Final conferences as a tool for empowering educators and young people in Germany, Croatia and Estonia

In August 2025 three final conferences were held in Germany, Croatia and Estonia, marking the closing phase of the FIGHT-DIGIT project, which set out to strengthen cooperation between teachers in vocational education and training and unemployed young people. The events brought educators, trainers and young people from the vocational sector together to share experience, explore innovative educational tools, and discuss the project results and how they might be used.

Each conference gathered around 20 participants, ten vocational educators and ten young jobseekers, making for a productive mix of experience and curiosity. The events were organised by Youth Power Germany e.V., Pannonia Consulting (Croatia) and Learning Library OÜ (Estonia), and offered a valuable platform for cross-sector dialogue at local level.

The programmes followed a similar shape: after registration and a warm welcome from the hosts, participants attended presentations of the project results, including the online courses and educational material developed during the project. A question-and-answer discussion followed, along with networking and informal conversation over refreshments, encouraging cooperation between educators and young professionals looking for self-employment opportunities in the digital sector.

The conferences also served as a springboard for future cooperation: participants discussed new joint initiatives, and several memoranda of understanding between the organisations involved are expected to be signed. The feedback gathered will also guide the adaptation of the educational resources for wider use in vocational schools and youth organisations.

By bringing educators and unemployed young people together, the local conferences showed how creative approaches to learning and digital competences can open a way into new occupations, such as virtual assistants and other emerging roles in the modern labour market. The events closed on an encouraging note, confirming that education, innovation and cooperation are key drivers of empowerment for young people across Europe.