ERI SEE

ERI SEE at the BuildSkills Academy Masterclass in Berlin

On 17–18 September 2026, Marina Papović, Project Coordinator at ERI SEE, together with Ivana Čvorović Plavšić, Deputy Director of the Qualifications Agency of the Republic of Serbia, participated in the BuildSkills Academy Masterclass 2 – “Building Change: Transformation Drivers for Construction and Training” in Berlin.

The two-day programme focused on how sustainable and circular construction is changing the skills needed in the construction sector and how education and training can respond to these developments. Topics included sustainable materials and construction practices, circular economy, digital tools and material passports, future skills, and the role of vocational education and training in supporting the green transition.

The Masterclass also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and good practices with participants from across Europe and discuss future skills and qualification systems, cooperation between education and industry, and further European collaboration.
Participation of the Serbian representatives was supported by the Centre for Circular Economy – CirEkon d.o.o., as the sending organisation from Serbia.

🎓 New learning opportunity through the ERI SEE–EBU partnership!

The Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE), in partnership with the European Business Institute of Luxembourg (EBU), is pleased to announce a new cycle of the EBU Luxembourg Certificate Impact Programme.
The programme offers learners the opportunity to develop new skills through a wide range of online courses, including:

🔹 Leadership
🔹 AI and Quantum
🔹 Robotics for Beginners
🔹 Robotics for Rookies (Age 11–18 only)
🔹 English Language
🔹 Entrepreneurship
🔹 Business Management
🔹 Cyber Security

💶 Thanks to the ERI SEE–EBU partnership, learners can access courses with a commitment fee starting from just €50, compared with the regular market value of €740 per course.
The opportunity is open to learners aged 16 and above, regardless of their employment or educational background. Courses are delivered online in English.

📅 Start date: 7 September 2026
⏳ Duration: 13 weeks
📌 Application deadline: 1 September 2026
👉 Apply here: https://forms.gle/yU7BGm9hVGM8uDTc8
📩 For additional information, contact: [email protected]

Don’t miss the opportunity to develop new skills and strengthen your professional and career prospects!

📍 ERI SEE participated in the BuildSkills Academy Masterclass “The Pact for Skills and What New Skills Will Drive the Twin Transition?”, held on 18–19 June 2026 in Brussels.

Represented by Director Sandra Brkanović and Project Coordinator Marina Papović, ERI SEE participated in the Masterclass at the invitation of CirEkon d.o.o., the Serbian partner in the BuildSkills Academy project. The event provided an opportunity to engage with European stakeholders and exchange views on skills development, vocational excellence and workforce preparedness for the green and digital transition in construction sector.

Organised within the BuildSkills Academy – Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) project, led by Cleantech Bulgaria and hosted by FIEC EU, the Masterclass explored key topics including vocational excellence, lifelong learning, apprenticeships, micro-credentials, skills validation and workforce development.

Particular attention was given to the implementation of the Pact for Skills, future workforce requirements, emerging green and digital competencies, and stronger cooperation between employers and education providers. Participants also exchanged experiences on innovative approaches to training, reskilling and upskilling to support sustainable transitions across Europe.

The event provided valuable insights into current European policy developments and initiatives that are highly relevant for strengthening education and training systems and supporting skills development across South Eastern Europe.

More SEE website: https://lnkd.in/dxcwntbg

Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe - ERI SEE participated in the 14th International Stakeholder Conference and the 30th Steering Group Meeting of Danube Region Strategy (EUSDR) Priority Area 9 “People and Skills”, held on 28–29 May 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Sandra Brkanović, Director of Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe - ERI SEE, participated as a speaker in the working group “Strengthening Apprenticeships: Bridging Skills and Labour Market Needs” and as a representative of ERI SEE at the Steering Group Meeting.
Maja Todorović, Head of the VET Department at the Institute for the Improvement of Education and Upbringing of Serbia and representative of the SEE VET Net network, participated as a speaker in the working group on public-private governance in VET.
The conference:
💡 Focused on skills, resilience and integration in VET and labour markets across the Danube Region
💡 Explored apprenticeships, work-based learning, upskilling and reskilling systems, and lifelong learning pathways
💡 Highlighted the importance of stronger cooperation between education systems and employers
💡 Addressed occupational standards, recognition of prior learning and regional mobility as tools for tackling skills shortages
💡 Examined the role of VET and skills policies in supporting the green and digital transition

The Steering Group meeting was chaired by Roland Hanak from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Jürgen Schick from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Nataliia Atamanenko and Tetiana Iemets from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, and Anna Gherganova and Ludmila Pavlov representing the Republic of Moldova. The meeting was moderated by Nadija Afanasieva from the Ukrainian Institute for International Politics.

