2nd thematic seminar on lifelong learning in Thessaloniki

Partners and stakeholders of MILEstone recently met in Thessaloniki, Greece, for the project’s 2nd thematic seminar and their 3rd partner meeting. The thematic seminar focused on actions to promote vocational training and lifelong learning among non-EU nationals as means to achieve a better and more sustainable labour market integration where they can take full advantage of their skills and potentials. The seminar was attended by 37 people in person. A small number of participants joined the event’s first session remotely.

The event started with welcome speeches by the Vice-Governor for Social Affairs of the Central Macedonia Region, the hosting partner and the MILEstone Lead partner. The first session then was dedicated to a keynote speech delivered by Anastasia Blouchoutzi, Assistant Professor for  Economics of International Migration at the University of Macedonia, Greece. In her contribution, she outlined how migration has affected Greece in the past and present and the tools used that have contributed to the country becoming less of a transit country in recent years.

Following the keynote, partners engaged in a thorough exchange about good practices in each of their regions that are used to promote non-EU nationals’ labour market integration. A fair number of those good practices are already published on the MILEstone website. To foster a more profound exchange, these discussions took place in smaller groups with main results shared with the entire group thereafter.

The thematic seminar was rounded up by two site visits to Greek NGO that play a decisive role in successful integration processes: Solidarity Now and YMCA Thessaloniki. At both institutions’ premises, the participants learned more about the NGO’s offers, experiences, challenges and solutions found. They also had a chance to exchange in person with a number of third country nationals that have chosen to settle permanently in Greece.

On the following day, a partner workshop was implemented with focus on the elaboration of baseline studies and the preparation of peer review visits starting in autumn 2024. Both events were hosted by the Regional Development Fund of the Central Macedonia Region.