Giancarlo Dente Keywords skills forum 11th skills forum education Read more about Giancarlo Dente Giancarlo is the coordinator of the Policy Evaluation & Human Capital Area with more than 15 years of experience as a project manager and senior researcher in the field of employment and social policies, VET, and skills at the national, EU and extra-EU levels. He is responsible for managing international project teams, coordinating various assignments and liaising with international institutions. He is board member of the Fondazione and he has an academic background (BA & MSc) in economics.
Alexander Tsironis Keywords skills forum 11th skills forum education Read more about Alexander Tsironis Alexander specializes in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). His primary work areas include private sector cooperation in TVET, institutional eco-systems, and green labor markets. Before joining ADB, he was a project manager at the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), where he worked on a variety of TVET topics across Southeast Asia, including the ASEAN declaration on human resource development. He also worked in the field of public-private partnerships in the infrastructure sector in Germany.
Heidi Lempinen Keywords skills forum 11th skills forum education Read more about Heidi Lempinen Mrs. Lempinen is a seasoned professional in public sector reform and capacity building, with extensive global experience in advancing education and training systems. She excels in international and multicultural collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and the development of strong global partnerships. Deeply committed to continuous professional growth, she is passionate about lifelong learning and driving sustainable change through education and innovation.
Friedrich Huebler Keywords skills forum 11th skills forum education Read more about Friedrich Huebler Friedrich Huebler joined UNESCO-UNEVOC in November 2021. He has been employed by the United Nations for more than two decades and served previously as Head of the Education Standards and Methodology Section at the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, where his responsibilities included contributing to the global monitoring framework for Sustainable Development Goal 4 on education. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the New School for Social Research.
[Video] Debate: Are we Tapping Synergies of Interlinkages Between Education and Health Services Delivery? Read more about [Video] Debate: Are we Tapping Synergies of Interlinkages Between Education and Health Services Delivery? The session discussed interlinkages between education and health, spotlighting two dimensions gaining growing importance and requiring attention across Asia and the Pacific. The first part of the session spotlighted mental health and how education and health services can cooperate to support children and youth. The second part of the session spotlighted nutrition as a key area of cooperation between education and health, outlining problems at stake in Asia and the Pacific, and solutions that support children and youth to thrive.
[Video] Debate: Is Developing Tech Savvy Agropreneurs a Pipedream? How can Agriculture Education be Revamped? Read more about [Video] Debate: Is Developing Tech Savvy Agropreneurs a Pipedream? How can Agriculture Education be Revamped? As the world faces unprecedented population growth and the urgent need for sustainable, knowledge-intensive food systems, transforming agricultural education and research has never been more critical. This session will explore how global and regional best practices can be leveraged to develop tech-savvy “agropreneurs” and close the gap in high-tech, climate-smart agriculture through the proposed Global High-Tech Agricultural University Network (GHAN).
[Video] Debate: Bingo! Make the Numbers Match: Skills Analytics, Matching and the Macroeconomics of Human Capital Read more about [Video] Debate: Bingo! Make the Numbers Match: Skills Analytics, Matching and the Macroeconomics of Human Capital This session explored one of the most urgent challenges facing skills systems today: how to meaningfully match people’s real capabilities with rapidly changing labor-market needs. Despite major investments in training and education, many countries still face persistent mismatches, unfilled vacancies, and underutilized talent. On the other hand, investments in skills analytics continue to grow; tools and diagnostics are being developed to inform policy and guide action. Does this translate into better matching?
[Video] Debate: Is Green a Scam? How Can Green Skills Translate into More and Better Jobs? Read more about [Video] Debate: Is Green a Scam? How Can Green Skills Translate into More and Better Jobs? As governments and industries push for a greener economy, questions remain about whether education systems are equipping learners with the skills that truly matter. This debate will explore whether green skills translate into more and better jobs, examining whether education should act now to integrate these skills or wait for clearer market signals. Through a structured format with audience participation, participants will clarify what constitutes a green skill, assess the current curriculum's readiness, and weigh the urgency of preparing the workforce for a sustainable future.
Natalino Ximenes Keywords skills forum 11th skills forum Read more about Natalino Ximenes Natalino Ximenes has over 10 years of broad development and leadership experience, including knowledge and experience in socio-economic development and public finance management. Natalino holds a PhD degree in economics from ISCTE University of Portugal. Currently, Natalino has the role of the Director for special projects of IOB and is entrusted as the project manager for a research study entitled "General state of higher education in Timor-Leste" targeting 19 higher education institutions.
Karnjana Songwathana Keywords skills forum 11th skills forum Read more about Karnjana Songwathana Karnjana Songwathana is the Dean and Assistant Professor at the School of Economics and Investment, Bangkok University. Her expertise spans environmental and digital economics, sustainable development, and policy analysis. She has led numerous national research projects and published widely on green economy, digital transformation, and inclusive growth.