ALLVIEW 2024 Conference: Leading Innovation in Vocational Excellence

The ALLVIEW project, led by CETEM, was the protagonist of the Final Conference held in the framework of the 3rd Vocational Excellence Forum during the WorldSkills International event in Lyon. This international meeting brought together experts and industry leaders to discuss the future of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Europe, with special emphasis on the modernisation of the wood and furniture sector.

ALLVIEW, supported by Erasmus+ Key Action 3, has been a joint effort of 22 partners from 8 countries, aiming to address the challenges of the sector and strengthen its competitiveness through the creation of an advanced vocational training platform over the last four years.

On 11 September, the project had a prominent participation in two Vocational Villages, thematic areas reserved for exhibition stands at the Forum: ‘Industry and Mobility of the Future’ and ‘Energy Transition and Sustainable Cities’. The first stand, in partnership with the SCM Group, showcased the Startech CN K machine. In the second, the project’s MOOC platform and Extended Reality materials were presented, demonstrating the technological innovations that are transforming education in the sector.

In addition, CETEM participated in the workshops ‘Centers of Vocational Excellence: an Engine for Mobility’ and ‘Sustainability and Visibility of CoVEs,’ where the role of Centers of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) as engines of innovation and professional mobility in Europe was discussed.

On 12 September, the Final Conference l of the ALLVIEW project was held at the Lyon Chamber of Commerce, under the title ‘Crafting Tomorrow: Innovating Vocational Education in Wood & Furniture’.

The conference started with the keynote speech and presentation by Hélène Barry, EACEA project advisor and ALLVIEW project manager, and continued with an interesting panel discussion on trends and policies for smart and competitive wood and furniture industries, moderated by Roberta Dall’Olio, Director of EURADA together with other industry leaders such as Gabriella Kemendi, Secretary General of EFIC, and Thomas Aime, from SCM GROUP; who shared their perspectives on the evolving landscape of the sector.

One of the objectives of the ALLVIEW project was to modernise the sector and provide innovative tools that transformed the way VET is delivered in the wood and furniture industry. This aspect was highlighted during ‘The ALLVIEW Journey: Industry Empowerment through People Empowerment’, a session led by CETEM’s project coordinator, María Sánchez Melero, in which speakers such as Victoria Bueno from UPCT in Spain and Jacqueline De Kok from HMC in the Netherlands, Massimiliano Rumignani from AMBIT Spain and Marta Serrano from EURADA Belgium shared how the project empowered students, teachers and industry professionals.

Furthermore, the session ‘The ALLVIEW Project and Beyond’, moderated by Francisco Melero from CETEM, delved into the impact of the initiative. Participants engaged in an interactive debate with project managers and representatives from various sectors related to wood and furniture. Experts such as Julio Rodrigo from AMBIT Cluster and Cécile Aillerie from SEPR, Jens Hofmann from SBG Dresden, XR4CRAFTS and Florence Kuijl from InnovaWood, NEB Academy, discussed how the project results could be applied in other industries. The session also addressed future challenges, focusing on sustainability, digitalisation and the need for continuous collaboration. During the event there was also a space for synergies with the exhibition of posters from other related European projects.

The ALLVIEW 2024 Conference concluded on a positive note, highlighting the importance of European collaboration to advance the modernisation of the sector and its professional training.