EARLALL

From 20 to 21 January 2026, EARLALL participated in the Erasmus+ funded project Lifelong Guidance 5.0 conference in Östersund, Sweden. The event brought together project partners, student counsellors and representatives from industry to share updates on the project’s progress, engage in in-depth discussions and gain insights into the Swedish learning and guidance system. The conference provided a key opportunity for peer learning and reflection on the digital transformation of career guidance.

Guidance and Digitalization

The conference opened with Andrea Bernert-Büerkle from VHS Baden-Württemberg, who introduced the Lifelong Guidance 5.0 project and its Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership framework. She highlighted the project’s objective to enhance guidance services during the digital transition, supporting counsellors and learners alike in navigating an increasingly digitalised labour market. Bernert-Büerkle further emphasised the role of industry partnerships, particularly with Johan Burger Hyllermark from the Regional Industrial Development Centre (IUC). The collaboration aims to bridge the gap between education and employment, ensuring that guidance services remain relevant to labour market needs. As Bernert-Büerkle stated: “Many people need education to prepare for a job, so we need to have work in mind.”

Showcasing Tools and Training for Counsellors

A central part of the conference focused on digital tools and innovative approaches for career guidance. Presentations included demonstrations of SkillLab technology, EU job taxonomies, and AI-supported competence profiling to better connect education, skills and labour market opportunities. Bernert-Büerkle also highlighted the long-term impact of the project and reiterated the continued importance of counsellors: “We get a lot of questions about when will student counsellors disappear? Our answer is: Never. Because they have all of the soft skills.” The conference further introduced modular trainings designed to capture counsellors’ insights and challenges when supporting students with complex guidance needs. Swedish student counsellors actively contributed to discussions, sharing their experiences and perspectives on multi-layered support approaches.

Exploring Strategies and Approaches

The second part of the conference focused on digital strategies, methods and tools in mediatized career guidance. Participants exchanged experiences on the state of play in different regions and explored projections for future tools. Discussions emphasised the importance of

Networking through personal contacts to foster strong collaborations
Empowering learner autonomy through in-house initiatives, tandems, and mentorship opportunities
Prioritising mindset alongside skills development
Placing the learner at the centre of guidance activities

Project updates and Activities

The programme included visits to Lärcentrum in Östersund, showcasing how soft values create inclusive learning spaces, and to Woolpower; a company offering transformative training and workforce development opportunities. These visits illustrated practical applications of Lifelong Guidance 5.0 approaches and their relevance for both education and industry contexts.

On the second day, participants received updates on the project’s work packages and discussed options for transferring guidance models in company contexts across Lifelong Guidance 5.0 regions. Upcoming activities include:

European online learning environment and webinars, such as the Lunchtime Talks, with the next session in February focusing on meta-competences.
Lifelong Guidance 5.0 Conference in Vienna taking place on 23–24 March 2026, hosted by VHS Vienna under the theme “Lifelong Challenges: Transformations in Career Guidance and Counselling.” The programme will feature presentations from research institutes, interactive discussions with experts and a Knowledge Café to explore emerging trends.

EARLALL is pleased to contribute to the Lifelong Guidance 5.0 project, and its upcoming activities, supporting a sustainable digital transition for guidance counsellors while highlighting the irreplaceable human aspect of career guidance. The conference reaffirmed the value of collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation in building inclusive, learner-centred guidance systems across Europe.

From 14 to 16 January 2026, project partners gathered in Rome for the First Field Exchange Visit, a key moment for peer learning and reflection, with a particular focus on employment pathways within the WISE project – Supporting Ukrainian Refugee Women’s Socio-Economic Integration and Wellbeing.

The exchange visit aimed to assess where the project currently stands and to jointly shape the next phase of implementation. Partners from Italy and Bulgaria shared concrete experiences from the field, highlighting both good practices and operational challenges.

The visit opened with direct engagement in activities at the Holistic Support Center in Rome, allowing participants to meet women involved in the project and observe group-based initiatives, including wellbeing and physical activities.

Reflecting on Progress and Learning from Practice

The second day focused on the exchange of experiences across project locations in Turin, Milan, Rome, and Sofia. Partners shared good practices, challenges, and context-specific dynamics, with particular attention to mental health and psychosocial support as a foundation for socio-economic inclusion. Sessions explored how safe spaces contribute to stability, trust, and readiness for employment-related support.

While local contexts differ, common patterns emerged across all locations, including the complexity of beneficiaries’ needs, labour market barriers, and the importance of flexible, person-centred support.

Partners also discussed the integration of the SkillLab AI tool, sharing first experiences from Bulgaria and reflecting on implementation plans in Italy. Key considerations included digital access, beneficiaries’ tech skills, eligibility criteria, and the role of staff support in facilitating the use of the tool.

The discussions confirmed that effective employment support cannot be developed in isolation. Instead, it must be embedded in a broader framework that considers mental health, care responsibilities, legal status, and housing conditions.

Mental Health as a Foundation for Inclusion

A central theme of the exchange was the role of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) as a prerequisite for labour market integration. Experiences from Italian locations demonstrated that safe spaces offering mental health support help stabilise beneficiaries’ lives, rebuild confidence, and create the conditions necessary for engaging in employment-related activities. This integrated approach was widely recognised as a cornerstone of the WISE model.

Tailored Employment Support through Personas and Integration Plans

To better align services with beneficiaries’ realities, partners worked on developing user personas reflecting the main profiles of women supported by the project. These personas considered factors such as age, education, work experience, language skills, health, care responsibilities, motivation, and career aspirations.

Building on this, partners reflected on how individual and group-based employment support can be tailored to different levels of need. The Comprehensive Integration Plan (CIP), updated every six months, was reaffirmed as a key tool to structure and monitor personalised pathways into employment, training, or education.

Combining Individual and Group Approaches

The exchange highlighted the added value of combining one-to-one employment support – such as CV preparation, job placement, employer engagement, and post-placement follow-up – with group activities. These include job readiness sessions, language and digital skills training, labour rights awareness, qualification recognition pathways, and meetings with employers. Together, these measures aim to improve employability while reducing the risk of labour exploitation and skills mismatch.

Looking Ahead

The visit concluded with forward-looking discussions on emerging trends, including the extension of 2027 European temporary protection impacts the services, possible return movements, and the so-called “waiting dilemma” faced by many beneficiaries. Clear next steps were identified for employment support activities in Bulgaria, SkillLab implementation in Italy, and the upcoming Women Rise initiative.

Overall, the First Field Exchange Visit reinforced the value of peer learning and cross-country collaboration. It confirmed that sustainable socio-economic integration requires holistic, flexible, and integrated approaches – placing women’s wellbeing at the centre while building realistic and empowering pathways into employment.

The 2026 EARLALL Academy kicked off on 20 January with an engaging session titled “Strategies to Make Less Attractive Sectors More Appealing.” The session was structured in two complementary parts and brought together both policy-oriented and practical regional perspectives, making it especially insightful for participants.

The first part featured a keynote intervention by Cecilia Bruzelius, Professor of Comparative Social Policy and Migration at the University of Tübingen. Drawing on her recent policy paper developed in collaboration with the European Commission, “Competing for People: Public Policy Efforts to Attract and Retain Youth and Talent,” she presented key findings on how public policies can respond to talent shortages. Her contribution focused primarily on national-level approaches, while also offering broader contextual insights and general recommendations relevant for regions and local actors.

The second part of the session provided a concrete regional perspective from Sweden, with an example from the Gothenburg subregion in the Västra Götaland Region. Helene Stensson, Regional Process Leader for Teknikcollege in the Gothenburg subregion and Project Manager of the VOLTAGE Erasmus+ Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) project, presented the Teknikcollege model – Sweden’s largest collaboration platform dedicated to securing industrial skills.

Both presentations were highly engaging, and the contrast between the policy-level analysis and the hands-on regional experience made the session particularly interesting. Together, the two perspectives offered participants a rich and balanced understanding of strategies to make less attractive sectors more appealing.

EARLALL is pleased to inform, in its role as Communication Manager of the SKYLA Interreg project, about a recent exchange visit organised in southern Sweden.

On 26–27 November 2025, Region Skåne and IUC Syd (Industrial Development Centre Southern Sweden) hosted an exchange in South of Sweden by welcoming representatives from the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro and the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro for in-depth presentations and discussions around regional good practices and innovation.

The programme combined experience and knowledge transfer with practical field insights, including study visits to regional innovation actors and a local industry. Participants gained a deeper understanding of Skåne’s regional innovation ecosystem, with a particular focus on the twin transition and the implementation of Skåne’s Smart Specialisation Strategy. Two key good practices from Skåne were highlighted during the exchange: Mind the Gap and AMK (Labour Market Knowledge). Mind the Gap is a strategic tool designed to identify current and future skills as well as competence development needs from both short- and long-term perspectives. The tool supports organisations in planning and implementing strategic skills management, enabling more favourable conditions for growth and competitiveness in the context of the twin transition.

The second good practice, AMK (Labour Market Knowledge), focuses on providing information about the labour market to students through school visits. This enables students to engage directly with communicators, receiving a broader insight in the current environment on the labour market, professions and required skills. Ultimately, guiding them through making more informed career choices.

The Montenegrin delegation participated in several study visits illustrating how these good practices are embedded in Skåne’s ecosystem. Such as a study visit to Protega, a company producing fire-resistant paints and coatings, as well as Media Evolution, One of southern Sweden’s leading cluster organisations and a hub for innovation and creativity. The programme concluded in a visit to MINC, an incubator supporting start-ups and scale-ups, that showcased a practical context for applying and adapting the Mind the Gap approach.

The study visit confirmed that the Swedish partners’ good practices are highly relevant and of significant interest for Montenegro’s current context of skills development and educational reform. And the partners from Montenegro expressed strong interest in both AMK and Mind the Gap as best practices.

Following the visit, representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro presented the key lessons learned to the State Secretary with the intention for these models to be considered in the future development of career guidance and skills strategies in Montenegro. The partners remain hopeful that the value of the presented approaches will consider continued collaboration around Mind the Gap and AMK as part of long-term strategic development. As Communication Manager of the SKYLA Interreg project, EARLALL will continue to support the visibility of project results and facilitate knowledge exchange among regions to strengthen skills development and innovation policies across Europe. Read more about the SKYLA project here.

The Region Skåne’s approach by combining smart specialization and active cluster involvement,
offers valuable inspiration that could be effectively adapted to the Montenegrin ecosystem. To
bridge skills gaps and strengthening dual education requires coordinated action across regional,
clusters and industry participation in curriculum development.
Following the visit, representatives from the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of
Montenegro presented the key lessons learned to the State Secretary with the intention for these
models to be considered in the future development of career guidance and skills strategies in
Montenegro. The partners remain hopeful that the value of the presented approaches will
consider continued collaboration around Mind the Gap and AMK as part of long-term strategic
development.
As Communication Manager of the SKYLA Interreg project, EARLALL will continue to support
the visibility of project results and facilitate knowledge exchange among regions to strengthen
skills development and innovation policies across Europe.
Read more about the SKYLA project here https://www.earlall.eu/project/skyla/

As of 1 January 2026, Cyprus holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union under the slogan “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World.”

The Programme of the Cyprus Presidency sets out a strong focus on strengthening EU autonomy and unity by turning complex geopolitical challenges into opportunities through cooperation, resilience and tangible action – with clear relevance for education, skills development and social cohesion across Europe.

From EARLALL’s perspective, the Programme outlines the following priorities of particular relevance to lifelong learning:

Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning

Strong emphasis on lifelong learning, inclusion and citizenship education.
Advancing the Union of Skills, with a learner-centred approach aligned with the European Education Area.
Focus on upskilling and reskilling for the green and digital transitions.
Special attention to Vocational Education and Training (VET), including attractiveness and integration of new technologies, notably AI.
Support for teacher professional development and adoption of Council Conclusions on teachers in the era of AI.
Driving Erasmus+ negotiations under the new MFF, with a focus on inclusiveness and international outreach.

Employment, Labour Market and Social Europe

Promotion of fair, inclusive and quality employment, labour market policies guided by Quality Jobs Roadmap, the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
Emphasis on future-proof skills, quality jobs and decent working conditions in a changing labour market.
Advancing discussions on fair labour mobility, social security coordination and protection of workers’ rights.
Strengthening the role of social partners and public employment services in skills development.

