Euroskills is the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in Europe. Taking place in Gdańsk, Poland, from 5 - 9 September 2023, next year’s event will see people from 30 countries compete for a place in the global edition (WorldSkills), and will be organised with support from the European Social Fund under the Knowledge Education Development Operational Programme. The Euroskills competition was initially scheduled to take place in Russia, but was moved to Poland in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. EUR 5.9 million from the ESF’s 2014-2020 budget has been dedicated to the EuroSkills competition, which has a total budget of EUR 7 million.
Muriel Guin, Head of Unit in the European Commission for the European Social Fund in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia from the Directorate General for Employment, Social Policy and Social Inclusion (DG EMPL) was in Gdańsk, Poland for the signing of the EuroSkills 2023 project contract. The ceremony took place as part of the three-day SkillsPoland 2022 event from 22 to 25 November, which was the second edition of the largest vocational education and training competition for young professionals in Poland. SkillsPoland builds on last year’s success, offering debates on skills and vocational education and training. Polish representatives for EuroSkills 2023 will also be selected as part of the SkillsPoland event.
According to EU targets, at least 60% of all adults should participate in training, a level that is challenging for many Member States. EuroSkills competitions offer opportunities for experience, collaboration and professional upskilling, and encourage young people to improve the quality of skills across dozens of disciplines – including mechanics, electronics, construction, cloud computing and many more – promoting the latest solutions in vocational education and training. The competition also allows participants to connect with potential employers through numerous presentations, shows, exhibitions, conferences and industry seminars.
Skill-building events like EuroSkills are vital for promoting vocational education and professional excellence in Europe. They recognise the power of skills development and the need to encourage vocational education and training to the highest level – and represent a unique opportunity to share knowledge. The event next year will also highlight EU investments in vocational and professional training, contributing to the 2023 European Year of Skills.
