Ambassador Pigliapoco at the TVET Alliance Summit 2025 – Ancona, 9 July 2025
On 9–10 July 2025, Ambassador Fabio Pigliapoco, Head of the AII Permanent Secretariat, took part in the TVET Alliance Summit 2025, organised in Ancona by the Skillman Network, in collaboration with the Marche Polytechnic University and a wide range of academic and institutional stakeholders.
The conference, held under the theme “A skills system that empowers people and societies: Future-fit education and training for sustainable development”, explored how Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) can contribute to innovation, resilience, and regional cooperation. In his welcome address during the Opening Session, Ambassador Pigliapoco underlined the importance of aligning skills development with the priorities of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) and highlighted the relevance of the ongoing North Macedonian Chairmanship of the Initiative.
The Summit gathered representatives of the European Commission, ministries, universities, chambers of commerce, youth councils, and international organisations. The debates unfolded through three main sessions:
- Plenary Session 1 – Aligning Skills Development with EUSAIR Priorities: the Skillman Teacher Academy model, exploring how skills strategies can match macro-regional objectives.
- Plenary Session 2 – The Role of Entrepreneurship Education in Regional Development, focusing on entrepreneurial competences as drivers of sustainable growth.
- Plenary Session 3 – Educational Excellence for Lifelong Learning: the coves.eu model, showcasing Centres of Vocational Excellence as engines for innovation and inclusion.
With its strong link to EUSAIR and to the priorities of the Adriatic-Ionian Region, the TVET Alliance Summit provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen cooperation between EU and Western Balkan partners, advancing shared objectives in education, employment, and regional development.