On April 7 and 8, 2022, a regional conference “Skills for Future Jobs” was held with which the Ministry of Education and Science and the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia created a platform for experts to engage in open dialogue and share good practices on how to connect the skills to future jobs.
With the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the two-day event focused on future professional skills, youth employment and entrepreneurial opportunities and numerous local and international experts contributed and shared future trends. The global drivers of change, the trends that shape the labor market and its needs, the impact of the transition changes in developing countries, as well as the needs for diverse skills in the future were presented.
Through practical examples of innovative approaches and various digital solutions in foreign countries, the attendees had the opportunity to discover more details about the digitalization process and exchange experiences.
During the discussions on topics such as IT and e-commerce, green energy, manufacturing and tourism, it was concluded that the countries of Southeastern Europe face similar challenges. According to the participants, development of digital skills in all areas is needed, as well as skills for negotiation, communication, marketing, innovation, critical thinking, leadership and problem-solving skills. They believe that the energy sector is crucial for the development of the region and the private sector should be more involved in the creation and implementation of educational policies.
Such a platform for skills and employment should encourage exchange and cooperation at strategic and operational level between the countries in the region and beyond.
The Macedonian Civic Education Center (MCEC) led the overall technical organization of the event and provided expert input in the selection of moderators, presenters and panelists.
