The opening conference for the education community
Skills for school, work and life – that was the message of the Festival of Skills 2025, organised for the third time by the State Institute of Vocational Education and held from 22–26 September across Slovakia.
Throughout the festival week, hundreds of participants engaged in discussions, workshops and presentations, confirming that developing new skills is possible at any age.
The week opened with a conference for the education community, which focused on how new legal frameworks in Slovakia will shape the future of adult education. The discussion went beyond regulations, highlighting the importance of lifelong learning, quality assurance and stronger cooperation between training providers and employers.
Student presentation: Radio Contact with the ISS Astronaut (Academy of Talents)
The following day belonged to the Academy of Talents and the Crafts Market.
In the morning, the event celebrated the achievements of vocational school students who have turned their creativity, technical skills and entrepreneurial ideas into award-winning projects. Their stories inspired younger peers and showed that vocational education can be both innovative and forward-looking.
In the afternoon, schools presented their study programmes and crafts to the public demonstrating that vocational education in Slovakia has a lot to offer.
Panel discussion (Conference on Quality in Education)
Mid-week, the Conference on Quality in Education brought together professionals from different sectors – from the State School Inspectorate and employer associations to the Ministry of Education and independent analysts – discussing the need of consensus on what quality in education truly means and how it can be institutionally embedded. The possibility of adopting a common strategy for quality in education was discussed as one of the options. Quality, as many agreed, is not a final goal but a living process that requires active engagement from everyone within the education system.
The Skills Showcase opened the festival to the public – from children to seniors – offering a vibrant mix of activities and learning experiences. Visitors could explore a wide range of topics from financial literacy, digital and career skills and volunteering, to traditional crafts, environmental education and global citizenship.
Students presented fascinating chemistry experiments (Crafts Market)
Throughout the week, partner organisations across Slovakia hosted side events, helping to spread the message that developing skills matters at every stage of life.
Festival by the Numbers:
- 32 participating vocational schools
- 30 partner organisations
- 2 expert conferences with nearly 200 participants
- Hundreds of visitors across all festival events
- All events free and open to the public
Discover presentations, photos, and videos at: www.siov.sk/festival-zrucnosti
Check the Aftermovie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3FYburJhIw&t=18s (Academy of Talents and the Crafts Market Aftermovie)
Bratislava Volunteer Center stand at The Skills Showcase
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
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Author: Gabriela Budayova, Communication and Social Media Coordinator, State Institute of Vocational Education