Youth, Inclusion, Equality

Reinforcing youth participation and dialogue with policymakers.
Supporting the review and next phase of the European Youth Strategy.
Focus on social inclusion, tackling poverty, and supporting vulnerable groups, including through education and training.
The Presidency will host a High Level event in Brussels in March 2026 on the forthcoming European Strategy for Gender Equality 2026-30.

Green and Digital Transitions

Linking skills and training to the green and digital industrial transformation.
Promoting workforce development to support sustainability, innovation and competitiveness.

We invite you to explore the full programme of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union for further details.

In 2026, the European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL) celebrates its 25th anniversary – a quarter century dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation in education, training, and lifelong learning across Europe. Since its foundation in 2001, EARLALL has championed the role of regions as key actors in shaping innovative learning ecosystems, promoting skills development, and ensuring learners of all ages thrive in an evolving society.

Over the past 25 years, EARLALL has built a strong network that fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange, and inclusive practices across Europe. Its priorities have focused on empowering learners of all ages, promoting forward-looking and inclusive education policies, and creating cross-border partnerships that generate tangible regional impact. From youth mobility and career guidance to digital innovation and regional cooperation, EARLALL has consistently supported initiatives that advance regional lifelong learning policy, share best practices, and increase the visibility of regional action. This milestone provides an opportunity not only to reflect on past achievements but also to reaffirm the association’s commitment to shaping the future of learning, working, and cooperation across Europe.

To mark this milestone, anniversary celebrations will take place across EARLALL’s territories, highlighting innovative, inclusive, and collaborative approaches to education and skills development. The highlight of the celebrations will be a Forum on 11 June 2026 in Brussels, bringing together members, partners, practitioners, and invited stakeholders for a day of dialogue, mutual learning, and inspiration.

Through these celebrations, EARLALL continues to strengthen its Europe-wide vision of inclusive, forward-looking, and transformative learning policies, reaffirming the importance of regional cooperation in shaping the future of education and lifelong learning.

About EARLALL
The European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL) is a network of regional and local authorities dedicated to fostering collaboration in lifelong learning, skills development, and innovation across Europe. For 25 years, EARLALL has supported regions in building inclusive, resilient, and future-ready learning ecosystems.

On 12 December, the WISE consortium took part in the Staff Training on Human Trafficking and Labour Exploitation. EARLALL participated in the meeting in its role as Communication Manager of the WISE project.

Nadia Kozhouharova, from the Animus Association Foundation in Bulgaria, presented trafficking in human beings and labour exploitation, inviting project partners in the WISE project (Supporting Ukrainian Refugee Women’s Socio-Economic Integration and Wellbeing) to explore how labour trafficking affects refugee women from Ukraine in European countries, specifically in Sofia (Bulgaria) and in Milan, Rome, and Turin (Italy). Kozhouharova highlighted empowering examples such as Safe Hut and outlined both challenges and methods of prevention.

Kozhouharova explained human trafficking through three aspects:

Actions – such as recruitment, transportation, or harbouring of individuals;
Means – including threats, abduction, coercion, or payments;
Purpose – which entails exploitation, including forced labour, criminal activities, illegal adoption, or sexual exploitation.

She clarified that human trafficking should not be confused with violations of labour rights. The differentiation between the two definitions depends on consent, whereas labour exploitation involves administrative violations, trafficking is a criminal offence conducted without consent.

Building upon this definition, Kozhouharova presented preconditions for human trafficking victims, noting that young women are among the most exposed groups. While gender and age are an integral part of the picture, personal factors such as emotional conditions, family issues, personal capacities (education and language), and socio-economic status also increase vulnerability and must be addressed in prevention efforts. Prevention, Kozhouharova explained, must take place at three levels:

Personal level – fostering healthy integration by building mental resilience, empowerment, and emotional well-being. Tailored training opportunities are essential to address individual vulnerabilities.
Employer level – as some employers exploit refugees by underpaying or employing them without contracts, holding employers accountable is a critical part of preventing exploitation.
Labour market – creating a prepared labour market for migrants by ensuring existing procedures and legislation are responsive. This includes addressing administrative barriers such as housing, bank accounts, and health insurance.

