The Danish city of Kolding hosted the Forum on Vocational Excellence 2025 on 8–9 September, gathering more than 350 participants from across Europe and beyond. Policymakers, educators, industry representatives, and students came together to debate how Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) can strengthen skills ecosystems and ensure vocational education and training (VET) delivers on Europe’s digital and green transitions.
Skills, Competitiveness, and the Danish Model
Across plenary sessions, panels, and workshops, a common message emerged: VET must evolve to meet labour market needs while remaining attractive and inclusive. Manuela Geleng (European Commission, DG EMPL) underlined that “skills are at the heart of Europe’s competitiveness”, linking VET directly to economic resilience and the labour market challenges identified in the Draghi report.
The Danish VET model, based on close cooperation between employers, trade unions, and government, was repeatedly highlighted as a best practice. By involving social partners directly in shaping curricula and training pathways, Denmark ensures programmes stay relevant to the needs of industry while offering strong support to learners.
A Student Voice on Excellence
One of the most powerful interventions came from Mads Haugsbøll, Secretary General of the Danish VET Student’s Association, who reminded participants that VET is still struggling with an image problem across Europe. Too often perceived as a “second choice,” VET needs better storytelling, more visibility of excellence, and stronger integration of practical and theoretical learning.
Haugsbøll also stressed the importance of mobility and cultural exchange, arguing that Erasmus+ and other cross-border opportunities must become a standard part of VET curricula. “Students don’t just need skills,” he said. “They need experiences that connect them to the wider world of work — and to each other.”
LCAMP in the Spotlight
LCAMP was represented at the Forum by Alicia Gaban, Communications Manager, who contributed to the workshop “Blueprints for Brilliance: Designing Diverse Centres of Vocational Excellence.”
Introducing LCAMP as the Learner-Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform, coordinated by TKNIKA in the Basque Country, Alicia emphasized that true excellence starts with people:
“In LCAMP, we start with the learners. Because a Centre of Vocational Excellence only has real impact if it creates new opportunities for people.”
She presented LCAMP’s main initiatives:
- Strengthening SME–VET connections through an open innovation community.
- Developing a Skills Observatory and AI-powered Skills Finder to match people with opportunities.
- Creating Collaborative Learning Factories that replicate real-life production chains and bring students together across borders.
Mobility and inclusiveness, Alicia stressed, are not challenges but opportunities — echoing the student message from the plenary. Learners in LCAMP gain not only technical skills, but also confidence, intercultural awareness, and a sense of belonging to a European and global skills ecosystem.
Before closing, Alicia also announced the dates for the next LCAMP Networking Conference and Students Hub, which will take place on 21–23 April 2026 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain.
Alongside the workshops, the LCAMP team also ran an information session during the poster exhibition to introduce participants to the alliance and to invite them to join the LCAMP Conference 2026.
Experiencing Excellence First-Hand
The final day of the Forum was dedicated to study visits across different locations in Kolding, allowing participants to experience the Danish CoVE model in practice. These visits showcased how partnerships between schools, companies, and communities translate into hands-on excellence for learners.
Looking Ahead
The Forum on Vocational Excellence 2025 showcased both the progress and the challenges in building stronger, more inclusive skills systems. For LCAMP, it was a chance to underline a core belief: that excellence is measured not only in structures or strategies, but in the opportunities created for learners.
The Forum concluded with important announcements about the future of the CoVE movement: the next CoVEs Forum will take place in 2026 in Graz, Austria, followed by the 2027 edition in Greece.
We also extend our gratitude to the many students involved in organising and supporting the conference. Their contribution was a reminder that excellence begins with learners — and that giving them meaningful opportunities is the best way to build the skills ecosystems of tomorrow.
The Forum on Vocational Excellence 2025 showcased both the progress and the challenges in building stronger, more inclusive skills systems. For LCAMP, it was a chance to underline a core belief: that excellence is measured not only in structures or strategies, but in the opportunities created for learners.
