Discuss Learning

Conference framework

The rapid technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, interactive learning systems, and educational data analytics are transforming the educational landscape. In particular, the swift integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the educational process creates new opportunities while also presenting significant challenges. Simultaneously, developments in the economy and technology highlight the growing need for the development of green skills and the creation of new, sustainable professions.

The close interconnection between Vocational Education and Training (VET) and the business sector, especially within the fields of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and industry, constitutes a fundamental pillar for developing skills that meet the actual demands of the labor market. At this juncture, Centers of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) serve as hubs of innovation and skills development, establishing ecosystems that connect VET with the needs of both local and international markets.

Taking these factors into consideration, the 7th DISCUSS LEARNING Conference “Vocational Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change,” invites all interested parties—educators and trainers, students and apprentices, researchers, representatives of relevant organizations, and business executives—to contribute their expertise and ideas toward formulating a modern educational policy that is both technologically advanced and environmentally friendly.

The objective of the Conference

The conference aims to become a focal point for educators, researchers, policymakers, and professionals to discuss the challenges and opportunities emerging in the new era of VET. Through lectures, discussions, and workshops, it will highlight best practices, innovative approaches, and strategies for strengthening vocational education and training, with the goal of preparing learners for the professions of the future and promoting sustainable development.

Conference Thematics

Centres of Vocational Excellence in Greece

Skills development and connection to the labour market

Green transition and skills

Speakers

Olga Kafetzopoulou

GENERAL SECRETARY FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, TRAINING & LIFELONG LEARNING OF THE GREEK MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

Theodor Grassos

SECRETARY GENERAL OF EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF INSTITUTES FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING (EVBB)

Victoria Apostolou

SAEK GLYFADA, REPRESENTING “INVESTECH” COVE

Kleanthis Kaldellis

FINANCIAL ENGINEER, UNIVERSITY OF WEST ATTICA, REPRESENTING AS PROJECT COORDINATOR “SECΟVE” (SUSTAINABLE ENERGY CENTRES OF VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE)

Paraskevas Lintzeris

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HELLENIC CONFEDERATION OF PROFESSIONALS, CRAFTSMEN & MERCHANTS (IME GSEVEE)

Dr. Stavros Pitsikalis

EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION HUB COORDINATOR, MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE AEGEAN – DEPARTMENT OF PRESCHOOL EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL DESIGN, REPRESENTING “SHOREWINNER” COVE

Natassa Kazantzidou

HEAD ON INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS DEPARTMENT, IDEC

Nikos Moraitis

PROJECT MANAGER EU FUNDED PROJECTS & TECHNICAL DIRECTOR CERTIFICATION DIVISION, SEV – IVEPE, REPRESENTING “BUILDSKILLS ACADEMY” COVE

Dr. Katerina Tzortzatou

SCIENTIFIC AND ACCELERATOR PROGRAMME OFFICER, NCSR DEMOKRITOS

Iveta Orbanova,

HEAD OF THE ASSOCIATION FOR INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT, SLOVAKIA

Milen Spasov

TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL “ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS” – SOFIA, BULGARIA

Milena Koleva

CLUSTER SOFIA KNOWLEDGE CITY

Paolo Nardi

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EFVET

Georgios Petrou

VICE PRESIDENT DEMETRA EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING S.A, REPRESENTING “PORTABILITY” COVE

Zoe Batsi

PROJECT MANAGER, IDEC

Dr. Achilleas Achilleos

FREDERICK UNIVERSITY, CYPRUS

Irene Gkotsi,

MODERATOR, IDEC

George Melissaropoulos

MEMBER OF THE HELLENIC FEDERATION OF SOLAR INDUSTRIES & HEAD OF WORKING GROUP 1 (CREATION OF A REGISTER AND CERTIFICATION OF INSTALLERS)

Eleni Toli

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE ATHENS UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS & BUSINESS, REPRESENTING “CATALYST” COVE

Dimitrios Souliotis

HEADMASTER OF SAEK GLYFADA, REPRESENTING “INVESTech” CoVE

Agenda

The event will be covered by simultaneous interpretation to and from English and it will be fully accessible to Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences, with interpretation in Greek Sign Language

Thursday, 20th of November 2025

9:00

Arrival-registrations

Welcome & distribution of materials
9:30

Conference opening

Xenia Chronopoulou, Vice-President and Managing Director, IDEC SA
09:40 – 10:00

Salutations – Opening speeches

Olga Kafetzopoulou, General Secretary for Vocational Education, Training & Lifelong Learning of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports

Paraskevas Lintzeris, Executive Director, Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen & Merchants (IME GSEVEE)
10:00 – 10:30

Policy Discussion: Vocational Education and Training in the era of Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change
Moderator: Zoe Batsi, Project manager, IDEC

Paolo Nardi, Executive director EfVET

Theodor Grassos, Secretary General of European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB)

1st Session

“Centres of Vocational Excellence in Greece”

10:30 – 11:45
Round table: The role & function of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in Greece.