She emphasized the importance of lobbying and advocacy to continue enforcing migrant workers’ rights, ultimately empowering migrants and enabling access to the right information and opportunities to report abuse.

Kozhouharova concluded by presenting ProjectSafe Hut as a good practice example. The project aims to offer “a place where women can feel good” and foster a community where women can connect, develop skills and training.

Refugee women from Ukraine face significant barriers that impede their entry into the labour market, forcing them to compromise their wellbeing and putting them at risk of exploitation. The WISE project continues to support refugee women from Ukraine in Europe by providing safe guidance, facilitating integration, and helping them access sustainable employment and socio-economic opportunities.

Following successful workshops in Borås and Tuscany, the TRAILS – Enabling data analytics for actions tackling skills shortages & mismatch – project continued its journey to Baden-Württemberg (Germany) on 9–10 December 2025. The workshops were organised by Andrea Bernert-Bürkle (Volkshochschulverband Baden-Württemberg) and Regine Zizelmann (Landesnetzwerk Weiterbildungsberatung Baden-Württemberg), with facilitation support from EARLALL, of which Baden-Württemberg is a member. The sessions were led by Sylvana Hiltrop and Mary Ramsis from SkillLab.

The event brought together a diverse group of regional stakeholders, including representatives from counselling organisations, adult education providers, and universities. The discussions focused on understanding the regional ecosystem of education, guidance, and employment support services, while highlighting the added value of a skills-based approach to better connect people, learning opportunities, and jobs.

Day 1 – Organisational Strategy and Ecosystem Mapping

The first day engaged ecosystem actors in exploring how the TRAILS pilot could be integrated into existing regional guidance and counselling structures. A key objective was to strengthen skills-based approaches without creating duplication, ensuring that AI-enabled tools complement and enhance current services.

Day 2 – Practical Application and User Perspectives

On the second day, caseworkers, teachers, and migrants actively seeking employment were invited to test SkillLab’s AI-powered skills assessment tool, which draws on a database of more than 13,900 skills aligned with the ESCO taxonomy.

Participants showed strong interest in the tool’s ability to capture informal learning and life experiences. For many migrants, the AI-supported assessment helped translate diverse backgrounds into detailed and recognisable skill profiles, supporting more informed career choices and enabling counsellors to adopt a more skills-oriented approach.

These workshops are a core element of TRAILS’ wider research on how personalised skills assessments can increase participation in training across Europe. By generating and applying detailed skills intelligence, the project aims to better align learning pathways with evolving labour market needs, reinforcing the role of regions as key actors in shaping inclusive and responsive lifelong learning systems.

On 16 December, EARLALL participated in the RESKILLING Annual Virtual Stakeholder Event,From Automation to Employment: Skills for Europe’s Transport Future. The event focused on the transformation of the mobility sector driven by Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM), discussing strategies to prepare the workforce, enhance skills and ensure inclusive and sustainable deployment.

Matina Loukea, RESKILLING Coordinator at CERTH-HIT, presented the RESKILLING project, a Horizon Europe initiative that promotes a strategic and inclusive approach to strengthening Europe’s mobility workforce. The project’s framework is built around three pillars:

Stakeholder engagement – fostering collaboration among public authorities, industry, and civil society.
Jobs, skills and education – anticipating workforce transformations and providing targeted training and reskilling.
Growth and innovation – supporting business model innovation and new employment opportunities.

The webinar showcased several topics connected to mobility and transport. The first session, Understanding the Impacts of CCAM on Jobs & Skills, mapped the jobs affected by CCAM and identified four main job families: technical, social, commercial, and education. The session underscored the importance of anticipating workforce transformations in these sectors, while maintaining competitiveness and ensuring inclusive and just transitions. The second segment focused on Preparing Workers and Social Frameworks. Key points included maintaining job quality and ensuring mobility as a fundamental right through the promotion of social dialogue. The discussion emphasized the need to design policies that enable safe transitions for workers while fostering fair and sustainable deployment of CCAM technologies.

