Beyond the Bubble: VET, AI & the Future of EU Funding

MONDAY 29 JUNE — ARRIVAL DAY

Afternoon Arrival & Check-in
EVBB team on site throughout the afternoon. Available for logistics support and participant queries.

20:00 Welcome Networking Reception
Gala reception at Ergon Agora East with welcome remarks and informal networking. Participants may reach the venue by bus (03K from Aristotelous Square, stop: Viamyl) or taxi.

TUESDAY 30 JUNE — FULL DAY AT AKMI | Practice, Policy & Partnerships

09:00 - 09:30 Registration and Welcome Coffee
Arrival, registration, and informal networking.

09:30 - 10:00 Opening Session
Welcome from EVBB, AKMI Rodopoulos, and invited institutional guests. Setting the context: why Thessaloniki, why now, and what Beyond the Bubble means for the work in this room.

10:00 - 10:20 Inside the MFF: What Is Actually Being Negotiated for VET
EVBB presents insights from ongoing MFF discussions and explains what VET organisations need to understand now to position themselves for the next funding cycle. Open Q&A.

10:20 - 11:20 Interactive Presentation: ISATCOVE – ETF Self-Assessment Tool for Vocational Excellence
Hands-on introduction to ISATCOVE by ETF, including practical demonstration and discussion on how organisations can use it to strengthen their COVE strategies and engage with future implementation rounds.

11:20 - 11:45 Coffee Break

11:45 - 12:30 Panel Discussion: The European Neighbourhood Dialogue – Ministers on VET and Skills
Ministerial panel with representatives from Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Türkiye and Greece discussing VET priorities, regional cooperation, vocational excellence and the European neighbourhood agenda.

12:30 - 13:30 Lunch

13:30 - 14:00 Interactive Presentation: Integrating AI in VET Institutions – A Global Perspective from UNESCO-UNEVOC
UNESCO-UNEVOC presents current international practice on AI integration in TVET institutions, covering curriculum development, teacher training, quality assurance and institutional strategy.

14:00 - 15:30 The Masterclass: Have the Full Picture – AI in EU Proposals & What Evaluators See (Part I)
Practical masterclass on the effective use of AI in EU proposal writing. Participants explore tools, workflows, disclosure requirements, and good practices for developing high-quality AI-assisted applications.

15:30 - 16:00 Coffee Break

16:00 - 17:00 The Masterclass: Have the Full Picture – AI in EU Proposals & What Evaluators See (Part II)
The evaluator perspective on AI-assisted proposals. Discussion of evaluation practices, common mistakes, scoring considerations, and the implications of the Commission’s latest guidance on AI use.

17:00 — Close of Day 1

20:00 Group Dinner & Networking
Group dinner at selected traditional Greek restaurants within walking distance of hotels. Informal networking evening with set menus and vegetarian options available.

WEDNESDAY 1 JULY — FULL DAY AT CEDEFOP

08:30 Departure by Bus to CEDEFOP
Meeting point: in front of the Royal Theatre.

09:00 - 10:00 Registration & Welcome Coffee
Arrival, registration, and informal networking.

10:00 - 10:20 Opening Speeches
Institutional opening remarks.

10:20 - 10:40 Introduction to CEDEFOP: Mandate, Tools & Relevance
Overview of CEDEFOP’s mandate, research programme, and publicly available tools supporting VET providers across Europe.

10:40 - 11:20 EVTS Plenary: What Europe’s VET Teachers Are Telling Us
Presentation of the European Vocational Teacher Survey with preliminary findings on professional development, digital skills, working conditions and continuing professional development.

11:20 - 11:50 Coffee Break

11:50 - 12:00 Introduction to Breakout Sessions
Overview of themes and group allocation.

12:00 - 13:00 Breakout Session 1: Policy Monitoring & the Herning Declaration
CEDEFOP monitoring of implementation across EU Member States, focusing on progress, challenges and national perspectives.

12:00 - 13:00 Breakout Session 2: Construction & Microcredentials (BUILDS Synergy)
Discussion of CEDEFOP research on microcredentials in construction in dialogue with the BUILDS project community.

12:00 - 13:00 Breakout Session 3: Mobility for VET Trainers
Exploration of mobility frameworks, barriers and opportunities for VET teachers and trainers.

12:00 - 13:00 Breakout Session 4: Supporting Inclusion in VET
Discussion of inclusion challenges and policy approaches, based on a theme selected by CEDEFOP.

13:00 - 13:30 Closing Session: From CEDEFOP Research to Practice
Plenary reflection on breakout outcomes and practical takeaways for participants.

13:30 - 14:30 Buffet Lunch at CEDEFOP
Hosted lunch on site.

Afternoon Free Time

19:30 - 20:30 Sunset on the Aegean: Black Pearl Boat Tour
Optional evening cruise along the Thessaloniki coastline. Networking opportunity while enjoying sunset views over the Thermaic Gulf.

THURSDAY 2 JULY — STUDY VISITS & CULTURAL PROGRAMME

09:30 - 13:00 VET School Study Visits
Guided visits to public and private VET institutions across Thessaloniki, focusing on EQF Level 4 programmes, vocational excellence and innovative educational practice.

13:30 Lunch at AKMI (boxed)
Light lunch provided following the study visits.

Afternoon Free Time

19:30 - 22:00 Guided Cultural Tour: History, Street Food & Local Life
Walking tour through Thessaloniki’s historic districts with local guides, food tastings and cultural highlights including Ladadika, Ano Poli, Bit Bazaar and Aristotelous Square.

FRIDAY 3 JULY — DEPARTURE DAY

Morning Departures
Participants depart. EVBB team available until midday for logistics support.