Allview – Alliance of Centres of Vocational Excellence is a project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union serving as a transnational cooperation platform to gather industry partners for the modernisation of Vocational Education and Training (VET) methodologies in the wood and furniture sector. Addressing industry challenges such as the shortage of skilled workers and outdated training methods, the project recognises the urgency to adapt to emerging issues like digitalisation and sustainability.
By embracing innovative approaches to vocational education and training, the project strives to catalyse advancements in vocational training policies, fostering collaboration among stakeholders to modernise training methodologies and meet industry demands. The consortium is composed of associations and federations representing the wood and furniture industry in Europe, vocational training providers, high schools, research and innovation centres and other experts, merging expertise and competencies into the widest ever imagined sectoral community.
On September 11 and 12, 2024, the project consortium gathered in Lyon, France, for the final conference of the Allview project. The event took place within the worldwide framework of the Forum of Vocational Excellence 2024 and the WorldSkills Competition 2024, two major events in the VET sector attended by experts, practitioners, students and trainers, EU and national institutional actors, companies and industry representatives, offering them a unique opportunity to attend inspiring sessions and interactive workshops and test innovative tools from companies, VET centres, projects and initiatives.
Allview was part of the Expo area among the 7 Vocational Excellence Villages, where participants could test hands-on materials produced in the framework of the project.
On the second day, ALLVIEW final conference provided a dynamic platform for comprehensive discussions, delving into the project’s outcomes and successful achievements. The conference opened with a warm welcome by Alessia Di Francesca, Communication Manager of Allview from CEIPES. Hélène Barry, Project Advisor at the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission joined the event with a keynote speech addressing the Centers of Vocational Excellence initiative and the opportunities it offers.
The first keynote panel revolved around trends and policies for smart and competitive wood and furniture industries, moderated by the EURADA Director Roberta Dall’Olio and featured by Gabriella Kemendi, EFIC Secretary General, Thomas Aime, SCM GROUP Product Area Manager and Vincent Joseph, Europe and International Project Manager at Centre INFFO.
Subsequently, the successful cooperation among European, national and regional partners was celebrated in the first talk addressing the Allview journey and the way the project aimed at empowering both industry and people and regional economies, as a consequence. This session was joined by Victoria Bueno from UPC, Jacqueline De Kok from HMC Netherlands, Marta Serrano from EURADA and Massimiliano Rumignani from AMBIT Spain, who shared how the project empowered students, teachers and industry professionals from employers to workforce, emphasizing the importance of new learning methodologies, technologies and leading networks that foster growth in the sector.
The final talk featured the audience engaging in an interactive discussion with project managers and representatives from various sectors connected to wood and furniture. Experts such as Julio Rodrigo from AMBIT Cluster, Cécile Aillerie from SEPR, Jens Hofmann from SBG Dresden, and Florence Kuijl from InnovaWood discussed how the project outcomes could be deployed transversally across other industries.
The Allview Conference was a great success, serving as a valuable platform for the wood and furniture industry to highlight its achievements and collaborative efforts. Throughout the event, attendees shared ideas, explored innovative strategies, and emphasised the crucial role of vocational education in enhancing industry competitiveness. The conference demonstrated that through collaboration, vocational education can adapt to the demands of modern industries and equip students to face future challenges.
