This session will take stock of international discussions on how global trends influence the future of work and skills. It will explore opportunities and risks for individuals, communities and countries and look at how actors at local, national and international level can work together towards more human-centric and inclusive economies and societies. The keynote speech on global trends and drivers will be followed by an expert discussion on their implications for economies and societies.

The impact and pace of change is not the same everywhere. This session will look at how global forces interact with local economic and social realities in transition and developing countries and how this interaction shapes the demand for skills. How ready are skills and training systems to cope with change? Following an introduction from the ETF, there will be a panel discussion involving conference participants.

Four parallel workshops will identify trends, challenges and possible solutions to manage the transition to the future. The workshops will build on international experience as well as that of EU Member States and neighbouring countries. The workshop topics are:

• Equipped for the future: preparing young people
• Skills needs uncovered: dealing with uncertainty
• Towards the future: building partnerships
• Ready for evolving targets: lifelong learning

Earlier discussions will pave the way for a reflection on the changing role of vocational education and training in empowering individuals to cope with change and adapt their skills and lifelong learning possibilities. Recent debates on the topic will provide context to the questions: What should vocational education and training look like in the future? and How can it address upcoming challenges and opportunities, and contribute to development?

Participants will reflect collectively on the main messages from the working groups and define the key issues.