Twenty years ago, in 2000, it was the first time I sat in the EFVET conference. Conference facilities were in CEDEFOP head-quarters in Thessaloniki, Greece. On that time I was in charge of the international activities of my college and I took my job seriously. During the conference, I asked an Irish fellow sitting beside me to have a beer in downtown and after that (or maybe after two beers…) we planned a common project launched next year.
At the same conference Hans van Aalst was nominated the president of EfVET. Since that I have participated EfVET conferences (couple missed) and after every conference was networks with new partners born. Finnish EfVET colleagues encouraged me to be more active in EfVET and I was nominated in the Steering Committee at 2007. And 2009 I was elected in the Excecutive Team on Treasurer’s position. I held that position till 2016. From 2005 to 2010, I was also vice-president of IVETA (International Vocational Education and Training Association). So I got a total brain-wash of international activites and noticed world is small and common.
To be a part of EfVET family has given me a lot of new ideas, new view-points and especially, good friends. What I have learned during these years in EfVET is that we all must be open, curious, honest, and cooperative. By that we can create a better world for all. Keep all borders open, also in your mind.