Photo: Minister for Children and Education, Mattias Tesfaye
Ministry of Children and Education
When Europe’s most skilled young professionals gather in Herning for EuroSkills 2025 this September, the city will also become a political hub for EU ministers responsible for vocational education and training.
On the occasion of Denmark’s EU Presidency, Minister for Children and Education Mattias Tesfaye (Social Democrats) has invited the ministers to an informal meeting in Herning on 11–12 September, where the future of Europe’s skilled workforce will be on the agenda.
“I’m really looking forward to EuroSkills coming to Denmark for the first time. It’s a major competition where we celebrate young people who are among the best in their fields – and where we showcase what can be achieved with a vocational education. It makes perfect sense to meet with my colleagues from other EU countries in connection with EuroSkills 2025, so we can discuss how to make vocational education and training even more attractive across the EU,” says Mattias Tesfaye.
The meeting will take place at MCH Herning Congress Center – side by side with EuroSkills Herning 2025 – and aims to highlight the importance of vocational education in Europe.
Ministers to Visit the Competitions
On Friday 12 September from 13:30 to 15:30, the EU ministers will visit the EuroSkills 2025 competitions. Here, they will have the opportunity to witness 600 of Europe’s most talented young professionals in action. This is something that excites Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Chair of EuroSkills 2025:
“EuroSkills is in itself the most important summit for young professional athletes in all of Europe and a unique event that generates political awareness about the value and quality of vocational education in Denmark and across Europe. The European ministerial meeting in Herning, held alongside EuroSkills 2025, is historic: It will send a joint European message from all member states’ governments that skilled workers play a vital role in Europe’s future,” he says.
Focus on the Future
The ministers’ visit to EuroSkills is the result of a collaboration between the Danish Ministry of Children and Education and EuroSkills Herning 2025.
The agenda for the informal ministerial meeting will include how to make vocational education more attractive, as it is seen as a key part of the solution to the EU’s growing skills and labor shortages. There will be a particular focus on skills and strategies for the green and digital transitions.