On 27 September 2023, the Joint Declaration of Intent between Germany and Latvia on cooperation in vocational education and training was officially extended for another four years. The extension was formalised in a prestigious signing ceremony, presided over by the President of Skillman, Giovanni Crisonà. The Latvian State Secretary for Education and Science, Santa Šmīdlere, and the German Ambassador in Riga, Christian Heldt, ceremoniously handed over the Joint Declaration between the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Latvian Ministry of Education and Science (IZM).
The handover took place within the framework of the European Skillman Forum, our high-profile international event dedicated to skills development and vocational excellence. Held annually since 2014, the Skillman Forum brings together key stakeholders from education, industry, and policymaking to shape the future of technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
The 2023 edition, hosted in Latvia, gathered around 250 participants, offering a platform for discussions on emerging skills trends, innovation in TVET, and transnational cooperation.
As the Skillman Secretariat, we take pride in fostering and accompanying international cooperation in education and VET, supporting initiatives that strengthen collaboration among states and enhance vocational training systems worldwide.
