The awareness of vocational education, including its reputation, status, and role within society, is often seen as limited or insufficient. What steps can vocational education and training (VET) take to improve this perception?
In March 2025, we participated in the EnergyWeek event in Vaasa, Finland, to showcase the contributions of VET. This annual event attracts around 8,000 energy enthusiasts from around the world to explore the latest developments, share insights, and expand networks. Focused on renewable energy, key topics include digitalization, batteries and storage, hydrogen, the circular economy, smart cities, energy regulation, business, and innovation.
Now in its 13th edition, EnergyWeek has become the premier networking and sales event for energy professionals in the Nordic region. The four-day event featured 29 seminars with over 190 speakers and approximately 200 exhibitors. Held at Vaasa City Hall from March 17-20, 2025, it brought together experts, industry leaders, and policymakers to collaborate and exchange knowledge.
On March 19th, Vamia Vocational College, in collaboration with Technology Center Merinova, organized one of the EnergyWeek seminars: Energy Storage Seminar 2 – Education and Innovation in the Evolving and Unpredictable Battery Sector.
In partnership with the Erasmus+ Center of Vocational Excellence Project, Voltage, we demonstrated how education must evolve to keep pace with the rapidly changing battery industry. This was illustrated through real-world case studies at four different levels. Portugal’s Battery Cluster showcased the impact of industry clusters, while the Gothenburg region highlighted how regional initiatives can drive development. We also examined how higher education institutions can adapt to change, with universities sharing strategies for addressing labor market shifts and collaborating with both vocational education and industry. Finally, Vamia Vocational College presented insights on how VET can prepare for the skills demands of emerging industries, particularly through its involvement in Erasmus+ projects such as Voltage and CABATT. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion.
Through this seminar, attended by over 100 participants, we had the opportunity to emphasize the crucial role that vocational education and training plays in shaping the future workforce. We demonstrated how VET is agile and responsive to the evolving needs of the labor market, and how it actively engages in international collaboration to shape the workforce of tomorrow.