The third intervention addressed Training and Reskilling Needs for Current and Emerging CCAM Roles. It addressed the need for structured training and retraining modules aligned with the Pact for Skills to foster job creation and growth. The discussion also focused on business model innovation for SMEs and start-ups, as well as the integration of social innovation into training and reskilling initiatives. Summarizing the event, the final session underscored the role of Engaging Stakeholders for Inclusive Deployment, emphasizing the importance of stakeholder involvement to ensure the effective and inclusive implementation of CCAM. It highlighted international cooperation and pilot projects as drivers of new employment opportunities, while stressing the need to involve underrepresented groups.

The RESKILLING Annual Stakeholder Event demonstrated that jobs, skills and stakeholder engagement are central to Europe’s mobility transition. By anticipating workforce changes and fostering reskilling, the project offers a model for a future-ready and resilient transport sector. EARLALL continues to promote these insights among regional authorities to strengthen lifelong learning and skills development across Europe.

On 18 December, EARLALL participated in the 4th online coordination meeting of the LeadEx project, bringing together project partners to discuss the progress of ongoing activities and the development of EARLALL’s Joint Regional Educational Diagnosis Report.

The meeting was coordinated by Francisco Veas Iniesta from the Regional Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of the Region of Murcia and focused on key priorities for the second project semester.

Representatives from the Central Denmark Region introduced the Good Practice Template (GPT). The GPT is designed to translate regional success stories into a structured format, enabling uniform analysis and transferability. By collecting concrete and measurable data, the template supports the identification and exchange of effective practices across LeadEx regions.

Partners from the Podkarpackie Region highlighted the activities focused on Continuous Professional Development for Teachers. These activities aim to identify and share good practices that strengthen teachers’ professional competences and support the alignment of educational strategies across regions. Criteria for good practices include prior implementation, visible results, and clear transferability.

The Estonian Quality Agency for Education then presented the programme of the upcoming study visit to Estonia, scheduled for 9–11 March 2026. The three-day study visit will combine an overview of the Estonian education system, discussions on regional education policy and teachers’ professional development, and study visits to innovative Estonian education and training organisations.

As the communication leader, EARLALL presented the results of the Semester 1 communication report and, in its role as an advisory partner, provided updates on the Joint Regional Educational Diagnosis Report. Data collected from project partners are currently feeding into the report, with analytical work ongoing and the final version expected by mid-February. Key findings will be presented during the study visit in Estonia on 9 March. The report will highlight shared challenges, strengths, and complementarities across regions, thereby supporting evidence-based interregional learning and policy development.

The meeting reaffirmed the importance of regional cooperation, peer learning, and evidence-based approaches in strengthening teacher development and lifelong learning systems across Europe. Through LeadEx, EARLALL continues to facilitate knowledge exchange among regions and support the co-creation of innovative and inclusive educational policies.

On 16 December 2025, EARLALL hosted a webinar on “Applied Arts & Craftsmanship Sector Skills Analysis: Understanding Skills Challenges and Opportunities in the Applied Arts & Craftsmanship Sector Across European Regions“, bringing together around 25 participants from across Europe, including regional officers, educators, and project professionals. The event was part of EARLALL’s ongoing series examining regional skills needs in key economic sectors, with a focus on sustainable and future-ready workforce development.

Europe’s applied arts and craftsmanship are at the heart of local identity, cultural expression, and regional economies — from ceramics and textiles to jewellery and design — yet the sector faces pressing challenges such as skills shortages, digitalisation pressures, sustainability demands, and generational renewal. The webinar explored how regions and stakeholders are tackling these issues and building growth opportunities.

The webinar opened with welcome and introductory remarks by Alicia Gaban Barrio (EARLALL’s Communications manager), replacing the representative from the Regional Ministry of Education, Catalonia, and EARLALL’s Working Group on Skills and Labour Market, who framed the applied arts and craftsmanship sector as both culturally vital and economically significant. Participants were reminded of the unique blend of tradition, creativity, and innovation that defines Europe’s craft ecosystems, alongside the urgent need to modernise skills pathways and reinforce vocational training systems.

Martha Bloom, policy analyst and economist at the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions, and Cities (CFE), presented a comprehensive overview of the sector’s current dynamics:

The creative and artisanal industries play a significant role in regional development and economic activity, with strong contributions to employment and cultural tourism.
However, many countries are experiencing declining employment and enrolment in arts and craft education, linked to demographic shifts, urban migration, and reduced training opportunities.
Bloom emphasised the importance of upskilling in digital tools, sustainability practices, and research competencies to build resilience across craft professions.

