New Education Forum Brussels 2026: “Building Europe’s Resilience”
Date: 19 November 2026 (Thursday), 9:00 AM–1:00 PM CET Venue: European Parliament, Brussels, room ASP3E2 (to be confirmed) Hosts: Mirosława Nykiel and Bogdan Zdrojewski, Members of the European Parliament Organiser: Centre for Innovative Education Foundation
Europe’s resilience begins with education – with equipping young people with the competences they need to confidently face technological, social and economic change.
On 19 November 2026, the New Education Forum Brussels will return to the European Parliament under the theme “Building Europe’s Resilience”. Together with representatives of European institutions, business and education, as well as young Europeans, we will seek answers to three key questions:
- Digital agency – how can we help young people move from digital addiction to conscious and responsible use of technology?
- Talent and STEM – how can we develop young people’s talents, resilience and aspirations while encouraging more girls and young women to pursue STEM studies and careers?
- Future competences – what competences – from creativity and collaboration to entrepreneurship and lifelong learning – does Europe need to remain innovative and competitive?
Agenda
9:00 – Opening speeches
- Bogdan Zdrojewski, MEP, Member of the Committee on Culture and Education
- Mirosława Nykiel, MEP, Member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy
- Joanna Bochniarz, President of the Centre for Innovative Education Foundation
9:10 – Film / presentation by the LOTTO Foundation
9:20 – Panel 1: From digital addiction to digital agency The TokTuMi report shows that excessive use of smartphones, games and social media is increasingly affecting young people’s concentration, relationships and wellbeing. We will look at which competences help children and teenagers maintain autonomy, critical thinking and emotional balance in a world designed to capture their attention.
- Ewa Kopacz, Vice-President of the European Parliament
- Beata Stelmach, CEO of Totalizator Sportowy
- Adrian Dusa, Head of Unit: Digital Education, STEM and AI Literacy, DG EAC, European Commission (to be confirmed)
- Rayan Temara, Policy Officer, Mental Health Europe
Moderation: Joanna Bochniarz
10:30 – Inspirational lecture Ewa Łabno-Falęcka, President of the Foundation for the Development of Industrial Education – including a presentation of the book “Maria Skłodowska-Curie – Albert Einstein: Letters /1911–1932/”.
10:40 – Panel 2: From talent to resilience: how education unlocks Europe’s potential How can innovative education – supported by artificial intelligence, personalised learning and experience-based approaches – help students discover their strengths, build resilience and gain confidence? Special attention will be given to programmes encouraging girls and young women to choose STEM careers, and to the role of the Erasmus+ programme in building a stronger, more competitive Europe.
- Diana Jabłońska, Director for Erasmus+, Education and Skills, DG EAC, European Commission
- Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus, MEP
- François Jourde, expert in digital education, in particular the impact and development of artificial intelligence in education; Support and Inclusive Education in the European Schools, Office of the Secretary General, European Schools
- European youth
Moderation: Jørgen Moland, Co-owner of Trygg av Natur and Takle – the Association for Public Health and Life Mastery
11:45 – One-on-one conversation with experts Henryka Bochniarz, founder of the Lewiatan Confederation, and Michał Kobosko, MEP, on how growing skills shortages in Europe are changing employers’ expectations and what schools must do to prepare the future workforce.
12:05 – Panel 3: From resilience to innovation: which competences will keep Europe at the forefront? The EU’s “Union of Skills” initiative points to growing shortages in STEM professions, digital and green competences, as well as entrepreneurship and innovation capacities. We will discuss which transversal competences are becoming key to Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy, and how schools can prepare young people for the twin transition – digital and green.
- Dariusz Joński, MEP
- Wojciech Konecki, President, APPLiA Home Appliance Europe
- Larisa Panait, Head of Skills and Jobs, EUROCHAMBRES
- European youth
Moderation: Jorge Gimeno-Pawłowski, Atland Consulting
12:50 – Closing speeches
- Nils Elofsson, Advisor on Social Affairs, BusinessEurope
- Sandra Parthie, President of the Employers’ Group, European Economic and Social Committee
- Joanna Bochniarz, President of the Centre for Innovative Education Foundation
What is NEF?
The New Education Forum (NEF), established in 2015 by the Centre for Innovative Education, is a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience and contacts in the field of educational innovation. NEF brings together representatives of over 440 institutions from 21 EU Member States – European regions and cities, higher education and research institutions, as well as employers from various industries.
Since the first forum, co-organised by MEP Prof. Jerzy Buzek, NEF’s first ambassador, 40 regional and pan-European events have been held, attracting more than 4,660 participants. We have hosted distinguished panellists, including Iliana Ivanova, Markus Beyrer, Tibor Navracsics, Valdis Dombrovskis, Montserrat Gomendio and Dominika Bettman. NEF has taken place across Europe, including in Kraków, Athens, Linz, Gdańsk, Edinburgh, Warsaw, Brussels, Vilnius, Turin and Berlin.