The WorldSkills Conference 2026 is the premier global platform where leaders, experts, and young people come together to shape the future of skills. Taking place alongside WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, the Conference will unite diverse voices to accelerate innovation, equity, and excellence in skills development worldwide. This is not only a gathering, but a call to action – empowering policy makers, industry, and education to share best practices and deliver skills solutions in a rapidly changing world and shape the United Nation’s post-2030 agenda.

The event aims to discuss achievements and challenges related to the implementation of SDG4 at the global level, with a particular focus on access to and equity in education. It seeks to promote critical examination of the topic from multiple perspectives and to contribute to the further development of dialogue among diverse stakeholder groups, including policy makers, researchers, education workers, and civil society. Call for papers open until 30 April 2026

Education at a Glance is the OECD’s definitive guide for understanding the state of education worldwide. It provides a comprehensive picture of who participates in education, how systems are funded and organised, and the outcomes they deliver. Bringing together internationally comparable data on educational attainment, enrolment, financing and labour market outcomes, the report equips policymakers with robust evidence to identify challenges, benchmark progress and drive meaningful reform. This year’s edition has a special focus on teacher shortages, examining where this is a particular issue and the impact that shortages can have on classrooms. The virtual launch event will begin with opening remarks from OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann, followed by the presentation of key findings by OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher and audience questions.

A virtual get-together is organised by Cedefop on 29 September 2026 from 10:00 to 11:30 (CET) bringing together policy-makers, social partners, researchers, education and training experts, and industry representatives to explore the growing role of microcredentials in supporting lifelong learning and skills development. The programme will highlight findings from ongoing Cedefop research on microcredentials, focusing on the following on the sector of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) as well as construction, and will aim to advance understanding of how microcredentials can respond to labour market needs, enhance access to learning opportunities and promote social inclusion. Register to the online discussion here.

Cedefop, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, acts as a bridge between data producers, users and policymakers to strengthen the discussion on adult learning. It contributes to this work by: -  using existing data provided by the wider international statistical infrastructure to monitor and report on key indicators on VET and policy developments, and conducting the Centre’s own analysis and research to support policies related to adult education; - developing and organising surveys to answer questions that existing data do not sufficiently cover, in order to respond to policy needs or the Centre’s research questions; - contributing to improving the data already collected by Eurostat and the OECD. The seminar intends to constitute an avenue for presentations and discussions of work, ideas, needs and developments, as well as for exchanges, mutual learning and networking opportunities. Call for abstracts is open until 15 May 2026

In the past few months, negotiations have been underway to define the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of the European Union for the 2028-2034 programming period. Within this frame, EURASHE and partners are organising a discussion on the capacity of the MFF to address local challenges in the EU, and whether sufficient attention is being paid to the development of place-based policies. The event is taking place as a side event of the European Week of Regions and Cities, co-organised with Friends for Smart Specialisation (FoSS) and the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). This event will ask three important and interrelated questions:

• What are the benefits to Europe as a whole if EU spending is responsive to differences across Europe’s economic geography?
• What are the dangers of place-blind policies to the cohesion of the Union in an age of increasingly territorial polarisation?
• Which elements of the MFF are most needed to respond to differences between places and ensure cities and regions are harnessed to meet the EU’s objectives?

Registration opens on 15th September and capacity is limited.