A highlight for the professional audience will also take place within the framework of EuroSkills 2021: On 23 September, the “Future of Skills” conference will take place at the Messe Congress Graz and will feature renowned speakers on education and future topics.

How will vocational training change in the future? What are the requirements for vocational training in the future? How does lifelong, digital learning work? How are technological innovations changing our working and living environments? Under the motto “Future of Skills”, the EuroSkills 2021 conference will explore these and many other questions from a variety of perspectives. On the first day of the competition (23 September; Messe Congress Graz, Messeplatz 1), visitors can look forward to a top-class knowledge platform from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., which will feature a wide variety of conference formats and enable a mutual exchange and transfer of knowledge at European level on a total of three so-called “Focus Topics”.
The “Future of Skills” conference will focus on the following three topics:

1. IDEAL VS REALITY. SET FOR THE FUTURE: HOW TO ADJUST VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO FUTURE REQUIREMENTS
   The world is constantly changing and with it the demands on business and companies: The “mindset” of the future and which professional competences will be in particular demand in the future will be explored in keynotes on this topic.
2. TALENT ECONOMICS: HOW GENERATION Z AND CHANGING SKILL NEEDS AFFECT AND TRANSFORM ECONOMIES AND BUSINESSES
   Generation Z” has arrived on the labour market: How can companies and HR departments adapt their strategies to the new needs and requirements?
3. HOW CAN SKILLS COMPETITIONS SUPPORT NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING SYSTEMS?Skills competitions and the standards set in them as a “comparison opportunity” for the different educational systems in Europe.

Other highlights of the “Future of Skills” conference: Renowned international speakers such as Gerd Leonhard, whatchado founder Ali Mahlodji and futurist Perttu Pölönen will give an insight into topics such as “Technology vs. Humanity” or “Generation Next”. The conference will be held in English and is therefore specifically aimed at HR experts, experts in the field of education, experts from internationally active organisations and companies (e.g. OECD; EU) and leaders in the field of education. Those who cannot make it to Graz in person in September still have the opportunity to be there almost “live”: Thanks to an online ticket with streaming access, you can also participate comfortably from home. More information on the conference, the other speakers and tickets can be found online here.

We look forward to welcoming you to the “Future of Skills” Conference in September 2021!