Region Västra Götaland representatives visit Brussels to strengthen its collaboration on skills
09/12/2024
On December 5, 2024, representatives from the Region Västra Götaland Skills Team and a group of local teachers met with a representative of the Basque Country Delegation and the EARLALL Secretariat staff in Brussels. The meeting explored opportunities for closer cooperation and shared priorities in skills development and vocational education and training (VET).
Camila de Epalza Azqueta (Basque Country Delegation, European Union Policy Officer) emphasised the region’s commitment to excellence in VET, highlighting its proactive approach to connecting with other territories to share knowledge and best practices, even beyond EU-funded projects. Basque Country’s key priorities include advanced Manufacturing and cutting-edge technologies, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education and training, supporting the twin transition with sustainable practices, enhancing gender balance in VET programs and strengthening public-private partnerships to align training with industry needs. Additionally, the Basque Country representative highlighted the importance of aligning VET efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2030. They shared plans for activities supporting these objectives in the coming year.
Susanne Hammarström, Region Västra Götaland Skills team, shared the Region focus on improving regional partnerships in the following areas: learning from dual apprenticeship systems to enhance training and workplace integration and making VET more attractive to young people to attract future talent and strengthen the workforce.
Participants agreed on the vital role teachers play in driving transformation within educational systems. The meeting emphasized the importance of enabling teacher visits to EARLALL, EU Regions such as the Basque Country Delegation and EU institutions to acquire knowledge, transfer it back to their schools, and drive practical changes in VET and skills training.
Noelia Cantero (EARLALL’s Director) introduced EARLALL’s ongoing initiatives, including the newly launched Regional Pact for Skills Partnership for Lifelong Learning Mobility. Swedish participants were invited to join the LCAMP 2025 Conference: Networking Camp, which will take place from May 13–15 in Finspång, Sweden. This event promises to provide an excellent platform for networking and collaboration across regions.
This meeting marked an important moment as Region Västra Götaland took over the EARLALL network presidency from the Basque Country. Both regions expressed their commitment to enhancing collaboration within the network, focusing on skills development, lifelong learning, and addressing shared challenges across Europe.
The discussions from this meeting set the foundation for stronger partnerships and innovative approaches to VET and skills development. From promoting excellence and sustainability in education to enhancing the attractiveness of VET for youth, the outcomes of this meeting underscore the value of collaboration in driving meaningful change.
