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Skills Development for Smart Specialization - Program
21 October 2024
Modified: 02 December 2024
Reading time: 8 minute(s)

Skills Development for Smart Specialization conference under the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Date: 2-3 December, 2024
Venue: Ludovika University of Public Service, Budapest, Ludovika tér 2, 1083

All speakers and panelists to be confirmed

All sessions will be livestreamed, but we encourage in-person participation as there will be various networking opportunities throughout the program.

About Registration Program Speakers Livestreaming Accommodation Getting here

2 December 2024 - Day 1

   
9:30-11:30 Registration and welcome coffee
   
10:00-11:30 Site visit – Ludovika University of Public Service
   
11:30-13:00 Networking lunch
   
13:00-14:15 High-level opening session
   
  Welcome and opening:
  Andriana Sukova, Deputy Director-General, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission

Dr. Gábor Kemény, Vice-Rector for Institutional Development, Ludovika University of Public Service


  High-level Hungarian representation
  Flash presentation of Spanish and Belgian presidencies on their priorities and results in smart specialization
 
  • Spain: Mikel Irujo, Regional Minister for Economic and Business Development for Navarra region  
  • Belgium: Marie Suleau, La Recherche en Wallonie

DAY 1: DEFINING A FRAMEWORK OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR SMART SPECIALIZATION

   
14:15-14:45 Plenary session: Setting the scene
 

What happened since the 2019 Report on Skills and Smart Specialization The role of Vocational Education and Training in Smart Specialization Strategies?
Vocational Education and Training (VET) can play a much bigger role in Smart Specialization Strategies than has so far been considered. This is because VET encompasses skill development as well as innovation diffusion and applied research – which together can have a more direct impact on sustainable economic growth, especially of less developed regions. VET also contributes to addressing the demographic challenges which Europe faces, responding to the needs for re-skilling and up-skilling through non-formal training and at different levels of formal VET.

Speaker: John Edwards, Secretary General, European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE)

   
14:45-15:15 Plenary session
 

Introducing the ETF Skills for Smart Specialization (S4S3) methodological approach
The ETF Skills for Smart Specialization (S4S3) methodological approach uses the national smart specialization process as its starting point. It enriches the analysis by exploring the implications of economic prioritization for VET and skills. The ETF methodology enables the identification of current, emerging and future skills needs and the ability of the education and training system to respond to those needs.

Speaker: Pirita Vuorinen, Senior Human Capital Development Expert, European Training Foundation  

   
15:15-15:45 Coffee break, networking, family photo
   
15:45-16:45 Panel discussion: Smart Specialization strategy implementation
 
  • How S3 can contribute to accelerating the EU’s competitiveness 
  • Presentation of MS/regional Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) 
  • The role of stakeholder involvement
 

Moderator: Coen De Graaf, senior consultant, IDEA Consult 

Panelists:

  • Richard Tuffs, Smart Specialization expert
  • Krisztina Sóvágó, Head of S3 Project Management Office, National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDIO)
  • Angelina Bekasova, Senior Expert for Space and Innovation Policy, Ministry of Economics of the Republic of Latvia
   
16:45-17:45 What is your story? Interactive discussion on Defining a framework of skills development for smart Specialization in multiple domains
  Defining a framework of skills development for smart Specialization, conceptual delimitation by experts – vocational training, higher education, adult education and training
  • gaps in skills development
  • mismatches between labor supply and deman
  • enhancing growth and competitiveness of SMEs though skills development
 

Moderator: Simone Rosini, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission

   
17:45-18:00 Wrap-up of Day 1, main topics discussed
  Presented by the rapporteurs of each session
   
19:00-21:00 Networking dinner

Venue: Széchenyi Thermal Bath Ballroom
Address: 1146 Budapest, Állatkerti krt. 9-11.
Dress code: Smart casual, please bring your conference badge with you for admission!
18:30
Arrival of guests
19:00-21:30
Networking dinner

S3 Networking dinner - map
   

3 December 2024 - Day 2

   

