From Vision to Impact: Regional Cooperation for Quality Education and Training EQET SEE Closing Conference was held in Belgrade on 13 and 14 March 2025. Organised by the ERI SEE Secretariat within the “Enhancements in the Quality of Education and Training in SEE – EQET SEE” project, co-funded by the Austrian Development Agency, the conference marked the conclusion of three-and-a-half years of regional collaboration aimed at strengthening vocational education and training (VET) and quality assurance (QA) systems in South Eastern Europe and Moldova.

The event brought together more than 100 participants, including representatives of ministries of education, national agencies for VET, qualifications, and quality assurance, chambers of commerce, regional and international experts. The conference provided an opportunity to present the jointly achieved work and results of the project through the work of the ERI SEE Secretariat, as the Lead Partner, and the agencies for VET, qualifications, quality assurance, and chambers of commerce from the region, as Implementing Partners. Over the course of the project, these institutions worked together to implement key initiatives and develop substantial results that contributed to enhancing education and training systems across the region.

The conference was officially opened by Dr. Aleksandar Jović, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Education of the Republic of Serbia and Chair of the ERI SEE Governing Board; Ms Adriana Spahiu, Programme and Admin Officer at the Austrian Development Agency (ADA); Dr. Ejvis Gishti, Chair of the South Eastern European Vocational Education and Training Network (SEE VET Net); Prof. Dr. Mladen Perazić, on behalf of the Western Balkans 6 Chambers Investment Forum and Ms Tina Šarić, Director of the ERI SEE Secretariat.

The first day of the conference focused on presenting the key achievements of the EQET SEE project. Ms Šarić provided an overview of ERI SEE’s role in strengthening regional cooperation, while Ms Živadinović, the Regional Project Coordinator, presented the results achieved in the VET component of the project. Ms Papović, Sector Project Coordinator, outlined the key outcomes of the QA component. The impact of the EQET SEE project on national education systems was further explored through dedicated VET and QA panels, where participants shared testimonials based on their experiences in various project activities. These panels featured representatives of National Coordination Points for VET and QA component, representatives from implementing partners, agencies for VET, Qualifications, Quality Assurance, and Chambers of Commerce from the SEE region ad Moldova.

A key thematic discussion of the first day focused on the ways in which the EQET SEE project has contributed to strengthening environmental, social, and gender aspects and quality assurance frameworks in education systems. Insights were provided by experts including Prof. Dr. Dragan Stanojević from the University of Belgrade, Dr. Ermelinda Mahmutaj from the University of Tirana and EDEN Center, and representatives from the General Inspectorate for Education and Science of Portugal, Dr. Rosa Micaelo and Ms Isabel Barata. Additionally, Dr. Gordana Čaprić, an external expert, contributed with perspectives on implementing good practices in external evaluation.  

The second day of the conference provided an opportunity to discuss future developments in education and training. Through a knowledge session that addressed emerging challenges and trends in the quality assurance of pre-tertiary education; new trends and challenges in vocational education and training; and collaboration between education and business sectors, Prof. Dr. Melanie Ehren from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Dr. Maria do Carmo Gomes, an international expert, and Prof. Dr. Ana Popović from the Academy of Applied Studies Polytechnic in Serbia provided their inputs respectively.

The conference concluded with three parallel working sessions on future regional cooperation, moderated by ERI SEE representatives. These sessions focused on international projects, cooperation in VET, and developments in quality assurance. The discussions provided valuable inputs for shaping future initiatives, reinforcing the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening education and training systems.

The EQET SEE Closing Conference served as a wrap-up of the project, showcasing the collaborative efforts undertaken over the past three-and-a-half years and paving the way for continued regional cooperation in education and training.

The event Agenda can be downloaded here, and the presentations can be accessed here:  

• Tina Šarić, Director of ERI SEE Secretariat, “From Vision to Impact: ERI SEE and regional cooperation through EQET SEE project” – download
• Ivana Živadinović, ERI SEE, Regional Project Coordinator, “EQET SEE project results – VET component” – download
• Marina Papović, ERI SEE, Sector Project Coordinator, “EQET SEE project results – QA component” – download
• Dr. Dragan Stanojević, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Serbia, – download
• Dr. Ermelinda Mahmutaj, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana and EDEN Center, Albania, – download
• Dr. Rosa Micaelo and Ms Isabel Barata, General Inspectorate for Education and Science, Portugal, “Regional Training Programme for External Evaluators”- download
• Dr. Gordana Čaprić, External Expert, “Good European Practices in the Implementation of the External Evaluation Methodologies”- download
• Igor Nikolov, External Expert, “EQET SEE contribution to the quality of teaching and learning” – download
• Dr. Melanie Ehren, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands, “Challenges, trends and developments in the QA of pre-tertiary education” – download
• Maria do Carmo Gomes, international expert, “Challenges, trends and developments in VET” – download
• Dr. Ana Popović, The Academy of Applied Studies Polytechnic, Serbia, “Education and business as partners”- download

For more information on the conference, the keynote speaker, presenters, and the conference agenda, please visit the official webpage.