Preparing people for a labor market in which technology, artificial intelligence and business models evolve at an accelerated pace, bringing education closer to the real needs of the economy and transforming lifelong learning into an essential component of competitiveness – these were the central themes of the second edition of the EduPro Summit – Education that Works, organized by AHK Romania, through its EduPro Vocational Training Center, on October 15, at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel. The event brought together representatives of the business environment, the educational system and public authorities.
“Vocational education and, especially, vocational education in the dual system represent a common responsibility. We will not make any progress if we limit ourselves to blaming each other. Each of us must assume a real, long-term responsibility and contribute equitably to the effort: schools and public authorities in the field of education, society and parents, but also the business environment”, stressed Sebastian Metz, General Manager of AHK Romania, in the opening of the conference.
From school to career: education must be connected to the real economy
The first part of the conference focused on the results and prospects of dual education, the transition of young people to the labor market and the skills necessary for the economy of the future. The panel discussion, moderated by Mihai Peticilă, co-founder of Edupedu.ro, had as participants Dalia-Maria Dărămuș, director of CNDIPT; Mirela Gligore, head of the Communication Service of the Sibiu City Hall; Laura Cârstea, director of the “Virgil Madgearu” Economic College Iași; Irina Manuela Butnaru, Penny Romania and Andreea Feierstein, Hornbach Romania.
One of the conclusions of the debate was the need for a much closer link between the qualifications offered by the education system and the real demand for skills in the economy. CNDIPT (National Center for the Development of Vocational and Technical Education) has started the process of revising the approximately 200 qualifications in the dual system, in the context of the emergence of new requirements, including in areas such as green technologies and artificial intelligence.
10 years of dual education: from idea to impact
This year’s edition also marked 10 years since the start of the School of Books and Crafts project, AHK Romania’s initiative in the field of dual education. In the 10 years, together with the six economic partners, Hornbach, Lidl, Metro, Penny/Rewe, Selgros and dm drogerie markt, 10 generations of students were trained in 13 partner high schools. Approximately 1,200 young people attended the dual system training, and more than 400 obtained the certification offered by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry based in Berlin. During the event, the economic partners received a distinction as a sign of recognition for the successful partnership and for their constant contribution to the development of dual education.
The future of the labour market: technology is changing. The ability to learn is becoming essential.
The second major direction of EduPro Summit #2 shifted the conversation from the beginning in the profession to professional life: continuous training, reskilling and upskilling, leadership, talent development, wellbeing and organizational performance. The panel was moderated by Tudor Popp, Beyond Space and brought into dialogue Dan Lăzărescu, Bosch Romania; Radu Merica, RER Group and Mihai Strasser, Elite Architect.
The message was clear: in an economy in constant transformation, recruitment is no longer enough. Organizations must develop their people and build a culture in which continuous learning and adaptability are part of the business strategy. “Today’s employees do not need strict specialization, but the ability to constantly learn and relearn,” pointed out Dan Lăzărescu, General Manager of Robert Bosch SRL, representative of the Bosch Group in Romania and Vice President of AHK Romania.
Excellence in education and training, recognized at EduPro Summit #2
During the conference, distinctions were also awarded for concrete involvement in education and training.
Bildungspreis, the award for Excellence in Education of the international economic network AHK-DIHK (German Chambers of Commerce and Industry Abroad), was awarded to Grup Feroviar Român, for its railway training project, GFR School.
Also, Penny Romania received the distinction “This company trains in dual professional system”, a certification granted exclusively by the AHK-DIHK network, which certifies the compliance with German quality standards in dual training and represents a guarantee of the quality of the training process.
Education that Works
EduPro Summit #2 started from a challenge that is already affecting the economy: the shortage of people and skills can no longer be solved exclusively through recruitment. The response and the central message of the conference: relevant education and the economy cannot evolve separately. The skills needed on the labour market must be built through a real and shared responsibility of schools, companies, authorities and society.
About the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania)
Established in September 2002, AHK Romania is the official representative of the German economy in Romania and has over 700 member companies. Through the services it offers and the events it organizes, AHK Romania supports German companies in their entry into the Romanian market and is, at the same time, a reliable partner for Romanian companies interested in the German market.
Through the Vocational Training Center, EduPro, AHK Romania is actively involved in training and professional development as well as in the implementation, development and promotion of the dual vocational education system, according to the German model, in Romania.
Theme for 2026: Together for a stronger Europe. Trust creates tomorrow
The Romanian-German business community believes that trust creates the force that develops companies, partnerships and contributes to the economic strengthening of Europe. A true builder of bridges between countries, markets and cultures, AHK Romania stands for reliability, continuity and trust. It is at the same time a platform and partner for companies looking for new directions and looking to expand. Through constant dialogue with the political, economic and social environment,
AHK Romania creates stability, stimulates innovation and offers companies the opportunity to succeed across borders.