Highlights from the 3rd SECOVE Transnational Congress
On May 22, 2026, the University of West Attica’s Ancient Olive Grove Conference Centre buzzed with collaborative energy as it hosted the 3rd Transnational Congress of the SECOVE project. Bringing together 136 participants, the event united vocational education and training (VET) providers, industry leaders, policymakers, and researchers under a shared vision for a sustainable, resilient future.
Following an opening welcome by SECOVE Project Manager Prof. Georgios Priniotakis and institutional greetings, the morning session kicked off with a truly inspiring showcase. Winners of the National Applied Research Competition from SECOVE Innovation Hubs across Europe took the stage to pitch their groundbreaking ideas. Representing hubs from Athens, Txorierri, Sardegna, Kosice, and Porto, these emerging innovators demonstrated the concrete value of integrating applied research with vocational education. The subsequent Winners’ Award Ceremony celebrated this vibrant, innovative spirit that has become the hallmark of our transnational network.
The core of the Congress cantered around two dynamic roundtable discussions designed to move beyond standard project reporting and foster honest dialogue about operational realities.
The first roundtable, “The SECOVE Project: Results & Lessons Learned”, moderated by Nefeli Dimopoulou, offered a candid reflection on our transnational journey. Representatives from SECOVE National Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs)—Prof. Georgios Priniotakis (Greece), Anabel Menica (Spain), Marco Rinaldi (Italy), Prof. Zuzana Vranayova (Slovakia), and Dr. Sofia Resende (Portugal)—discussed what genuinely worked on the ground. Panellists debated which project results hold the strongest long-term value and what truly motivates companies to engage with education beyond formal requirements. They also addressed the vital challenge of making technical careers more visible and attractive to younger generations, particularly women and girls, while highlighting the essential digital competences needed in the sustainable energy sector.
The second roundtable, “Building a Sustainable Future and the Role of VET,” moderated by Natassa Kazantzidou, expanded the lens to the broader European landscape. Bringing together leaders from other successful ecosystems and CoVE projects—John Herfkens (Katapult), Prof. Emmanouel Karapidakis (SEBCOVE), Marievi Gretsi (Tour-X), and Dr. Athanasios Tamvakos (WELDNET)—the panel deeply explored systemic impact. Panellists reflected critically on the structural links missing between research and VET, and how project-based cooperation can evolve into durable institutional change, by exploiting Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). The discussion highlighted a critical shift: CoVEs are no longer mere educational initiatives; they are expected to function as strategic regional innovation ecosystems. Speakers emphasized that successful ecosystems demand deep institutional trust, active company participation, and long-term governance structures.
The Congress delivered a sound and clear message: vocational excellence is no longer a secondary education policy—it is a strategic pillar for Europe’s economic competitiveness and social cohesion. Reflecting on the rich insights shared by the participants, we have the utmost confidence that the strategic networks, methodologies, and cross-border dialogues sparked by SECOVE will continue to thrive long after the funding period ends.
