BuildSkills Academy at the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2026

BuildSkills Academy took part in the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2026 on September 7-9 in Graz, Austria, contributing to the exchange on the future of skills and vocational excellence across Europe.

As part of the programme, the BuildSkills Academy team organised the interactive workshop “Rethinking Skills Recognition in VET – From Challenge-Based Learning to Certification”. The session brought together perspectives from the coordinator Cleantech Bulgaria, Cyprus University of Technology and Cyprus Certification Company and focused on how innovative learning, assessment and certification approaches can make VET more responsive to emerging industry needs.

Participants were introduced to key BuildSkills Academy results, including the BuildEnrichedSkills Methodology, the Digital Platform and the project’s approach to linking skills development, assessment, certification and recognition.

A strong emphasis was placed on interaction. Working in groups, participants explored evolving occupational profiles in the construction sector and discussed how relevant skills are currently learned, assessed and recognised. The exercise helped highlight existing gaps between training provision and credible skills recognition, as well as the potential of certification and micro-credentials to support more transparent and portable skills.

The workshop broadened the discussion to the future of CoVEs and skills ecosystems. Participants reflected on challenges such as rapidly changing industry needs, long-term sustainability, and the need for stronger cooperation between VET providers, employers and public authorities.

One of the main messages emerging from the workshop was clear: skills recognition works best when the whole chain is connected – from identifying labour-market needs, through relevant training and assessment, to trusted certification and wider recognition.

Beyond the workshop, BuildSkills Academy was also represented with a stand in the Forum’s exhibition area, where we presented our project, met other CoVEs and VET stakeholders, and exchanged ideas on future cooperation.

All the networking and exchange activities, incl. the workshops and study visits during the forum, offered further inspiration, practical examples and peer learning opportunities. Last but not least, the Forum allowed us to further strengthen BuildSkills Academy’s contribution to future-ready skills ecosystems in the construction sector.