Skills for Life Conference & StartNet Europe Meeting in Brussels

On March 22nd and 23rd, Brussels hosted two events focused on promoting early career guidance, life skills, and professional development for young people across Europe. The first event, entitled “Early Orientation and Life Skills for all,” was hosted by Tracé Brussel and featured a range of presentations and policy debates from a variety of European youth, employment, and education stakeholders.

Attendees at the event included notable figures such as Brussels’ Minister of Education, Sven Gatz, and Rafael Deschka, Vice Director of the Goethe-Institut in Brussels. Caroline Kunert from the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) in Germany and Debora Infante from the Italian Ministry of Education also spoke on the panel, providing valuable insights on the importance of early orientation and life skills for young people in today’s ever-changing world.

The following day, partners of StartNet Europe network, including ARNO’s Shemsedin Iljaz, gathered to exchange ideas and discuss potential new projects centered around themes such as inclusion, youth empowerment, and green and digital skills. The meeting also included a visit to Cite des Metiers, an open place of vocational guidance and lifelong professional support in the heart of Brussels.

Sabrina Ferraz Guarino, a representative from the European Commission’s DG EMPL, provided input on the European Year on Skills 2023 during the StartNet meeting. Partners worked together to brainstorm new project ideas, which they hope to develop and implement in the near future.

These events represent a significant step towards providing young people across Europe with the necessary tools and resources to succeed in their future careers. By prioritizing early orientation, life skills development, and professional guidance, stakeholders are working to ensure that young people are better equipped to face the challenges of an ever-changing job market.