Maximising skills for jobs and jobs for skills

Innovation expert, Small Business Institute of the Greek Confederation of Professionals , Craftsmen and Merchants

Antonios Angelakis, PhD is an innovation expert at The Small Enterprises’ Institute of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants (IME GSEVEE), with a major focus on innovation support services, knowledge management, business networks and clusters’ growth, innovation policies and skills’ formation for SME’s. Antonios Angelakis is a PhD graduate from the University of Crete, Greece, on Innovation Policies and Systems where his interests span innovation sciences, innovation and technology policies, innovation systems, innovation management and business models. He also holds a Masters degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of York, UK. He has an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the University of Crete, Greece. He has been a Technology Transfer Officer at the University of Crete (Heraklion), Greece from 2007-2012. He has been a post-doc Research Assistant (2012-2013) at the Nottingham Business School, UK, while he was a visiting research fellow at the Centre for Innovation Research and Competence in the Learning Economy (CIRCLE), Lund University, Sweden (summer semester 2010). He has also a research and working experience on related areas through his active participation in numerous EU-funded and national technology and innovation projects.

Head of Knowledge and Innovation Unit, Confindustria Veneto SIAV SpA, Italy

Head of the Knowledge&Innovation Unit. She manages Regional, National and European Projects in the field of Research, Education, Innovation and Competitiveness for Smes; qualified teacher within professional and entrepreneurial training initiatives, focusing on the development of innovative methodologies and approaches for knowledge and technology transfer. Member of the Technical Commissions in National and European Projects; experienced as teacher, researcher and member of research groups in Universities and Vocational Training and Learning Centres. She holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Trento and a Specialisation in Health Sociology from the University of Bologna.

Senior Specialist in VET Policies and Systems, ETF

In the ETF (EU Agency) since 2003, Eduarda Castel-Branco currently leads the network on skills matching of the Eastern Partnership, run under the work programme of the Eastern Partnership.  Contributed to development of the series of methodological guides on skills anticipation and matching, a joint initiative of Cedefoo-ETF-ILO.

Eduarda Castel-Branco has been involved in country-specific projects and in thematic operations (employment and qualifications), managed ETF activities in countries of the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood (notably: Georgia, Morocco), and in candidate countries (former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). Since 2013 is ETF representative in the Advisory Group EQF. 

In 2015 her activities include support to the institutional setting of the Moroccan NQF and expert support to EQF Referencing of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Eduarda was a policy officer in DG EAC (European Commission).

Professor, University of Patras

George Chryssolouris is Professor (1993-) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics at the University of Patras, Greece and he was Chairman between 2003 and 2007. He is the Director of the Laboratory for Manufacturing Systems and Automation (LMS) which has about 70 researchers working on a variety of research projects

He was, for 2006-2007, the President of CIRP, the Paris based leading International Academy for Production Engineering.

He worked at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the USA between 1980-1993.  He taught at MIT undergraduate and graduate level subjects related to manufacturing, systems, design and automation.

Professor Chryssolouris has more than 400 publications in international scientific journals and refereed conferences (http://lms.mech.upatras.gr/LMS/publications). He was granted the Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal by SME (2001). He is the author of two books published by Springer Verlag.  He received a Ph.D. (Dr.-Ing.) in Engineering from the University of Hannover, Germany (1979) and a Diploma (M.S.) in Mechanical/Electrical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece (1975).

Senior Skills and Employability Specialist, ILO

Paul Comyn has over 25 years of experience in TVET and skills development as a technical specialist and consultant in the public and private sectors across a wide range of industries. He has international experience in a number of countries including Australia, New Zealand, China, India, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. He has a PhD in vocational education and training policy and has authored various journal articles and book chapters. His interests include skills policies and industry engagement in skills development. He has worked for the ILO for the past seven years and has recently transferred to Geneva after five years based in New Delhi as the Senior Skills Specialist for South Asia.

Senior Advisor, Norwegian association of adult learning (VOFO/NAAL)

William Evans is working for the Norwegian Association for Adult Education as a Senior Advisor with special responsibilities within the areas of quality in education, lifelong learning legislation and International cooperation. His educational background is within International Marketing and ICT.

Director of the Department of Vocational Training, Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, Portugal

Ana Paula Mota Filipe Dias was born in January 10, 1967.

She graduated in Modern Languages and Literatures, variant of Portuguese Studies, in the College of Social and Human Sciences, New University of Lisbon (UNL – FCSH).

She started her professional activity in the Portuguese Employment and Vocational Training Institute (IEFP), where she remains up until today, at the Department of the Tertiary Sector as a Senior Technician (1990).

At the Department of Vocational Training - Curriculum Development Services, she performed the duties of National Coordinator of the Community Programme EUROQUALIFICAÇÃO.

In 1997 she joined, as a Coordinator, the Training Resources Services, under the Department of Vocational Training.

She performed the duties of Chairman of the Administrative Council at the Vocational Training Centre for the Sector of Justice.

She was Director in two local IEFP’s local services: at the Vocational Training Centre of Graphic Arts and Multimedia and at the Vocational Training Centre of Amadora (in Lisbon).

Back in IEFP’s central offices she served as Director of the Curriculum Development Services and as Director of Training Organization Services.

Since February 2012 she took over the functions of Director of the Department of Vocational Training.

