Between 24 and 26 March, the city of Sfântu Gheorghe hosted a major international professional conference organised by the VET Center within the StartUp HUB. The three-day event focused on the role and impact of mobility in vocational education and training (VET) from an international perspective. Educational experts and institutional representatives from Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and the Caribbean region came together to share their experiences and best practices regarding the implementation and effectiveness of mobility programmes.
The conference brought together representatives from several renowned institutions, including VET Centre (Romania), Kecskemét Vocational Training Centre (Hungary), Profession ADA (Serbia), Career VET (Slovakia), Caribbean Skills & Training Institute (Sint Maarten), Puskás Tivadar Vocational School (Romania) and the County School Inspectorate (Romania). Their contributions greatly enriched the technical content and helped to strengthen the international dialogue.
During the morning plenary sessions, the following key topics were discussed: the impact of international mobility on the development of students and teachers, the possibilities of introducing dual education in Romania, the current challenges and the future of Hungarian-language vocational education in Transylvania, the role and perspectives of vocational education and training partnerships in Central and Eastern Europe.
In the afternoon, participants had the opportunity to get a closer look at the local VET ecosystem through study visits to various vocational institutions and training centres. These included Puskás Tivadar Vocational School, as well as internship sites such as Modern House (woodworking, construction), Babi (construction), Sicla (construction, creative industries), Panorama Restaurant (hospitality and tourism), Provitam (health and social services), Hair Galaxy 2050 (beauty industry), Huszár Szilamér Photography (creative sector), Local Police (law enforcement), Sebert (machinery, CNC technology), Q Service (automotive industry) and Bertis Gold (food industry, retail). The aim of these visits was to provide a comprehensive view of the local impact of international mobility programmes and the practices of the host partners.
Beyond the professional programme, the conference also offered rich cultural experiences. Participants took part in guided city tours, attended cultural events and enjoyed a friendly wine tasting evening, providing an excellent setting for informal networking, building partnerships and laying the foundations for future international collaborations.