Coordination Natassa Kazantzidou, Head on International Projects Department, IDEC
- Dimitrios Souliotis & Victoria Apostolou, SAEK Glyfada, representing “INVESTech” CoVE
- Eleni Toli, Research Associate Athens University of Economics & Business, representing “Catalyst” CoVE
- Georgios Petrou, Vice President DEMETRA Educational Consulting S.A, representing “Portability” CoVE
- Kleanthis Kaldellis, Financial Engineer, University of West Attica, representing as Project Coordinator “SECοVE” (Sustainable Energy Centres of Vocational Excellence)
- Dr. Stavros Pitsikalis, Educational Innovation Hub Coordinator, Member of the University of the Aegean – Department of Preschool Education and Educational Design, representing “Shorewinner” CoVE
- Nikos Moraitis, Project Manager EU funded projects & Technical Director Certification Division, SEV – IVEPE, representing “Buildskills Academy” CoVE
11:45 – 12:05

Coffee Break

2nd Session

“Centre of Professional Excellence in the ICT Sector – INVESTECH
Skills development and connection to the labour market”

12:05 – 13:30

Development of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) in the ICT Sector – The example of the European project INVESTech
Iveta Orbanova, Head of the Association for Innovation and Development, Slovakia

Transnational cooperation for the promotion of excellence in Vocational Education and Training
Milena Koleva, Cluster Sofia Knowledge City

Advanced Technologies and Micro-credentials in Vocational Education: Skills gaps and the development of innovative learning programmes
Dr. Achilleas Achilleos, Frederick University, Cyprus

Hackathons for promoting innovation in Vocational Education and Training
Milen Spasov, Technology school “Electronic Systems” – Sofia, Bulgaria

Quantum Computers: The Future of Innovation and their role in Vocational Education
Dr. Katerina Tzortzatou, Scientific and Accelerator Programme Officer, Demokritos

Promoting Entrepreneurship and Innovation through the INVESTech Centre of Vocational Excellence,
Nefeli Dimopoulou, IDEC
13:30 –14:30

Lunch Break

3rd Session

“Green transition and skills”

in collaboration with the Association of Anonymous Companies and Entrepreneurship

14.30 – 16:30

Linking Industry with Vocational Education and Training: the example of OASIS – Green skills in the solar energy and construction sectors
George Melissaropoulos, Member of the Hellenic Federation of Solar Industries & Head of Working Group 1 (Creation of a register and certification of installers)

Enhancing sustainability and promoting the green transition of businesses – The educational approach of the European GREEN ON project
Zoe Batsi, IDEC

Interactive workshop: Developing a green strategy for organisations through an educational card game
Facilitators: Zoe Batsi, Riv Negka, Irene Gkotsi, Ersi Niaoti, Orestis Ntagiantas, IDEC
16:30 – 17.00

Closing of the Conference

Review by Irene Gkotsi, IDEC

Evaluation

Closing of the conference

Venue

The conference will take place at Serafio Sports Complex on Thursday, 20 November 2025

Address: 19 Echelidon & 144 Pireos, 11854, Athens, Greece
Closest Metro station: Petralona & Kerameikos
Phone: 210 3426842

Planning & Organizing

IDEC SA has been organizing the DISCUSS LEARNING conference since 2019; The company specializes in business consulting, training services, and high-tech applications. It has been active in the Greek and international markets since 1989.

In its 35 years of operation, it has achieved a combination of experience and know-how that is constantly enriched by the ideas and innovation of its new partners. IDEC offers a wide range of expertise and products in various fields. Its customer-oriented approach provides a unique set of integrated services and helps build a modern business and educational future.

Address

96, Iroon Polytechniou Avenue, 18536 Piraeus, Greece

Phone

+30 210 4286227

Email

info@idec.gr

Under the aegis

The conference has been placed under the aigis of the General Secretariat for Vocational Education, Training and Lifelong Learning of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports

Funded by the European Union

The views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the European Union. of the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) or the National Erasmus+ Coordination Units. The European Union, the EACEA, and the National Coordination Units for Erasmus+ cannot be held responsible for the opinions expressed.

Erasmus+ Projects

During the conference, actions and results from the following Erasmus+ co-funded projects will be presented:

InvesTech

INVESTech – Innovation, Vocational Excellence and Sustainability in ICT

https://investech-cove.eu/

GREEN-ON

Green-ON will spark eco-innovation by delivering tailored training and resources that empower organizations to embrace a green mindset and build a forward-thinking, sustainable corporate culture.

https://greenonproject.eu/

Conference «Vocational Education in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Climate Change»

Organization

Thursday, 20 November 2025

Serafio Sports Complex19 Echelidon & 144 Pireos, 11854, Athens, Greece