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In 2026, the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training - (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung), (BIBB), home of the ReferNet Germany team will welcome their colleagues and partners to the 2026 partnership forum organised jointly with Cedefop.

In this forum, ReferNet members will have the opportunity to discuss issues related to vocational education and training (VET), skills and qualifications, improve their knowledge by sharing information on recent developments in national policies and systems while at the same time hear and learn about the VET system of Germany. The first of this year’s partnership forum will take place on 18 and 19 March 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.

We warmly thank the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training - (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung), (BIBB), home of the ReferNet Germany team for hosting the event.

ReferNet is a network of institutions across Europe representing the 27 Member States, plus Iceland and Norway. The network provides Cedefop with information and analysis on national vocational education and training, skills and qualifications. National partners also disseminate information on European VET and Cedefop’s work to stakeholders in the EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. ReferNet publications can be accessed through the ReferNet page on Cedefop’s website.

Speakers

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Ioannis Katsikis
Expert - ReferNet coordinator, Cedefop

Ioannis N. Katsikis is the ReferNet Coordinator at Cedefop. An Innovation Engineer by education, he holds an MSc in Environmental Policy & Management and an MBA: Business Process Management, both from the University of the Aegean, Greece. He is also the holder of an MPhil in Architecture and Space Planning from the School of Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece. Prior to joining Cedefop, he worked as an Academic Tutor at the University of Athens and as a freelance Strategic Management Consultant (2005-2013) while studying for a PhD at the Athens University of Economics and Business.

He gained valuable experience by participating in major international R&D projects and offered consulting services to national governments (Greece, Romania, Georgia, Turkey) and as a Research Advisor to international organizations (BSEC, EU). He has published more than 170 research papers in academic journals, edited books, and international conferences (such as AOM, SMS, EGOS, BAM, ERSA). He has received three international awards in recognition of his research (AoM, BAM, ERSA).
 

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Ute Hippach-Schneider
Ute Hippach-Schneider, Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, Germany (BIBB)

Ute Hippach-Schneider is Senior Researcher at Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung, BIBB). Ute is a member of BIBB’s “International VET Comparison, Research and Monitoring” Section, where she is examining the dynamics and flexibility of VET systems. Her focus is on governance and mainly on the role of actors. The current interest is particularly focussed on the perspective of learners in vocational education and training and their role in the governance systems of VET systems.

Furthermore, she is national coordinator of the European network ReferNet

Event details

Event Date(s)
20/05/2026 - 21/05/2026
Event Type
Event
City
Bonn
Country
Germany
Participation
Invitation only
Cedefop involvement
Co-organiser

Contacts

Contact
Ioannis Katsikis
Expert - ReferNet coordinator, Cedefop
Contact
Chryssa Zekou
Assistant - ReferNet
Contact
Cedefop ReferNet team