EfVET is sad to announce the passing away of Mr. Helmut Zelloth from ETF
Helmut Zelloth passed away last weekend in Italy.
Helmut Zelloth was a Senior Specialist in VET Policies and Systems at the European Training Foundation (ETF), an agency of the European Union (EU) based in Italy, Turin. ETF’s mission is to help transition and developing countries to harness the potential of their human capital through the reform of education, training and labour market systems in the context of the EU’s external relations policy.
Helmut’s work focused on vocational education and training policies, career guidance, work-based learning and apprenticeships. He gained international experience in more than 50 countries in the world providing policy analysis and policy advice to Governments. On career guidance, he co-ordinated several regional/cross-country policy reviews (Candidate countries to the EU, North Africa and Middle East, Western Balkans) and authored policy papers addressed to governments (i.e. Turkey, Serbia, Kosovo, Jordan and Egypt).
He was a member of the Board of the International Network on Innovative Apprenticeship (INAP) and contributed to the development of the International Memorandum ‘An Architecture for Modern Apprenticeships’. Prior to joining ETF, he worked in Austria as Head of a European Information Centre for rural areas, Project Director of a business cluster (public-private partnership) in urban infrastructure and environmental technologies, as high-school teacher and as Specialist in VET and adult education at the Chamber of Agriculture.
He was co-author of the book: ‘Innovative Apprenticeships: Promoting Successful School-To-Work Transitions’, and of many research papers, especially on career guidance and youth transition from education to work, focused on the Mediterranean Region. To this day, the numerous books and research papers that Helmut wrote on topical subjects remain an indispensable tool in the VET world. We say with great pain, thanks to Helmut for his contributions.
EfVET President, James Calleja, recalls the fond memory of Helmut Zelloth: “When I joined ETF in 2004, Helmut was one of the few colleagues who helped me settle down in Torino. His smile reflected his kindness and commitment towards others. I remained in touch with Helmut ever since and every time he visited CEDEFOP while I was Director of the EU Agency, he always made it a point to either have lunch with me or to hold informal meetings so that we update each other on European VET. Helmut was one of the few with a sincere passion for VET and for those European countries who needed his expertise to develop vocational education and training for the unemployed, the marginalised, those who lost intestate in education, and others whose talent was never given the chance to develop. VET has lost a real and genuine expert. To his family and friends my sincere condolences. I shall never forget Helmut Zelloth”.