Economist, Cologne Institute for Economic Research, Germany

Since 01/2015 Assistant Project Manager of the KOFA at the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln)
Since 02/2013 Economist at the Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW Köln) in the Research Unit “Vocational Education and Training”
Doctoral studies at the Ruhr Graduate School in Economics in Essen, Germany
Studies of International Economics at the Georg-August Universität Göttingen (Germany), the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla
(Mexico) and the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce International in Fontainebleau (France)

Programme Specialist, UNESCO

Hélène Guiol is Programme Specialist in Technical and Vocational Education and Training within the Youth, Literacy and Skills Development Section at UNESCO Headquarters (Paris, France). She joined the Section in charge of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in 2013 to provide technical assistance in management of the TVET thematic area of the flagship UNESCO capacity development programme (CapEFA), implemented in 28 Member States. She is now coordinating UNESCO’s work focusing on anticipation of future skills needs in the Mediterranean region through the Networks of Mediterranean Youth project. Hélène is also coordinating an Inter-Agency Working Group focusing on work-based learning (WBL).

Prior to joining UNESCO, Hélène worked for 8 years in an Apprenticeship Vocational Training Centre in France (Paris). She was involved in developing partnership with enterprises and in organizing alternance scheme.

Hélène Guiol holds a master’s degree in international cooperation in education and training from University Paris-Descartes (Paris-V) and a master’s degree in Modern History from University Paris-Sorbonne (Paris-IV).

IT manager of Competence Assessment System "MyCompetence", Bulgaria

Vania Kirova has been working on design and software project management of Bulgarian Competence Assessment System (MyCompetence.bg) for last 5 years. She is responsible for the research of the best practices in using competence approach in HR Development, analyses of labour market data by sectors and regions, conduction of on-line surveys. As a head of the software development team she is in charge of the development of various online tools including web-presentation of sector competency models, assessment tests, 360-degree feedback, Europass CV creation and integration with the e-learning platform and ESCO v.0. She participates in the research teams of “Information systems, tools and partner networks for workforce competence assessment” and “Systems and instruments for competence assessment at corporate, regional and sector level”. 

Previous experience of Vania Kirova includes development of Bulgarian Enterprises Information System (beis.bia-bg.com), modelling data on production, import/export, financial ratios for sectoral analyses, consultancy in the field of corporate organization and management.

Manager, ŠKODA Akademie

Dr. Alexandra Králíková is the head of the Training Management Department  in ŠKODA AUTO, one of the largest employers in the Czech Republic. She has been involved in education and training during her entire professional career. After acting for 15 years as a university professor she became a member of the team responsible for Phare VET Reform in the Czech Republic. Since 1998 she has been responsible for several HR development topics in ŠKODA. She graduated from 2 universities – University in Sankt Petersburg and Brno University. Mrs. Králíková has been involved in several international projects focused on education and training. She is a member of the advisory task force of the Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sports.

Human Resources Manager, Ederfil Becker, Spain

Degree in Business Administration and Management. University of Deusto (2000)

MBA. University of Mondragon (2010)

Cooperative Member in EDERFIL BECKER KOOP. E. since 2004.

Human Resources Manager since 2008.

Leader of "Aldaketa Sortzen", a cultural change project, towards an organizational model based on PEOPLE. (2010-2014)

Leader of "Erronka", a project in order to develop leadership and Teamwork in EDERFIL BECKER (2014)

Culture Team Leader, and Member of varios multidisciplinary high  performance teams.

International relations, European Federation of Centres of Career Guidance and Bilan de Compétences (FECBOP)

Tomas Sprlak is psychologist and researcher at CIBC (Interinstitutional Centre for Bilan de Compétences) Bourgogne Sud. With solid experience in recruitment, HR consulting, career guidance and recognition of prior learning, he was involved in different international projects of development of career guidance services for different target groups, mostly with national or regional public employment services and associations. He currently works as a methodologist for guidance services at the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family in Slovak republic (public employment services). Mr. Sprlak will represent the European Federation of Career Guidance and Bilan de Compétences, which has more than 100 members providing bilan de compétences in 8 European countries.

The Norwegian association of adult education.  Principal, Western Norway

Torgeir Toppe, educational psychologist. Principal at Folkeuniversitetet Vestlandet.  Extensive background in formal and non-formal education activities and different job positions have provided him with a sound background within Adult and lifelong learning. Workplace education and basic skills training have been a priority over the last years in his organisation and in their daily priorities.

Policy Officer, ECDL Foundation

Austėja Trinkūnaitė is a Policy Officer at ECDL Foundation, an international non-profit social enterprise dedicated to raising digital competence standards in the workforce, education and society.  Our certification programme ECDL is delivered to more than 14 million people in over 100 countries and 40 languages worldwide.
 
Ms Trinkūnaitė is maintaining, strengthening and developing relations across the EU institutions, representing ECDL Foundation externally to institutions and stakeholders, among other responsibilities. On behalf of ECDL Foundation, she has been working on Europe-wide projects like the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs and e-Skills for Jobs campaign. Previously she worked on the Grand Coalition project at the European Commission's Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology.
 
Previously, Ms Trinkūnaitė conducted studies and evaluations in the fields of information society, social affairs, labour market and counterfactual methods as a researcher at the Public Policy and Management Institute in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Austėja Trinkūnaitė graduated from Central European University (Budapest, Hungary) with a Masters in Political Science and a specialisation in Political Communication. She also holds a BA in Political Science from Vilnius University (Lithuania).

VDAB, Belgium

I work at VDAB, PES belgium, Flanders, central office since several years and I am the product owner of matching within the organization.

For several years the VDAB works with competence-based matching and I'm responsible that we are doing this on the most qualitatieve way as possible to help the jobseeker in his quest for a suitable job and the employer for a suitable candidate.
This is a continuous process to fine-tuning all the relevant information/feedback we get from the jobseekers and employers and also the consultants and regional experts which I coordinates and integrate in the tool we use for comppetence-based matching.