and look forward to supporting the next chapter in EARLALL’s journey as a vital player in Europe’s skills and education ecosystem.”

2024 Activity Report and 2025 Work Plan

The EARLALL Secretariat presented the 2024 Activity Report, showcasing achievements in promoting VET and adult education initiatives across member regions. Highlights included successful projects, partnerships with EU institutions, and efforts to align member strategies with the EU’s green and digital transition goals. A core component of the meeting was the introduction of EARLALL’s Work Plan 2025, which outlined five-year priorities and an action plan for the upcoming year. his roadmap focuses on driving sustainable development, digital transformation, and inclusive education, with targeted actions to support upskilling, reskilling, and workforce adaptability. Members discussed the potential of these priorities to help regions address pressing skills gaps and demographic shifts, reinforcing EARLALL’s role in fostering regional innovation in education and training.

Welcome to new members

EARLALL also officially welcomed Castilla y León (Spain) as a full member, along with two new associate members: talent.brussels (Belgium) and JCMM (Czech Republic). New members were introduced to existing initiatives and encouraged to contribute actively to upcoming projects, enriching EARLALL’s diversity and reinforcing its role as a pan-European network.

EARLALL Welcomes New Presidency and Board

A highlight of the day was the election of new Board members. Following the votes cast by EARLALL’s full members, the Board is now composed of representatives from the Basque Country, Tuscany, Baden-Württemberg, Catalonia, and Varaždin County. Subsequently, the newly elected Board appointed Region Västra Götaland as the new Presidency.

Madeleine Jonsson, Region Västra Götaland, President of the Environment and Regional Development Committee, on behalf of the Presidency, said “I am both proud and thrilled that the Region of Västra Götaland is taking over the presidency of the EARLALL network. As an industrial region, we work intensely with policies to support the green transition. Up-skilling and re-skilling of the workforce is key to ensure the green transition and by working together with other regions and partners within EARLALL we can scale up this work even further. We want to continue the great work done by the former presidency, the Basque Country, to enhance knowledge sharing and European cooperation on lifelong learning.”

The new Board is expected to bring fresh perspectives to the organization, building on the foundation laid by previous leadership while pursuing the priorities outlined in EARLALL’s Strategic Plan. EARLALL network would like to extend its gratitude to the Basque Country, which has led EARLALL with dedication as the outgoing Presidency since 2015, helping to further the Association’s mission to enhance lifelong learning opportunities across European regions.

Exchange session in the afternoon
The EARLALL Secretariat, in collaboration with Andrea Bernert-Bürkle (Volkshochschulverband Baden-Württemberg e. V.), hosted a seminar to validate a set of policy recommendations developed as part of the SMALEI EU-funded project. This initiative aims to enhance the sustainability of adult learning and education (ALE) providers and organizations across Europe, equipping them to play a pivotal role in addressing future societal challenges. EARLALL’s political representatives and associate members reviewed and endorsed the proposed recommendations, highlighting their significance in empowering Adult Education Institutions to foster a more sustainable future.

Following the seminar, Susana Galván Hernández, Executive Director of Taith, introduced Wales’ international exchange program. She emphasized the importance of connecting Wales with European and global initiatives to promote internationalization while ensuring that exchange programs are inclusive and accessible to all.

The second half of the meeting featured the Joint Working Groups session, which facilitated collaborative discussions on best practices and project ideas in areas such as vocational education, adult learning, workforce development, mobility, youth policies, lifelong guidance, ageing societies, and skills and labour market dynamics. Working Group leaders shared their ongoing activities and outlined their plans for the year ahead. Additionally, Camilla Winter (Camilla Winter AB) provided an overview of the upcoming webinars planned for the EARLALL Academy. This capacity-building initiative, launched during the European Year of Skills, aims to strengthen expertise and knowledge sharing across the network.

Study visits: Engaging in Gender-Inclusive Education and Employment Initiatives
Following the successful General Assembly on 13 November, the EARLALL Annual Meeting 2024 continued on 14–15 November with engaging study visits, offering delegates first-hand insights into regional initiatives advancing gender-inclusive education and employment.

The first visit took place at the Institut Escola del Treball de Barcelona, where participants explored innovative programs promoting gender equality in vocational education and training (VET). The morning session featured an awareness-raising initiative aimed at VET learners, underlining the importance of gender equality in the schools. The Public Employment Service of Catalonia then presented its Gendered Employment Policies, including the Rural and Urban Women: Guidance with a Gender Perspective initiative.

In the afternoon, attention turned to an inspiring project led by two young graduate students who are advancing Innovation for Equality in the Digital and Audiovisual Fields. They showcased two groundbreaking IT projects: one aimed at identifying online harassment and another integrating gender perspectives into video game design. Participants also learned about the EdTWomenDays initiative, a programme designed by the centre to attract and support female talent in industrial and digital sectors, particularly those aligned with Industry 4.0.

EdTWomenDays seeks to establish itself as a national leader by fostering a network of female students and alumnae passionate about careers in manufacturing and technology. Through mentorship and targeted training, the initiative empowers women to enter and thrive in technical professions. The visit concluded with a guided tour of the historical Escola del Treball de Barcelona building, which serves approximately 3,000 students across 10 VET disciplines.

The second study visit was hosted by Barcelona Activa, the economic development agency of Barcelona City Council. This visit spotlighted various gender-inclusive programmes aimed at empowering women in entrepreneurial, scientific, and technical careers. A notable initiative is the free IT Academy, a digital skills training service open to all Barcelona residents. Delegates toured Barcelona Activa’s cutting-edge facilities, where a wide range of entrepreneurial courses and training programmes are delivered.

Among the highlighted projects was Lidera, a programme dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs and business leaders by offering tailored training, resources, and networking opportunities. By fostering female leadership in the business sector, Lidera is helping to build a more diverse and inclusive economy.

These two days of study visits provided a fitting conclusion to the EARLALL Annual Meeting 2024. Participants left inspired by the commitment to gender-inclusive policies and practices and motivated to replicate these innovative approaches in their regions. By showcasing initiatives prioritising gender equality in industrial, entrepreneurial, and technical fields, this year’s meeting reinforced EARLALL’s role as a platform for sharing best practices and fostering transformative change across Europe.

The next Annual Meeting will take place in Belgium 2025, kindly hosted by GO! Education of the Flemish Community.