During the Steering Group Meeting, ERI SEE:
💡 Presented its strategic priorities and project development plans during the current transition period
💡 Shared plans for new regional initiatives and strengthened cooperation with key partners including European Training Foundation and OeAD-GmbH – Agentur für Bildung und Internationalisierung
💡 Highlighted future work related to VET modernisation, quality assurance, adult learning, lifelong learning, and green and digital skills
💡 Contributed to discussions on future cooperation within the EUSDR framework and the Common Regional Market agenda.
💡 Provided an opportunity to exchange updates with key EUSDR PA9 stakeholders and partner organisations. Among the speakers were Gordon Purvis from the European Training Foundation (ETF) and Jürgen Schick from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education.

More SEE website:

ERI SEE Participated in the 14th International Stakeholder Conference and the 30th Steering Group Meeting of EUSDR Priority Area 9 in Sofia – ERI SEE Secretariat ERI SEE Participated in the 14th International Stakeholder Conference and the 30th Steering Group Meeting of EUSDR Priority Area 9 in Sofia May 29, 2026 The Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe (ERI SEE) participated in the 14th International Stakeholder Conference and the 30th Steeri...

A coordination meeting between Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe - ERI SEE and the ETF - European Training Foundation was held on 11 May 2026, focusing on strengthening cooperation in key areas of education, skills, and EU accession processes.
The meeting was coordinated by Gordon Purvis, ETF Country Liaison for Serbia and member of the ERI SEE Consultative Body, together with ETF colleagues Filippo Del Ninno, Lisa Rustico, Alessandro Brolpito, Olena Bekh and Wouter Van Damme.

During the meeting the ETF presented:
💡 work related to online job vacancies, labour-market intelligence, ESCO, skills anticipation and matching skills to labour-market needs.
💡 work in the field of adult learning including cross-country mapping and analysis of legal frameworks, governance, financing
💡 plans for further analytical and policy work in this area during 2026 and beyond
💡 work supporting innovation in teaching and learning
💡 the ETF initiatives: Scaffold: a card game to revolutionise teaching, , the READY model, Community of Innovative Educators, Teacher booster, FormA: a formative assessment toolkit, ETF micro-credential courses, DERF 2.0
💡 the ETF event in Brussels “Connecting the Dots” 27-29 May and dissemination webinar “Study on the Digital Competence of Teachers in Montenegro”, scheduled for 3 June 2026.
💡 topics related to quality assurance, Centres of Vocational Excellence, digital competences, artificial intelligence and broader European policy developments

The discussion explored: importance of aligning education and employment policies, strengthening skills intelligence systems and supporting upskilling and adult learning policies, challenges related to participation in adult learning, the impact of demographic changes, labour shortages, digitalisation and the green transition, validation of non-formal and informal learning.

The meeting confirmed continued alignment between ERI SEE and ETF and identified concrete follow-up actions for joint activities and regional cooperation.

More on the meeting is available on the ERI SEE website:

ERI SEE and ETF Hold Coordination Meeting on Future Regional Cooperation and Education Policies – ERI SEE Secretariat ERI SEE and ETF Hold Coordination Meeting on Future Regional Cooperation and Education Policies May 11, 2026 As part of the implementation of ERI SEE’s 2026 Work Programme and its strategic orientation towards strengthening cooperation with international partners, a coordination meeting between th...

Sandra Brkanović, Director of Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe - ERI SEE, participated as a speaker at the regional webinar “Visibility and value of skills in algorithmically managed work in the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, organised by ETF - European Training Foundation on 12 May 2026.
It was moderated by Branka Andjelkovic, while speakers also included Cristiana Burzio, representatives of the Infostud, Elvisa Drishti, Ph.D., Nermin Oruc and representatives of qualifications authorities from the region.

The webinar:
💡 Facilitated discussion on how algorithmically managed work and digital platforms are reshaping labour markets, skill demand, and education policies
💡 Placed emphasis on the changing visibility and valuation of skills in data-driven and digitally mediated work environments
💡 Presented aligning skills systems across the Western Balkans through strengthened regional cooperation
💡 Highlighted ERI SEE’s work on occupational and qualification standards, curricula, teacher training, lifelong learning, and work-based learning
💡 Showcased growing importance of digital, transversal, and adaptive competences in rapidly evolving labour markets
💡 Emphasised need to strengthen lifelong learning, upskilling/reskilling, and recognition of non-formal and informal learning
💡 Highlighted the importance of implementation capacity, investment in teachers, and regional exchange of practices

The webinar reinforced the role of regional dialogue in addressing shared challenges linked to digital transformation and the future of work.

The recording is available on 👉

ETF SLNE_ SEET Regional Webinar on Visibility and Value of Skills in Algorithmically Managed Work ETF Skills Lab Network of Experts_12.05.2026 - SEET Regional webinar - Visibility and Value of Skills in Algorithmically Managed Work in the Western Balkans ...

