The ALLVIEW Conference, held during the 3rd Forum on Vocational Excellence in Lyon, France, marked a significant milestone in the development of vocational education and training (VET) across Europe. As part of the WorldSkills International Conference, the ALLVIEW project brought together experts, educators, and industry leaders to showcase the strides made in the wood and furniture sector through a transnational collaboration.
The conference focused on the achievements of the ALLVIEW project, which over the past four years, helped modernize the wood and furniture industry by addressing key challenges and creating a strong vocational education platform for this sector. Supported by Erasmus+ Key Action 3, ALLVIEW united 22 partners from 8 countries, turning challenges into opportunities and strengthening the competitiveness of the industry.
On the first day of the Forum, attendees were welcomed by distinguished speakers, including Florence Poivey, President of WorldSkills France, and Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. These key figures emphasized the importance of vocational training and the role of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in reshaping the future of skills across Europe. The opening session set the stage for in-depth discussions on European excellence in vocational training.
On the second day, the ALLVIEW project conference took center stage, thanks to a series of engaging workshops held at WorldSkills in EUREXPO, Lyon. These sessions provided a dynamic exchange of knowledge for participants to explore the project’s achievements and innovations, fostering meaningful discussions on the future of vocational education in the wood and furniture industry.
The third day was dedicated to the final conference of ALLVIEW: Crafting Tomorrow: Innovating Vocational Education in Wood & Furniture
The conference began with the opening remarks and presentation by Hélène Barry, Project Advisor at EACEA and project officer for the ALLVIEW project, then continue with an insightful keynote panel on Trends and Policies for Smart and Competitive Wood and Furniture Industries, moderated by Roberta Dall’Olio, Director at EURADA. Industry leaders such as Gabriella Kemendi, Secretary General at EFIC, and Thomas Aime from SCM GROUP shared their perspectives on the evolving landscape of the sector.
The ALLVIEW project, through its collaborative platform, successfully connected regional, national, and European partners. It aimed to modernize the sector and provided innovative tools that transformed the way vocational education was delivered in the wood and furniture industry. This aspect was highlighted during The ALLVIEW Journey: Industry Empowerment through People Empowerment, a session led by project manager Maria Sanchez Melero in which the speakers like 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. They emphasized the development of new learning methodologies, technologies, and networks that fostered growth in the sector. The audience was particularly interested in the presentation of a sectoral Blueprint, which summarized the main achievements of the project and highlighted the roadmap for future innovation.
As the conference progressed, The ALLVIEW Project and Beyond session further explored the impact of the initiative. Participants engaged in an interactive discussion with project managers and representative from various sectors connected 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’s outcomes could be applied across other industries.
The session also touched on future challenges, focusing on sustainability, digitalization, and the need for continuous collaboration. The consortium leaders encouraged participants to remain engaged and explore new opportunities to ensure the project’s long-lasting impact on vocational education.
The ALLVIEW Conference concluded with a wrap-up session that reflected on the success of the project and the conference itself. The all moderators of the sessions, expressed her gratitude to all the speakers, organizers, and participants. She highlighted how ALLVIEW had strengthened collaboration within the wood and furniture sector, turning vocational education into a driving force for industry innovation.
After the conference, attendees enjoyed a networking lunch, where they continued to share ideas and discuss potential collaborations for future projects. This gathering not only celebrated the achievements of the past four years but also laid the groundwork for new initiatives aimed at modernizing vocational training in Europe.
The ALLVIEW Conference was a resounding success, providing a platform for the wood and furniture sector to showcase the results of its hard work and collaboration. Over the course of the event, participants exchanged ideas, discussed innovative approaches, and reinforced the importance of vocational education in fostering industry competitiveness. The conference proved that through collaboration, vocational education can evolve to meet the needs of modern industries and prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow.