CONFERENCE

SKILLS FOR FUTURE JOBS

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The conference Skills for Future Jobs represents a platform for experts to engage in open dialogue and share good practices about how to connect skills with future jobs.

The two-day conference takes place in Hotel Aleksandar Palace in Skopje, North Macedonia on April 7-8, 2022. The event is hosted by the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia and the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, organized with the support of Education for Employment in North Macedonia (E4E@мк) – a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC.

Targeting high-level government representatives, policy makers, education sector representatives, private sector representatives, VET providers, youth organizations, and development cooperation specialists working in VET & youth employment, the conference is to extract opinions, considerations, and arguments of where the educational systems from the region should focus in the future.

Future vocational skills, youth employment and entrepreneurship opportunities are the topics under which numerous local and international experts will provide input and will showcase future trends, all based on labor market needs and anticipations.

Speakers from governments, private sector, academia, and civil society from North Macedonia and the Western Balkans region as well as Switzerland and the EU, will present the latest research findings and share hands-on experiences.

The conference aims to set the base for a future platform on skills and employment and to foster exchange and cooperation at strategic and operational levels between relevant countries.

Skills for Future Jobs is hosted by the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia and the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia. The conference is organized with the support of Education for Employment in North Macedonia (E4E@мк), a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC.

Welcome remarks provided by:

  • Jeton Shaqiri – Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia
  • H.E. Véronique Hulmann – Ambassador of Switzerland to North Macedonia
  • Antoni Pesev – Executive Director of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia

Upon providing an overview of the needed skills for the future during the fast-changing job environment, the future trends & vision of youth will be presented in a TED-like setting, covering topics on:

  • Future trends and vision of Youth.

Presenters:

  • Nikola Velkovski (22) – Co-Founder & CEO of Howitzer
  • Hera Gishti (18) – Youth Activist from Albania
  • Nina Nikolich –StartUp Macedonia/Swiss Ep

The presentation regarding the above-mentioned topics will be followed by a panel discussion on the future of the labor market in the eyes of Youth & Entrepreneurs. The panelists will have a chance to discuss topics related to government and companies’ responses to youth’s skills and job visions.

Panelists:

  • Ognjen Markovic – RCC
  • Hera Gishti (18) – Youth Activist from Albania
  • Aleksandar Klashninovski – Brainster Next
  • Nina Nikolich – StartUp Macedonia/Swiss Ep

The conference participants will also have a chance to join one of four simultaneous workshops and enrich their knowledge on the future of IT/E-commerce, manufacturing, green energy transition or tourism & hospitality.

Moderators of the workshops:

  • Boro Jakimovski – Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering – Skopje
  • Marta Naumovska Grnarova – General Manager of Zavar Company
  • Anastasia Bekish – Environment and Climate Change Manager of the RECONOMY Regional Program
  • Clara Garcia Parra – Component Lead in Private Sector Development for RISI Albania

Finally, the first day of the conference will be concluded with a presentation of a research including demand for digital skills and an opportunity for the participants to engage in discussion with the expert.

Presenter:

  • Cristina Mereuta – Human Capital Development Expert at European Training Foundation (ETF)

Upon reflecting on how skills can meet future jobs, the second day of the conference will begin with the showcasing of global drivers of change and trends that shape labor markets and skills needs. In addition, the expert on the topic will cover the impact of these changes on transitioning and developing countries and the resulting skill requirements in the future.

Presenter:

  • Ummuhan Bardak – Human Capital Development Expert – European Training Foundation (ETF)

This speech will be followed by a set of interactive presentations on the success factors of a VET system and what the labor market needs in the future, as well as the reaction to adult education.

Presenters:

  • Dr. Ursula Renold – Deputy head of Dep. Of Management and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich (will join online)
  • Bernhard Grämiger – Director, Swiss Federation for Adult Learning

In the second part of the day, two rounds of panel discussions will enable the audience to hear expert considerations on the VET and adult learning systems in the region, get to know hands-on experiences and innovative approaches.

Presenters:

  • Merita Çeku – Director & Regional Coordinator at Beetroot Academy Kosovo
  • Oliver Streit – Technical Director for Education, Skills & Employment, Education to Employment, NIRAS
  • Ivana Georgievska – Vocational Education and Training Expert – E4E/MCEC
  • Sven Dominkovic – Project Manager, Bosnia & Herzegovina
  • Ermira Shyti – Skills, Career Guidance and Intermediation, Team Leader – RISI Albania
  • Ejvis Gishti – General Director of the National Agency of VET and Qualifications (NAVETQ)

The second day of the conference will be concluded with a session for showcasing different digital solutions in VET and a presentation from the latest research of a European project on digital disruption to examples of how low-tech digital solutions for learning can look like to new frontiers in immersive technologies.

Presenter:

  • Francesca Amenduni, Senior Researcher, SwissFederal University for Vocational Education and Training SFUVET

Closing remarks provided by:

  • Mihajlo Donev, Operational Director for Development, Innovations and Knowledge at ECNM
  • Nadica Dimovska, Secondary Education Associate within the Ministry of Education and Science

Домаќини на конференцијата Вештини за идни работни места се Министерството за образование и наука на Северна Македонија и Стопанската комора на Северна Македонија. Конференцијата е организирана со поддршка на Проектот Образование за вработување во Северна Македонија (E4E@мк), проект на Швајцарската агенција за развој и соработка.

SPEAKERS

Jeton Shaqiri

Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of North Macedonia

H.E. Véronique Hulmann

Ambassador of Switzerland to North Macedonia

Antoni Pesev

Executive Director of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia

Mihajlo Donev

Operational Director for Development, Innovations and Knowledge at ECNM

Nadica Dimovska

Secondary Education Associate within the Ministry of Education and Science

Nina Nikolich

StartUp Macedonia/Swiss Ep

Ognjen Markovic

RCC

Aleksandar Klashninovski

Brainster Next

Cristina Mereuta

Human Capital Development Expert at European Training Foundation (ETF)

Ummuhan Bardak

Human Capital Development Expert – European Training Foundation (ETF)

Prof. Dr. Ursula Renold

Deputy Head of Dep. Of Management and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich

Bernhard Grämiger

Director, Swiss Federation for Adult Learning

Merita Çeku

Director & Regional Coordinator at Beetroot Academy Kosovo

Oliver Streit

Technical Director for Education, Skills & Employment, Education to Employment, NIRAS

Ivana Georgievska

Vocational Education and Training Expert – E4E/MCEC

Sven Dominkovic

Helvetas Project Manager, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Ejvis Gishti

General Director of the National Agency of VET and Qualifications (NAVETQ)

Dr. Francesca Amenduni

Senior Researcher, SwissFederal University for Vocational Education and Training SFUVET

Nikola Velkovski (22)

Co-Founder & CEO of Howitzer

Hera Gishti

Youth Activist

MODERATORS

Ognen Janeski

Main Moderator
TV Personality

Boro Jakimovski

Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering – Skopje

Marta Naumovska Grnarova

General Manager of Zavar Company

Anastasia Bekish

Environment and Climate Change Manager of the RECONOMY Regional Program

Clara Garcia Parra

Component Lead in Private Sector Development for RISI Albania

Petar Barlakovski

President of the Youth Educational Forum (YEF)

Katharina Walker

Helvetas, International consulting in VET and youth employment