What we have been up to during September

Following the August pause, we had a very active and fruitful September 2025, with a high-volume engagement, focusing on education governance, vocational training (VET), and the protection of democratic spaces. September marked the start of the 3rd working period for the Educational Leadership Network Europe (ELNE). Parallel to this significant coalition, we were honoured to meet the Head of Cabinet for Executive Vice-President Mînzatu to discuss high-level education priorities. Also very important was our presence at the Danish Presidency’s meeting in Herning, with our Board member Kacper being present at the presentation of the “Herning Declaration” - highlighting our position as well as key issues like social inclusion and Civic Education within VET.

OBESSU also played a key role during the launch of the European VET Teachers Survey and at the EHESO online workshop – activities tackling student data and learner perspectives shaping teacher training. We also attended a Eurobarometer presentation on the Spring 2025 Survey and a policy event hosted by MEP Hristo Petrov titled "Honouring the Teaching Profession" to champion the rights of both students and educators. As part of the Just Transition Platform (JTP), we traveled to Florina as part of the Working Groups meeting, working together towards fair regional green transitions.

Across the various events held in September, our team attended: 

  • The European Action Day Against Islamophobia Conference;
  • The closing event of the Teach Europe Project, focusing on evolving needs for European citizenship;
  • The launch of the EuroHealthNet-CHAIN initiative, addressing health inequities in education;
  • The EESC Youth Group event "One Year On Reflections & Next Steps", assessing how the "Youth Test" has successfully embedded youth perspectives into EU legislation over the past year.

Last but not least, OBESSU was at the “UYD - Connected & empowered: advancing gender justice in the digital age”. OBESSU’s activity titled  “Connected & Empowered: Advancing Gender Justice in the Digital Age”, focused on digital well-being, safeguarding, and feminist leadership. The activity gathered 25 participants (aged 15-20) from Europe selected among the international officers of the OBESSU member organisations.

Mark your calendar:

  • Young Citizens Assembly on Pollinators (26th September)
  • Reimagining Citizenship and Learning: Preparing Young People for an Uncertain Future - EIP Lab (1st October) 
  • EVBB Annual Conference 2025, EVBB (3rd October)
  • Annual ETF-EAfA Seminar for partner countries, European Commission (7-9th October)
  • Community Talk: A Path to Climate Adaptation, EU Climate Pact (9th October)
  • Youth Ministerial Conference, Council of Europe (7-10th October)
  • 3rd Working Conference on AI and Education, Council of Europe (8-9th October)
  • Union for the Mediterranean High-Level Policy Conference, European Commission (13th October)
  • Conference of the European Space for Citizenship Education, Council of Europe (13-14th October)
  • Media Literacy, DigComp 3.0 and HERMMES: Synergies for Young People, hosted by MEP / EP Vice-President Victor Negrescu (14th October) 
  • 5th OHTE Annual Conference - "History at all costs?", Council of Europe (16-17th October)
  • CoR Multi-level Dialogue on Just Transition (23rd October)
  • Human Rights Council Social Forum, OHCHR (30-31st October)

Interesting Calls: 

Useful Resources: