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Launch event

From Learning Cities to Learning Companies

  • 29 April 2026
  • 10:00 - 12:00 AM (CET)
  • Online

passcode: 378078

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GDPR

The COOPSKILLS Launch Event marks an important step in strengthening local skills ecosystems across Europe. Although the project has already progressed through its initial research phase, this event offers the first opportunity to openly present its vision, early insights, and the practical models that will guide implementation in the coming months.

At the heart of COOPSKILLS is the belief that lifelong learning must become embedded in everyday working life. Through the development of Learning Companies and the establishment of locally coordinated Reskilling Labs, the project supports businesses, workers, and communities in responding to the green and digital transition. The event invites stakeholders to explore how these concepts can translate into concrete, locally driven action.

The programme includes a presentation of the project’s progress, perspectives from the Learning Cities approach, and a moderated roundtable discussion focused on strengthening cooperation and shared responsibility for reskilling. The objective is to foster meaningful exchange, encourage practical collaboration, and lay the foundations for sustainable skills development at local level.

Agenda

  • 10:00 – 10:05 | Welcome
  • Georgios Georgakis (founder and managing director of Eurosuccess Consulting)
  • 10:05 – 10:20 | Project Presentation
  • Presentation by Athina Lazou (project coordinator)
  • Overview of the COOPSKILLS project, its objectives, its expected outcomes, its target groups, its achievements so far)
  • 10:20 – 10:40 | UNESCO’s Learning Cities Presentation
  • presentation by Katie Jones (consultant at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning)
  • Dedicated session on the UNESCO Learning Cities approach, outlining how cities can foster inclusive, lifelong learning environments that support sustainable local development.
  • 10:40 – 11:40 | Roundtable Discussion
  • “From Skills Shortages to Shared Responsibility: Building Local Ecosystems for Reskilling”
  • Moderated by Heracles Sioulis (Training & Development Director of IVEPE-SEV)

 

Participants:

  • GR representative: Alexios Kokkos, Chairperson of the Hellenic Adult Education Association.
  • CY representative: Anna Prodromou, Consultant and trainer in communication, inclusion, and adult education.
  • LT representative: Tatjana Babrauskiene, Head of the international department at Lestu.
  • ES representative: Elena Andreu, Project Coordinator of the International Department of the Chamber of Commerce of Reus.
  • Representative of Learning Cities: to be announced soon
  • 11:40 – 11:50 | Q&A Session
  • Moderated by Georgios Georgakis
  • Interactive session where participants can pose questions, exchange views, and engage directly with the speakers and panellists.
  • 11:50 – 12:00 | Closing Remarks
  • Georgios Georgakis
  • Key takeaways and next steps for COOPSKILLS

Speakers

Giorgos Giorgakis

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Athina Lazou

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Katie Jones

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Heracles Sioulis

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Alexios Kokkos

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Anna Prodromou

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Tatjana Babrauskiene

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Elena Andreu

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Project Number: 101195968 / EDU-2024-POL-EXP-ADULT

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

© 2026 – COOPSKILLS | handcrafted & powered with  by p-consulting.gr

Personal Data Protection (GDPR)

Personal data collected for the registration and participation in the COOPSKILLS Launch Event will be processed for event organisation, participation management, and related communication purposes, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).

The event will be recorded (audio/video) for documentation, communication, and dissemination purposes of the COOPSKILLS project. By participating, you acknowledge that you may appear in such recordings, particularly when actively intervening.

Personal data will not be shared with unauthorised third parties and will be retained only for as long as necessary for the above purposes. You may exercise your rights of access, rectification, erasure, or withdraw your consent at any time by contacting the project team via https://coopskills.eu/contact/ or the Data Protection Officer via https://coopskills.eu/contact-d-p-o/

Giorgos Giorgakis

Giorgos Giorgakis is the Founder and Managing Director of Eurosuccess Consulting, a Cyprus-based organisation specialised in European project development, vocational education and training (VET), and innovation initiatives. He holds an MBA in Business Administration from the European University of Cyprus (2008).

With more than 20 years of experience in European funding programmes, he has developed, coordinated, and managed 150+ EU and nationally funded projects under programmes such as FP, LLP, Erasmus+, JUSTICE, COSME, RIF and others. His expertise spans strategic project design, partnership development, capacity building, and the implementation of innovative VET and training initiatives.

Mr. Giorgakis serves as the Coordinator of VET and training activities at Eurosuccess Consulting, which is accredited as a Vocational Education and Training (VET) Centre by the Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus. Through this role, he actively supports skills development, employability enhancement, and cooperation between education providers and the labour market.

At European level, he represents Cyprus at the European Forum of Vocational Education and Training (EfVET). In this capacity, he contributes to working groups, policy discussions, conferences, and EU-level initiatives, supporting the development of European strategies in vocational education, skills, and lifelong learning.

Athina Lazou

Athina Lazou holds a degree in Physics from the University of Ioannina and an MSc in Exploration Geophysics from the University of Leeds. She began her career as an exploration geophysicist, managing large-scale geophysical projects. For over 30 years, she worked as a policy maker in Vocational Education and Training (VET) within Greek public institutions. During the last 15 years of her public service career, she led the Vocational Guidance Directorate and the Directorate for Adult Vocational Training at the Greek Public Employment Services, where she designed and managed major projects funded by public and EU structural funds, with annual budgets exceeding €60 million, including Greece’s largest labour force programme (LAEK).She has served as project manager for multiple EU-funded actions and held senior leadership roles as CEO of EOMMEX AE and as General Director of the Organization of Tourism Education and Training (OTEK) under the Greek Ministry of Tourism. Her expertise lies in the design and implementation of Active Labour Market Policies (ALMPs), with a strong focus on social inclusion.She has also represented Greece at the OECD and the European Commission, including as a member of the OECD Mega Science Forum Committee and as National Representative in the ESCO Member States Working Group (2018–2023).Since her early retirement from public service in late 2023, she has been working as an expert on EU projects and strategic initiatives.

Katie Jones

Katie Jones is a consultant at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. She works on areas including the recognition, validation and accreditation of prior learning and Education for Sustainable Development at the local level. Katie forms part of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) coordination team. She collaborates with colleagues to conduct cutting-edge research, foster knowledge exchange and develop capacity-building activities for key stakeholders in UNESCO Member States. Having previously worked as an educator herself, Katie seeks to promote lifelong learning as a universal human right. 

Heracles Sioulis

Heracles is the Training & Development Director of IVEPE-SEV, which is the educational branch of Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, one of the major social partners in Greece.

He is an Electronics’ Engineer and holds a member position at the European Engineering Skills Council of Engineers Europe. He also holds a Master (M.Ed.) in Adult Education (Humanities).

Fields of expertise include Adult’s education, Work ethics, equality, diversity and Inclusion, Technical Training, Process Improvement, Health & Safety at the workplaces, Life Competences, Educational Research and Management of VET units.

He has over 20 years of experience in design, implementation, and evaluation of upskilling/reskilling educational – vocational training programs for the enterprises’ personnel and for vulnerable social groups in National and European initiatives. He is in direct communication with industry and SMEs in Greece designing and implementing training and development projects based on their specific educational needs in continuous co-operation with experts, training institutes and accreditation bodies from all over the word.

He has extensive teaching experience as an active trainer (more than 10.000 training hours) and has thorough knowledge of active adult education training methods on in-class and distance learning training initiatives.

As a speaker, he has presented subjects related to vocational training and continuous personal development of the workforce at many international conferences.

Alexios Kokkos

Alexis Kokkos has been a leading figure in shaping the field of Adult Education and Lifelong Learning in Greece, contributing to key initiatives such as the development of the Popular Education Institution, the National Trainer Training Programme, the establishment of the Hellenic Open University, and the introduction of the theory and practice of Transformative Learning and the use of Art in Education.

He is Professor Emeritus at the Hellenic Open University, President of the Hellenic Adult Education Association, and President of the International Transformative Learning Association (ITLA). He has authored 19 books and 158 publications on Adult Education, Transformative Learning, and Art in Education.

Anna Prodromou

Anna Prodromou is a consultant and trainer in communication, inclusion, and adult education. She designs and delivers programmes focused on reskilling, upskilling, and skills development for evolving workplace environments. Anna is also a PhD candidate at the Open University of Cyprus in Human-Computer Interaction, promoting human-centred approaches to digitalisation and organisational change through her work.

Tatjana Babrauskiene

Tatjana Babrauskiene is an expert in education and lifelong learning, specializing in the intersection of trade union advocacy and European policy. As Head of International Relations for the Lithuanian Education and Science Trade Union (LESTU), she serves as a strategic voice for vocational, continuing, and higher education. Since 2010, Tatjana has represented Lithuania within the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for Education (ESSDE). Her influence extends to key advisory roles with the European Commission (ACVT) and Cedefop. Representing the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), she is at the forefront of European Commission working groups, driving the future of adult learning and VET through collaborative social dialogue.

Elena Andreu

Elena Andreu is the Head of the International Trade Department at the Reus Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she coordinates the management of internationalization services for companies, supporting them from identifying business partners to handling documentation, contracts, and customs procedures. She also represents the institution at foreign trade events and international business fairs, strengthening the visibility and positioning of the Reus Chamber of Commerce in the global arena. With experience in European cooperation projects, she actively promotes synergies and collaboration between institutions and companies across different countries. Her work focuses on fostering international partnerships and supporting business growth through strategic internationalization initiatives.

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