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European Vocational Skills Week
News article24 November 2017Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Awards for VET Excellence: the Winners

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The winners of the European Vocational Skills Week Awards have been announced! The event took place during the closing day of the European Vocational Skills Week in Brussels. The award ceremony highlighted some of the best VET examples in Europe.

Awards were presented across various categories for either organisations or individuals. The ceremony aimed to showcase VET excellence that can inspire others, incorporating the theme of ‘Discover Your Talent’.

Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Labour Mobility presented the awards with a helping hand from a robot. Winners received a glass trophy and certificate signed by Commissioner Thyssen.

On the occasion of the award ceremony, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, said: "The 2017 European Vocational Skills Week Awards mark the end of a successful, interesting and exciting week. The winners illustrate the diversity of vocational skills – each with his or her own talent – and they showcase that vocation education and training, including apprenticeships, are a great first choice. Vocational education and training lead to attractive and challenging careers. I congratulate and thank all winners for harnessing this message."

During the ceremony, attendees were treated to performances by young students from the Kunsthumaniora, Brussels.

Award winners:

"The Best in Europe World Skills Abu Dhabi 2017" is organised by WorldSkills. WorldSkills raises awareness for today's need for skilled young professionals across Europe. The winner is Thomas Tutzer from Italy, South Tirol, who won the gold medal in Cooking.

The winning team for the #CedefopPhotoAward Vocational Education and Training: Tell Your Story went to Irena Masandaviciute-Armstead, Edita Aleksandraviciene, Lina Miseikiene and Svajunas Pranaitis from Lithuania. The 2017 competition is addressed to vocational education and training learners in the European Union (either initial or continuing vocational training later in life).

“The ETF Torino Process Award: Entrepreneurship Key Competence" went to the Palestinian Polytechnic University.

The "Innovative VET provider" Award for the VET provider introducing/using innovative teaching methodologies was attributed to the ROC DA VINCI COLLEGE, the Netherlands represented by Marloes de Vries.

Two additional organizations, that paid specific attention to and realize inclusion in VET education, have been granted a certificate as 'special selection of the Jury': the GRETB, Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board, IRELAND and the training centre IES Miguel Angel GONZALEZ ESTEVEZ, SPAIN.

The “VET Research Award”, which focuses on outstanding VET research contributions, went to Professor Karen Evans.

The 2017 "European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA) Awards" recognise excellent contributions made to the supply, quality, image and mobility of apprenticeships within the 'European Alliance for Apprenticeships'.

Companies:

Large Companies the award went to Enel Italia for their support to the establishment of a dual education system in Italy. In the SME’s category, 2 awards were distributed, one to Schleiff Bauflächentechnik GmbH & Co for their contribution to the integration of refugees into the labour market through its apprenticeship programme. And one to Drury Joinery Services, for establishing an apprenticeship programme in the most traditional 'one-to-one' sense.

Apprentices: Hannah Colston was recognised under the “Apprentices” Category as a member of EAN and an exceptionally motivated advocate of VET and apprenticeships.

Practitioners in apprenticeships: Angeliki Filippidou, ‎Principal at Apprenticeship School OAED was recognised due to her dedication to teaching. Véronique Morelle, responsable de Sécurité, Entretien et ressources techniques at Pôle de Formation Pasteur, has been awarded under the Category “Trainer”.

The Training at Work Award recognises organisations that promote career-long professional learning in micro, small and medium companies and to inspire new practices and policies. The winner of this award is Dublin Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board for the Skills for Work Programme. Skills for Work Programme is an Irish government-funded initiative that supports the educational needs of the workforce.

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