The Week 2018
Summary of the week
The third edition of the European Vocational Skills Week, organised in cooperation with the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU, took place in Vienna from 5 to 9 November 2018. The event brought together a wide range of stakeholders from across Europe to share their perspectives on Vocational Education and Training (VET) and its role in the future of work. As in previous years, the Week in 2018 aimed to promote VET as a way to help young and adult learners discover their talents and as a smart choice that leads to high-quality jobs and increased employability. Quality education, effective promotion of apprenticeships and inclusive policies to accommodate the most vulnerable groups were also emphasised during the discussions of the Week. The event focused on the future of VET: how it might evolve and what challenges it will face.
Events and activities
Over 1,800 national, regional and local events and activities were organised in the context of the third edition of the European Vocational Skills Week. Events and activities took place in 45 countries, including all the EU Member States and 17 non-EU countries, reaching more than 2.4 million people.
Key figures

Ambassadors
Austria | Ali Mahlodji | Entrepeneur and Co-founder of whatchado.com |
Belgium | Lieselot Van Gysel | Teacher of Mechanics, GTI Beveren |
Croatia | Morana Saračević/Martina Čičko-Karapetrić | Fashion Designers, Boudoir |
Cyprus | Costas Argyrides | Senior Member of Technical Staff, Advanced Micro Devices |
Czech Republic | Libor Witassek | Cybernetician and Corporate Transformations Manager |
Denmark | Palle Damborg | CEO, Jysk Display |
Estonia | Marko Ala | CEO, Oot-Oot Studio |
Germany | Elke Büdenbender | Spouse of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany |
Greece | Olga Papakyriakou | Nurse |
Hungary | Miklós Beothy | Mentor, Codecool |
Ireland | Margaret Reilly | Entrepeneur, Grand Designs Kitchen & Bedrooms |
Italy | Paride Contin | Project Engineer, Continental Automotive. |
Latvia | Katrina Elizabete Sile | Graphic designer |
Lithuania | Gintautas Dervinis | Director of sectoral practical training centre |
Luxembourg | Sebastien Detti | Heating engineer |
Malta | Elaine Pavia | Head of Services, Dar Merhba Bik Foundation |
Netherlands | Jinko Adams | Urban Dance Artist |
Poland | Paweł Salamon | Professional Chef |
Portugal | Ivo Soares | Singer, Composer |
Romania | Mona Nicolici | Head of Sustainability, OMV Petrom |
Slovakia | Jaroslav Baška | President of the Self-governing Region of Trenčín |
Spain | Salvador Lorenzo Martínez | Manager of Professional Integration and the School of Trainers, REPSOL |
Sweden | Pontus Slättman | CEO, Worldskills Sweden |
United Kingdom | Jason Holt | Jason Holt CBE, CEO of Holts Group of Companies |
Pan-European | Simon Bartley | President, WorldSkills International |
Pan-European | Stephan Howeg | Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Adecco |
Award Winners
1.Companies and learners | ||
European Alliance for Apprenticeships - Apprentice | European Alliance for Apprenticeships - Large Companies | European Alliance for Apprenticeships - Small Companies |
Domenico Calabrese, Italy | ESB Networks DAC, Ireland | Atelier du Pain, France |
Training at Work | International Skills Competition | Junior Achievement (JA) Europe |
Human Partner Sp. Z o.o. and Joanna Kamola, Poland | Daniel Gerber, Skills of Electrical Installation, Switzerland | Marmatia Technological High School, Simona ONA, Romania. |
2. VET Innovators | |||
Innovative VET Provider | Special selection in the context of the European Year of Cultural Heritage | Teacher and Trainer | VET Researcher |
Xabec Vocational Training Centre, Spain | Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France, France | Joanna Żebrowska, Poland | Learning Layers, Estonia |
3. European Funding for Excellence | |
European Social Fund project | Erasmus+ project |
Closer to the Labour Market 2, Poland | Mobile Learning in VET towards 2020, Italy |
4. European Agencies' awards | |
Cedefop VET Photo award | European Training Foundation (ETF) 2018 Entrepreneurship Award |
C. Force Team, Hungary | School of Chemical Technology, Subotica, Serbia |
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