Director of theEducation Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe - ERI SEE Secretariat, Sandra Brkanović, participated in a series of working meetings in Zagreb (5-8 May 2026), alongside WorldSkills Croatia 2026 - one of the region’s leading vocational education and skills events in Southeast Europe.

The visit to Zagreb was organized as part of ERI SEE’s strategic activities and ongoing efforts to strengthen regional cooperation, policy dialogue and partnerships in vocational education and training, higher education and skills development by:

👉 Advancing discussions on new regional project initiatives, partnerships, and potential funding opportunities

👉 Focusing on priority areas: VET modernisation, quality assurance, work-based learning, adult learning, and alignment with European processes

👉 Initiating discussions on a regional skills competition model connected to WorldSkills Europe and WorldSkills International

👉 Reinforcing cooperation with Croatian institutions, with emphasis on VET reform, higher education, and quality assurance

👉 Conductiong bilateral meetings with key partners, including Skills Austria,Agency for Vocational Education and Training and Adult Education - ASOO, Centre for Vocational Education and Training of the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia

The visit contributed to ERI SEE’s broader strategic orientation for 2026, particularly in expanding regional networks and developing sustainable, jointly owned initiatives.

🔗 https://www.erisee.org/eri-see-director-visited-worldskills-croatia-2026-in-zagreb-for-regional-cooperation-and-project-development-meetings/

At the invitation of the Privredna komora Srbije | Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia , Education Reform Initiative of South Eastern Europe - ERI SEE Director Sandra Brkanović joined the “Dual Education” podcast hosted by Aleksandra Milić, discussing key developments in vocational and dual education across the region.

The discussion addressed:

👉 key topics related to vocational and dual education in Montenegro and the region

👉 the development of qualifications aligned with labour market needs

👉cooperation with employers and the role of work-based learning

👉 regional challenges in VET systems

👉 importance of aligning education with labour market demands.

👉 the role of ERI SEE in supporting education reforms through regional

👉 the role of Ms Brkanovic as Technical Delegate of Montenegro in WorldSkills Europe

👉 the importance of skills competitions for promoting quality and excellence in vocational education,

👉 the idea of a Balkan Skills initiative

The full podcast is available here:

Подкаст | Сандра Бркановић (ERI SEE) | ЕП 11 Подкаст о дуалном образовању бави се значајем сарадње између привреде и образовања и отвара питања која су данас важнија него икада, како за младе, тако и за...

🎓 Unlock new learning opportunities with the EBU Scholarship Programme

The ERI SEE Secretariat, in partnership with the European Business University (EBU), is proud to promote the EBU Scholarship Programme, an initiative expanding access to high-quality, career-relevant online education, supported by the Luxembourg Government. This opportunity is open to all learners aged 16+, reinforcing our shared commitment to inclusivity and lifelong learning.

💡 What’s on offer? A diverse portfolio of accredited courses, including:
• Business Management with AI Integration
• Entrepreneurship and Communication
• Data-Driven Research and Analytical Insights
• Financial Markets and Evaluation
• Women and Leadership
• Leadership and Change Management
• Hospitality: Front Office Operations (with AI considerations)
• Deep Learning with TensorFlow
• Natural Language Processing
• Introduction to Python with AI Integration
• AI for Leaders and Managers
• English Language Programmes (Beginner to Advanced Business English)
• Cyber Security Professional Certificate

💶 Accessible and affordable
While the market value of each course is €740, through this partnership learners can enrol with a commitment fee of just €25-€50.

🌍 Courses are delivered in English, with additional English language support available within the programme.

🚀 Each program/course starts on 04 May 2026, lasts 13 weeks. The application deadline is 01 May 2026.

👉 Take the next step in your professional development and apply here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSceoPT3x_KrB9ToSl3G85yFqJJ-sqPSlgKjQa_xX98kipb_Ew/viewform

📩 For more information: [email protected]

ERI SEE participated in the regional conference “Bridging Futures: Internationalisation of Higher Education in the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe”, held on 26–27 March 2026 in Skopje, co-organised by the Regional Cooperation Council - RCC and the World Bank, under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science of North Macedonia.
The Conference discussions focused on:
👉 Strengthening internationalisation as a driver of quality, competitiveness, and system resilience
👉 Improving mobility and recognition of qualifications across the region
👉 Enhancing governance and quality assurance systems in line with European standards
👉 Strengthening cooperation between higher education institutions, industry and policymakers

The ERI SEE Secretariat was represented by Sandra Brkanović, Director of ERI SEE, who participated as a panelist in the Lab session on strengthening governance and quality systems for regional cooperation. Her contribution focused on advancing quality assurance and fostering a quality culture in higher education through regional cooperation and alignment with European frameworks.