The winning teams of the #CedefopPhotoAward 2020 competition come from Poland, Greece, Czechia and Slovakia.

In total, 43 teams of vocational education and training (VET) learners from 13 European countries took part in the fifth edition of the #CedefopPhotoAward, which this year also featured an optional video competition. The teams consisted of 143 VET learners and 39 teachers/trainers, representing 34 learning providers. The learners were asked to share a story of a memorable VET experience involving green or digital skills.

Two winners, from Poland (‘NTZDZOpatow’ team from the Niepubliczne Technikum im. gen. W. Andersa w Opatowie) and Greece (‘Digital & green waves’ team from the 2nd VET School of Thessaloniki – OAED), have been nominated for the top award to be presented during the virtual VET excellence awards ceremony at the European vocational skills week 2020 (9-13 November).

The top spot will be decided via an online public vote, organised by the European Commission. To cast your vote visit VET Excellence Awards 2020: Online voting, select European Agencies Awards and #CedefopPhotoAward.

The Prix du jury this year goes to the ‘ZALA’ team from the College of Nursing and Secondary Medical School in Ústí nad Labem, in Czechia.

Winners of the new video award are Slovakia’s SUPSTARS team from Vocational Art School Jakobyho 15.

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the planned exhibition of 10 winning and runner-up photo entries and the winning video cannot be realised at the 61st Thessaloniki International Film Festival and the European vocational skills week, but will be published on Cedefop’s website.

Also due to the pandemic and the resulting travel and movement restrictions, the advertised prizes had to be modified this year. All winners will receive travel vouchers to be used at a time when restrictions have been lifted.

Cedefop would like to thank all participants for making the effort to form teams and send entries during these testing times.

The winning entries

Poland: Dream, work hard and reach for the sky (‘NTZDZOpatow team)

Jakub Kordyka, Maciej Gawron, Bartłomiej Kordos and Krystian Gawlik study to become IT technicians. But they argue that their school isn’t only about that: ‘The technical classes, although mandatory, are combined with education, passion, exercising initiative in IT, and the best apprenticeship to start our future! The photos, taken by students from the school photography club, present the results of programming, robotics and e-sport. These pictures depict the mission of maintaining your identity in a world of chameleons – always being yourself and not getting lost in the MATRIX. Computer science gives us power, it helps us learn and play, but it’s the human mind that’s always superior.’

Greece: Digital & green waves (‘Digital & green waves’ team)

Eleni Fransizi, Eleftheria-Giannoula Sokolaki, Eleftheria Pigka and Sofia Tsochataridou, who study to become graphic designers, combine the four elements of nature – earth, air, water and fire: ‘We focused on earth, presenting our own notion of “green”, which is not something ordinary. For us, “green” is family and friends who give colour to our days; it’s recalling precious moments and emotions; it’s joy and dance, smiles and passions. It is a person, nostalgia, chaos and inaction. Our ‘green’ is Art. Our common stimulus is our interaction with nature. Mother nature inspires our life and is a major part of our reality.’

Czechia: Together again (‘ZALA’ team)

Adela Malkova, Lucie Jaluskova, Adela Klabanova, Zdislava Kroupova are a group of friends who like to do creative things: ‘This is why we chose to become dental technicians. During the situation with coronavirus, however, we could not do what we enjoy. Not only was there no school, there were no workshops, lectures or events that we were looking forward to and which enrich the teaching at our medical school. We were so sad! But it is better now, and we can learn how to make people smile again.’

Slovakia: We can create a better world (‘SUPSTARS’ team)

Matus Molnar, Adam Krizovensky and Alexander Pirsc narrate how young people in their school study traditional arts and crafts as well as modern digital technologies with an emphasis on environment protection and nature enhancement: ‘Students acquire a complex knowledge, learn traditional artistic skills and craftmanship. Digital technologies such as VR, 3D modelling or digital animation enrich the educational process. With their creative artistic work, students also reflect on current trends of global environmental protection.’

The photo runners-up list is made up of the following teams:

  • ‘Alasia – The cycle of leaves’ from the Daycare Centre of Saint Stefanos Foundation (Cyprus)
  • ‘Amber Team’ from Zespół Szkół nr 2 im. Bolesława III Krzywoustego (Poland)
  • ‘Black & white bodies’ from 2nd VET School of Thessaloniki – OAED (Greece)
  • ‘Cyprus bicycle recycle’ from A Technical School of Limassol (Cyprus)
  • ‘Gastrofeel’ from Vocational Secondary School Eugen Kumičić Rovinj (Croatia)
  • ‘NewGen leaders’ from Escola Secundária Camilo Castelo Branco (Portugal)
  • ‘Paramedics to be’ from Johanniter Akademie Niedersachsen/Bremen (Germany)