On June 3rd and 4th, representatives of the organisations participating in the COOPSKILLS project gathered at the NOESIS Science Center and Technology Museum in Thermi, just outside Thessaloniki, for the project’s first transnational meeting. The partners had the opportunity to exchange ideas and align their efforts for the successful implementation of Learning Companies and Reskilling Labs across Europe. The exceptional setting of NOESIS offered the perfect backdrop for inspiring discussions focused on the effective execution of the project.
On the first day of the meeting, the partnership kicked off with a warm welcome from the hosts and a round of introductions by all partners, strengthening the spirit of collaboration that lies at the heart of the project’s success. The discussions that followed helped build a shared understanding of the project’s core ideas and provided a clearer picture of the upcoming tasks and priorities. The meeting continued with an exchange of ideas on how the upcoming Reskilling Labs can be implemented in practice, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application.
After a relaxed lunch that allowed partners to get to know each other better through personal conversations, the group reconvened to dive deeper into designing content for skills development and career guidance. Before that, however, all participants took part in a fun 20-minute session of games to create a more comfortable and friendly working atmosphere. The day concluded with an open discussion, paving the way for smoother coordination during the next stages of the project.
To close this highly productive day, the partners gathered for a delicious dinner in the centre of Thessaloniki, right across from the iconic White Tower. They enjoyed local flavours and relaxed conversations, taking the opportunity to rest and strengthen their personal bonds.
The second day began with sessions on project management and dissemination strategies and concluded with setting the dates for the next in-person meeting, which will take place in Lithuania’s charming capital, Vilnius. Once it was clear that all partners had a strong understanding of the steps ahead, our generous hosts from the Municipality of Thermi surprised everyone with a sweet treat—traditional “Trigona Panoramatos”—and a wonderful photo album from a previous project of theirs to remember our first face-to-face meeting.
The first transnational meeting of COOPSKILLS was undoubtedly a great success. It was marked by productive dialogue, strong collaboration, and a shared commitment to the project’s objectives. Partners left Thermi with a clear action plan for the coming months. Above all, the personal interaction strengthened trust and laid a solid foundation for effective cooperation throughout the project.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful hosts from the Municipality of Thermi for their outstanding hospitality. Stay tuned for the exciting activities ahead in the COOPSKILLS journey.