DAY 2: SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR THE INDUSTRIAL TRANSFORMATION OF EUROPE – IDENTIFYING ISSUES AND KEY MESSAGES

   
8:30-9:00 Welcome coffee
   
9:00-9:30

Recap and highlights of Day 1. Setting the scene for Day 2. Introducing the S3 CoP Observatory

Speaker: Coen De Graaf, senior consultant, IDEA Consult

   
9:30-10:30 Panel discussion: Inter-dependence between economic growth, innovation and skills in the era of digitization and green transition: the regional perspective
 
  • skills for Europe’s digitalization
  • ESFRI strategies complement to SME strategies 
  • skills development framework in European innovation that can be adopted in more and less developed regions 
  • the role of deployment of research and innovation

Moderator: István Szabó, Vice-President of HUN-REN, Hungarian Research Network
Panelists:
  • Simone Rosini, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
  • Katalin Arany, Project Manager, Hungarian Center of Excellence for Molecular Medicine
  • Lea Myyrylainen, Regional Director, EIT Digital
   
10:30-11:00 Spotlight on success stories – Examples from Hungary
 
  • Sectoral Skills Council
  • Dual training
  • Certified technician training
  • Microcredentials

Speaker:
  • Gergely Pálmai, Head of Department, Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Hungary
   
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
   
11:30-12:30 Parallel sessions
 

Breakout session 1. Identifying the types of skills that could support today’s challenges (e.g. industrial transformation, green transition, and digitalization);

  • how do they affect the directions and expected goals of skills development
  • identifying bottlenecks
  • identifying related target groups and other stakeholders.

Moderator: Klaas Vansteenhuyse, EU3DRES2 University Alliance

Panelists:

  • John Edwards, Secretary General, European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE)
  • Péter Racskó, Head of Department for Strategy and Monitoring, National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NRDIO)
  • Marko Hren, Head of Division, Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development, Slovenia
  • Marian Belko, European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
 

Breakout session 2. Horizon Europe Cluster 2 and Societal Challenge 6: Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies – How to valorize the outcomes of successful Cluster 2 projects in service of reaching S3 goals

Moderator: Mina Stareva, Deputy Head of Unit, DG RTD, European Commission

Panelists:

  • Roberta Ricucci, project coordinator, project KIDS4ALLL
  • Dr. Kimberly Couvson-Liebe, NCP, Scientific Officer, Deutschen Zentrums für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR)
  • Dániel Horn, HUN-REN KRTK
   
12:30-13:30 Networking lunch
   
13:30 – 14:30 Panel discussion: To space and beyond: Transferable skills for the space sector - needs, provisions, challenges
 

The emerging needs for the fast-paced space sector call for competitive and up-to-date knowledge from professionals and policymakers.

Moderator: David Jelinek, Policy Officer, DG for Defence Industry and Space, European Commission

Speakers:

  • Dr. László Csurgai-Horváth, Chair of the space engineering education board at Budapest University of Technology and Economics
  • Dr. Emmanuel Pajot, Secretary General, European Association of Remote Sensing Companies (EARSC)
  • Ilaria Tagliavini, EIT Head of Operations, Communications & Engagement
   
14:30 – 15:00 Closing session
  Final conclusions: the future of Structural Funds, support for regional development and S3, education and training to contribute to S3 goals, take away messages
Speaker:
   
15:00-17:00 Coffee offered for optional program
   
  Planning ahead:
15:00-17:00 “Coffee and cake sessions” Optional programs for participants
   
  To B2B or not to B2B? Networking and matchmaking opportunities for future consortium building
  The list and short bio of the conference participants will be made available for the registered participants in order to facilitate networking. The participants will have the opportunity in advance to schedule B2B meetings for this time-slot and discussion tables will be provided
   
  Workshop
  A practice-oriented workshop will be provided for the participating early career researchers in techniques of stakeholder engagement.
   
  Forum for regional and national vocational training experts
  The conference provides an opportunity for the vocational training representatives to meet and discuss specific problems and exchange good practices for stronger future collaboration.


About Registration Program Speakers Livestreaming Accommodation Getting here
Updated: 02 December 2024
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