Between 14 and 16 May 2026, the Institute of Philosophy and Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IPS-BAS) hosted the Second Project Advisory Board (PAB) Meeting of the ProSkills2Work ERA Chair project in Sofia. The event brought together international experts, representatives of academia, employer organisations, vocational education and training (VET), and members of the ProSkills2Work research team to discuss the project’s progress, strategic development, and upcoming activities.
The meeting included experts and researchers from Bulgaria, Germany, Switzerland, and Spain, as well as representatives of Bulgarian and international organisations with extensive experience in dual vocational education and training and education-to-work transition policies.
The main working session took place on 15 May 2026 and was moderated by Prof. Rumyana Zheleva, Senior Researcher in the ERA Chair team of ProSkills2Work. The meeting was officially opened by Prof. Vassil Kirov, Project Coordinator and Deputy Director of IPS-BAS, and Prof. Christian Imdorf, ERA Chair Holder of the project. Prof. Emilia Chengelova, Director of IPS-BAS, also took part in the discussions dedicated to the development of the research programme and the project’s strategic perspectives.
The programme focused on several key topics, including the project’s implementation progress and capacity-building activities, the development of the research programme, upcoming qualitative research and analyses on the impact of dual vocational education and training, as well as strategic issues related to stakeholder engagement and the long-term sustainability of project outcomes.
A central part of the programme consisted of two parallel strategic discussions dedicated to the establishment of the Youth Sounding Board (YSB) and the conceptualisation of the future Bulgarian Observatory of Education and Work (BOEW). The discussions resulted in valuable recommendations concerning youth participation, governance models, policy relevance, and the Observatory’s long-term institutional sustainability.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review and update the Stakeholder Relations Plan, with a focus on strengthening the links between research, public policies, employers, vocational education institutions, and civil society organisations.
The ProSkills2Work team would like to thank all members of the Project Advisory Board and participants for their active engagement, expert recommendations, and continued support for the project.
The event once again confirmed the strong international dimension of ProSkills2Work and its mission to establish IPS-BAS as a centre of scientific excellence in the fields of vocational education and training, education-to-work transitions, and the future of work.