SkillsBelgium is awarded the European Citizen’s prize

The European Parliament awarded the 2014 European Citizen’s prize to skillsbelgium. 

The medal was awarded on Monday, 26 January 2015 in Gosselies by the European Deputy Marc Tarabella himself. The ceremony took place in the freshly new infrastructure of Technocampus, one of the first partners of skillsbelgium, in the presence of Paul Magnette, Minister-President of Wallonia, Eliane Tillieux, Minister of Employment and Training of Wallonia as well as those of one hundred guests. 

Created in 2008, this prize is intended to be an award for exceptional achievements for Europe. Each year, a maximum of 50 award winners receive this medal. Each European Deputy can submit a nomination. For 2014, the European Citizen's Prize Chancellery, invested by the European Parliament, has chosen 47 award winners two of which being from Belgium: Bednet and skillsbelgium.

Why skillsbelgium? “This association focuses on young students and graduates from the vocational training who are not the main priority of the most important European exchange programs. The project is about sharing, openness to others and respect of the cultural diversities. The project helps the less fortunate young people to forge a European identity”, explains Marc Tarabella who nominated skillsbelgium to this prize.   

This prize is a recognition of the work done by the team and its network of Experts, Team Leaders as well as all training centers, schools and professional federations that bring their expertise in this project. This prize proves how much the skills acquired serve to the promotion of vocational education and training education and to the city of Charleroi in its intention to bid for WorldSkills 2019. 

The Board of Directors of WorldSkills Europe, through its President Jos de Goey, wished to congratulate skillsbelgium, considering that this prize will have a positive impact on the skills movement and inspire the other 26 European countries.