In April, Cedefop experts made presentations at information days organised by the vice-mayors of two municipalities in the Thessaloniki area.
Both events focused on career prospects, guidance, and skills and occupations in demand, in view of Greece's difficult economic situation and the most recent technological and social developments. They addressed pupils of the municipalities’ high schools and their parents and teachers.
Konstantinos Pouliakas presented Cedefop’s work on labour market trends and skills in Pylaia-Hortiatis. Philippe Tissot and his collaborator Yannis Gidaris made a presentation of Europass in Kalamaria.
Other speakers included career counsellors and professors from Thessaloniki’s universities, some of whom referred to Cedefop’s work. Questions showed the audiences’ strong interest in European education and training matters and EU programmes in the field. The Mayor of Kalamaria warmly welcomed Cedefop’s participation.
Schools visit Cedefop
On 24 April, Cedefop received students and teachers from an Athens high school and a vocational school from the Central Macedonia region.
Cedefop’s Loukas Zahilas, Head of Department for VET systems and institutions, Philippe Tissot and Yannis Katsikis, together with Chryssa Antoniou of the local Europe Direct information centre, talked to teachers and pupils from Athens College, a member of Unesco’s associated schools project network, and the professional school (EPAL) of Alexandria about Cedefop’s work. They focused on qualifications and forecasts of skills needs to give them some clues as to what educational pathways they could choose to find their way into the labour market.