EARLALL Regions sharing applied arts and craftsmanship challenges and opportunities

Centre-Val de Loire (France), Tuscany (Italy) and Catalonia (Spain) shared practical insights and pioneering initiatives aimed at strengthening skills and professional pathways in applied arts and craftsmanship.

Centre-Val de Loire (France): Promoting Craft Careers and Skills

Speakers Anne Rivière, Claire Chartier, and Charlotte Fuchs showcased the Campus des métiers et des qualifications (CMQ), which integrates heritage, arts, and craftsmanship training into a coordinated regional strategy. They also presented « Métiers en scène – the crafts sector », an immersive escape-game experience designed to introduce young people to craft professions through interactive missions, helping to boost visibility and engagement with artisanal careers.

Tuscany (Italy): Structure, Workforce, and Specialisations

Miriana Bucalossi highlighted the structural resilience of Tuscany’s artisan sector, with a workforce of over 240,000 in areas such as leather, textiles, stone, and metal craftsmanship. She described the Bottega Scuola training programme, where master artisans deliver vocational training leading to recognised competency certification. Challenges remain in financing, administrative support, and integrating digital skills — issues that are being addressed through policy and pilot models such as expanding Bottega Scuola pathways to include broader provider types.

Catalonia (Spain)

Representatives Agnès Wasserman Olivé and Felip Vidal Auladell (from the Llotja School of Art and Design (Barcelona) presented Aliages, an interdisciplinary project combining jewellery creation with photography and graphic design, fostering cross-disciplinary innovation and collaborative learning. They also discussed Spain’s participation in learner mobility and Erasmus+ cooperation, strengthening European-level craft networks.

Participants engaged in discussions around:

Regional and European cooperation through Erasmus+ and strategic partnerships to support mobility, knowledge exchange, and policy alignment.
Attracting younger generations to craftsmanship through modern communication and digital storytelling.
The need for sustainability-focused skills development, including environmentally conscious production techniques.

Craftsmanship across Europe continues to play a vital role in both cultural heritage and local economies; yet, the sector faces significant challenges, including skills shortages and generational renewal. Initiatives highlighted by EARLALL demonstrate that integrating modern skills—such as digital tools, sustainability practices, and effective communication—alongside traditional techniques is crucial for keeping crafts relevant in the 21st century. Collaboration between regional authorities, vocational training providers, and industry not only fosters innovation but also strengthens pathways from education to employment. By promoting creative, interdisciplinary learning and showcasing the real opportunities in craft professions, European regions are finding ways to engage young people and ensure the continuity and vitality of their artistic and traditional crafts.

In 2026, EARLALL will continue with its sectoral skills webinars, focusing on the battery industry, energy, and construction sectors.

Resources

On 12 December, EARLALL took part in the online stakeholders’ consultation on the future of the Erasmus+ programme for the 2028–2034 period, organised by the SEDEC Secretariat of the Committee of the Regions. The consultation was held in the context of the preparation of the Committee’s opinion, led by Rapporteur Roberto Pella (IT/EPP).

The discussion brought together representatives of European institutions, civil society organisations, education and training networks, youth organisations and social partners to exchange views on the priorities, structure and funding of the future Erasmus+ programme within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

During the consultation, EARLALL joined other stakeholders in highlighting the importance of strong territorial involvement, inclusive access to mobility, and adequate, predictable funding for lifelong learning, vocational education and training, and skills development across Europe.

EARLALL submitted its formal contribution to the Rapporteur, entitled “EARLALL Position Paper on the MFF 2028–2034 Erasmus+ Proposal”. The paper outlines EARLALL’s recommendations for a reinforced Erasmus+ programme that better supports regional and local authorities, strengthens cross-sectoral cooperation, and ensures sustainable investment in skills, inclusion and competitiveness.

EARLALL remains committed to engaging in European policy discussions and contributing to the shaping of EU programmes that support lifelong learning, regional development and social cohesion.

Lifelong Guidance 5.0 Partners Gather in Östersund

Day 1 – Organisational Strategy and Ecosystem Mapping

Day 2 – Practical Application and User Perspectives