The 1st Regional Workshop on the UPSHIFT Programme was organised by the CEI in collaboration with UNICEF on 29 November 2024, gathering UNICEF experts and government representatives from CEI Member States at the Organisation's Headquarters in Trieste.
The event - attended by numerous representatives from Ministries of Education and/or Youth as well as international experts - provided a significant platform for dialogue and the exchange of best practices on scaling UPSHIFT delivery in education systems.
The programme aims at enhancing young people's transversal skills, seeking to facilitate school-to-work transitions and youth empowerment through an innovative learning process rooted in entrepreneurial skills, human-centered design, and problem-solving.
During the workshop, successful UPSHIFT experiences were showcased, with a focus on integrating its principles into national educational systems. Participants explored how the UPSHIFT approach could be adapted both regionally and within individual CEI Member States to integrate technical learning with transversal life skills to ensure youth smoother access to work.
Key topics included the need to strengthen formal education systems to meet modern challenges, emphasising innovation and the use of digital technologies.
Zsuzsanna Kiraly, CEI Deputy Secretary General underlined that this Workshop was part of the broader framework of the CEI Youth Agenda, mandated by the CEI Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
It aims at supporting new learning approaches and improving national education systems of the CEI Member States. Our ultimate goal is to facilitate the school-to-work transition and contribute to youth empowerment within the region, she said.
In the afternoon sessions, participants discussed how to develop learning pathways connecting young people with practical skills and workplace experiences, ensuring a seamless transition from school to the professional world.
Herve Morin, UPSHIFT Global Lead, UNICEF Office of Innovation said that:
Working with governments to equip young people with the skills necessary for a successful transition 'from learning to earning' is an important part of UNICEF’s work and aligns well with the CEI Youth Agenda. With 12 of its member states already implementing UPSHIFT there is a strong experience and expertise to be shared, and we look forward to continuing the collaboration.
The meeting concluded with a collective commitment from participants to work towards accelerating the integration of UPSHIFT into the formal education systems of Member States.
For more info: radovanovic@cei.int
