Informal Meeting of Education ministers - Education, Youth, Culture and Sport

Τhe programme will commence with welcome addresses from Dr Athena Michaelidou, Minister of Education, Sport and Youth of the Republic of Cyprus, and Ms Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture at the European Commission. A keynote address on “The Teacher Profession in the New Era: At a crossroads” will be delivered by Professor Michalinos Zembylas of the Open University of Cyprus. Ministers will then participate in parallel thematic breakout sessions aimed at fostering an in-depth exchange of views and policy perspectives on the issue of “Investing in Teachers: Professional Development, Attractiveness and Retention”.

The first day will also include a presentation of the outcomes of the breakout sessions, as well as an exhibition of student art and children’s logo designs dedicated to the Cyprus Presidency.

On the second day, the agenda will focus on a ministerial roundtable discussion entitled “European Cooperation in Education and Training: Contribution to key areas of the European Semester, aligned with the European Education Area”. The meeting will conclude with closing remarks from the Director-General of the Directorate-General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport at the European Commission and the Minister of Education of the Republic of Cyprus, followed by a press conference and bilateral meetings.