EARLALL at the European Week of Regions and Cities 2025: Showcasing Lifelong Learning for Regional Development
17/10/2025
As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) 2025, EARLALL highlighted how lifelong learning fosters regional development, inclusion, and innovation across Europe. From 14 to 15 October, its stand at the Exhibition Hall provided an excellent opportunity to connect with regional and local authorities and showcase EU-funded projects and activities alongside its members.
Throughout the week, EARLALL collaborated with member regions, partners, and the European Commission to demonstrate how education and skills policies can unlock the potential of people and territories. Participants experienced firsthand how regions are placing lifelong learning at the heart of sustainable growth.
EARLALL Stand: Regional Representatives Driving Skills and Inclusion
EARLALL’s stand at the EWRC highlighted our diverse projects and regional initiatives focused on skills, inclusion and lifelong learning. Participants could explore a video introducing EARLALL and its member regions and engage directly with regional representatives, and learn about our joint efforts to strengthen local skills ecosystems.
Our member regions played an active role in presenting their initiatives, such as:
- Basque Country – Shared in-depth insights on LCAMP (Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for CoVEs), promoted the LCAMP Alliance, and the upcoming conference (21–23 April 2026).
- Centre-Val de Loire – Presented Métiers en scène, demonstrating initiatives to attract youth to vocational education and professions.
- Castilla y León – Introduced the Talent Strategy 2031 through a video presentation.
Other network members representatives, including Vestland City Council, Autonomous Province of Trento, Borås Stad, and Bretagne, among others, shared regional experiences and explored potential partnerships.
Initiatives and EU-Funded Actions
Stakeholders showed strong interest in EARLALL’s initiatives and in the role of lifelong learning in fostering regional resilience and social inclusion. Conversations covered both policy and practical implementation, including funding strategies and opportunities for transnational collaboration. EARLALL’s stand highlighted its EU-funded projects, such as:
- WISE – Supporting Ukrainian refugee women’s socio-economic integration and wellbeing
- TRAILS – Tackling skills shortages through data-driven regional strategies
- SMALEI – Sustainability Matrix for Adult Learning Institutions
- Lifelong Guidance 5.0 – Advancing inclusive guidance systems across territories
Other EU-funded initiatives, including SKYLA, SALAM, QUEEN, and LeadEx, projects funded by the Interreg Europé Programme, demonstrated the impact of interregional cooperation, showcasing how members work together to enhance skills, labour inclusion, and innovation across Europe.
Knowledge Exchange
The European Week of Regions and Cities was a great opportunity to showcase EARLALL’s activities, including the EARLALL Academy and its working groups. The stand highlighted tailored training and peer-learning sessions, while working groups and sectoral skills analysis webinars demonstrated how good practices are shared across affiliated regions, fostering collaboration and supporting regional priorities. EARLALL Academy’s Activities Coordinator, Camilla Winter (associate member), was present at the stand to share her experience and discuss upcoming Academy activities with visitors.
Complementary Sessions: Gender Equality and Local Empowerment
In addition to the EARLALL stand, two key sessions further explored EARLALL shared priorities:
- Workshop “The Power Within: Territories and People Realising Their Potential”, with Västra Götalandsregionen, explored how regions can transform brain drain into growth.
- Inclusive Regions, Safer Spaces, with the Gender Equality Task Force, examined strategies to create safer, more inclusive learning and working environments, promoting equality across territories.
Investing in Skills and Growth
EARLALL’s presence at European Week of Regions and Cities 2025 showcased the network’s capacity to strengthen lifelong learning, social inclusion and regional development. Exchanges with affiliated regions, stakeholders and experts confirmed that investing in knowledge creates communities where everyone has not just the right, but also the reason, to stay and thrive.
