European Year of Skills and Global Citizenship Education - Building Skills for a Sustainable World

2023 has been designated the European Year of Skills as the EU moves to ensure we are prepared for the Digital and Green Transition, but there is concern that it is narrowly focussed on employment skills and the needs of the Labour Market. While the idea of a European Year of Skills is very welcome, Global Citizenship Education (GCE) and civil society organisations are concerned that the EU is taking a narrow interpretation of skills a holistic approach that would encompass the transversal and life skills needed to strengthen sustainability, democracy, and social inclusion. 


We believe that skills should be understood in a more holistic way to encompass those that not only provide for professional development but also the transversal and life skills required to strengthen sustainability, democracy, and social inclusion echoed so strongly in SDG 4.7. In May 2023, the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA), in conjunction with our partners in Bridge 47, organised a Round Table event in the European Parliament with MEPs, European Commission officials and Civil Society organisations on the theme European Year of Skills and Global Citizenship Education - Building skills for a sustainable world.


The roundtable discussion focused on how a lifelong and life-wide learning approach to the European Year of Skills that looks beyond the labour market, can help learners to become active participants in society and build competencies for a more sustainable world.

 

The event was hosted by Barry Andrews MEP, Member of Development Committee and Chair of European Parliament SDG Alliance, who co-chaired the discussion with Maria Walsh MEP, Member of Employment and Social Affairs Committee and Culture and Education Committee. Other speakers included:


  • Grace O'Sullivan MEP, Member of Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety
  • Sean Kelly MEP, Member of Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
  • Billy Kelleher MEP, Member of Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
  • Joao Alberqueque MEP, Member of Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and the Committee on Fisheries
  • Carlo Scatoli, Senior Expert, Skills Agenda Unit, Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
  • Agnieszka Skuratowicz, Head of Unit –INTPA G3, Education, Youth and Culture, DG International Partnerships
  • Michael Teutsch, Head of Unit, EAC B,2, Youth, Education and Erasmus+, Schools and Multilingualism. DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture,
  • Leo Kilroy, Education and Skills Attaché to Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union
  • Liam Wegimont, Executive Director, Global Education Network Europe (GENE)
  • Frank Geary, Director, Irish Development Education Association (IDEA)
  • Rilli Lappalainen, Chairperson Bridge 47 Network, A coalition of organisations and individuals from around the globe dedicated to furthering SDG Target 4.7 and Global Citizenship education.
  • Raffaela Kihrer, Deputy Secretary General and Head of Policy, European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA)

 

A range of Civil Society Organisations were also present including IDEA Members - Global Village, Meath Partnership, UCC Praxis, An Taisce Green Schools, Habitat for Humanity - Bridge 47, the Lifelong Learning Partnership, Platforma, Solidar, Concord and the DEAR Support team. A number of MEPs who were unable to attend were also represented at the event, including Chris McManus MEP, Frances Fitzgerald MEP and Deirdre Clune MEP.


Speaking at the event Frank Geary, IDEA Director said: “There is a huge opportunity with the European Year of Skills to embrace GCE and the transversal skills such as critical thinking and interdependence that we focus on. We also want to underline the importance of GCE and SDG 4.7 to all the work of the European Union. The text adopted by the EU Parliament on the European Year of Skills  emphasises ‘ensuring socially fair and just green and digital transitions’ and ‘empowering individuals to fully participate in the labour market, society and democracy.’ Global Citizenship Education and SDG 4.7 are essential for this.”


Also speaking at the event, Rilli Lappalainen, Bridge 47 Chairperson said:

“We can’t achieve a sustainable future if we don’t take education and learning seriously in the context of the European Year of Skills. We need to understand that we need skills, not only for the labour force but for life. We need stakeholders such as the Commission and the European Parliament to take that aspect on board, seriously, so that we can live in harmony together with the planet.”


This was an open and positive discussion, and the central messages were clearly heard. 


You can watch a short video with some of the key points from the roundtable below, featuring Barry Andrews MEP, Frank Geary, IDEA, and Rilli Lappalainen, Bridge 47 Network:

 


May 12, 2025
IDEA to Honour President Higgins with Inaugural Global Voice for Humanity Award at Annual Conference
May 2, 2025
Dates: Thursday 10 July,10.00am-6.00pm and Friday 11 July, 10.00am-3.00pm Location: An Tairseach, Wicklow IDEA is thrilled to open applications for our second iteration of the IDEA's Lab. In this first of its kind residential Lab, we will create space where members can bring their ideas for projects and try out new planning and design methods. Participants will have the opportunity to work on an idea from scratch to (almost) finish with the support of expert trainers and learn through group exchange in a welcoming and inspiring setting. Participants will come out of the training with: An early project design proofed, tested and built through group feedback, iteration, trialling and support. New approaches in designing innovative projects they can apply to their workplace Headspace and time to work on the design of an innovative project A chance to actively learn through group exchange and strengthen the sense of an innovative community of practice in Ireland How? Please email anya@ideaonline.ie to request an application form. Requesting an application form does not commit you to applying. The deadline for returning application form (including organisational sign off letter) is Friday 23 May, midnight . You will find further details in the application form. Participants must register as a team of 2min.- 4 max. Participants without a team member will be asked to pair up with other individual participants or find a partner outside their organisation. Cost : This training is funded by Irish Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs and offered at a reduced rate. This training is only available to IDEA members. Non-IDEA members can participant as part of an IDEA member team. Fees for members of IDEA is €50  Irish Aid is the Government’s overseas development programme which supports partners working in some of the world’s poorest countries. Irish Aid also supports global citizenship education in Ireland to encourage learning and public engagement with global issues the ideas, opinions and comments expressed in this training are entirely the responsibility of its author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect DFA policy. Timeline: Applications open: 07 May Applications close: 23 May, midnight Preparatory session with trainer (30min, online): Mid June Lab arrival: Where possible we advise arrival on Wednesday 09 July in the evening. Accommodation and food will be provided from 09 July, 5.00pm - 11 July, 3.00pm Lab: 10 July,10.00am-6.00pm. 11 July, 10.00am-3.00pm Please don’t hesitate to get in touch at anya@ideaonline.ie if any of the above pose a barrier to your participation, or if you have any other questions.
April 29, 2025
Wednesday 18 June, 10.00am - 4.00pm Wynn’s Hotel, Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1