From Learning about the EU to Participating in Europe
This event is part of the European Skills & VET Week 2026, an initiative of the European Commission organised by Cedefop.
The programme of the Summer School in Athens also introduced Wil Willemsen, co-founder of the European Parliament Ambassador School (EPAS) programme.
Under the title “From Learning about the EU to Participating in Europe”, Wil introduced practical ways of making the European Union more visible, understandable and accessible to VET students.
His contribution focused on opportunities that schools can use to strengthen European citizenship education, including EU information points, the EPAS programme, Euroscola, student debates, engagement with Members of the European Parliament and support from European Parliament Liaison Offices.
Interactive exercises such as a Post-it Parade and Spot the Differences encouraged participants to reflect on their perceptions of Europe and recognise the influence of European policies in everyday situations.
Exercise spot the 10 differences with EU and without EU
Example of InfoPoint about EU
The session also highlighted the importance of creating visible spaces for European education within schools. EU corners and information points can provide students with accessible resources and opportunities to discover European programmes, institutions and initiatives.
Bringing European Experiences into the Classroom
A distinctive feature of Wil's session was the opportunity to connect online with professionals and practitioners involved in different European education initiatives.
The programme included contributions from Nisreen Hakrash, a former student at Summa College Eindhoven with experience of an internship at the European Parliament; Cynthia Woolderink, chairperson of the European Business Behaviour and Democracy (EBBD) programme; and Brigitte van den Berg, Member of the European Parliament.
These contributions introduced different perspectives on how vocational education can connect students with European institutions, professional opportunities and democratic participation.
The discussion also addressed the importance of recognising the contribution of people with practical and vocational educational backgrounds to European public life.
Turning External Expertise into EUCLASS Practice
The Europeans of Tomorrow experience showed how EU education can be embedded across subjects, connected to practical activities and translated into opportunities for student participation.
The examples presented by Wil Willemsen and the invited contributors demonstrated how schools can build stronger connections with European institutions, networks and programmes, enabling students to experience Europe directly.
For EUCLASS Alliance, the value of these contributions lies in their practical relevance. They provide models, resources and experiences that teachers can critically examine and adapt to their own VET contexts.
The day's central message was clear: European citizenship education becomes more meaningful when students are given opportunities not only to understand the European Union, but also to participate, collaborate and recognise its relevance to their own lives.
These insights contribute to the wider EUCLASS Alliance objective of strengthening European citizenship education through innovative teaching methods, cooperation among vocational schools and active student engagement.