The Eugenides Foundation’s Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development is the Foundation’s new pillar of vocational education and lifelong learning, marking a new era in the fulfillment of its public-benefit mission. Building on 70 years of continuous contributions to education, science, and technology, the Foundation is expanding its activities to include the design and delivery of modern training programs that meet the real needs of the labor market.
The Institute focuses on the development of technical and applied skills, with a particular emphasis on the fields of shipping, industry, energy, agri-food, and new technologies. Its mission is to enhance and expand the knowledge and skills of employees, young professionals, and businesses through high-quality training programs with clear learning outcomes and immediate applicability in the modern workplace.
The establishment of the Institute marks an important milestone in the history of the Eugenides Foundation, as it marks the transition from its long-standing contribution to education to the active provision of specialized vocational training and skills development, further strengthening its social and developmental role.
Lifelong Learning Center
The Institute operates a Lifelong Learning Center (LLC) licensed by the Ministry of Education, which designs and implements training programs for:
• employees who wish to upgrade or expand their professional skills,
• companies and organizations that invest in the continuous development of their workforce,
• recent graduates seeking to acquire specialized technical knowledge and a smooth transition into the job market.
The programs are based on documented economic needs and are designed using modern pedagogical approaches, making use of advanced educational infrastructure, such as virtual and augmented reality (VR/XR) and state-of-the-art simulators. The assessment focuses on achieving specific learning and professional outcomes, ensuring meaningful skill development.
Partnerships with the Labor Market
The close alignment of training with the actual needs of the economy is a fundamental operating principle of the Institute. To this end, it has developed an extensive network of partnerships with public agencies, businesses, universities, and social partners.
In the field of maritime education, in collaboration with the Institute of Educational Policy (IEP), a nationwide training program for teachers at Maritime Vocational High Schools (EPAL) is being implemented, with the aim of utilizing bridge and engine room simulators, as well as modern teaching methodologies aligned with international STCW standards.
In the energy sector, in collaboration with Motor Oil (Hellas), a training program is being implemented for technicians who operate hydrocarbon processing units, combining theoretical instruction with industrial process simulations and hands-on experience with modern facilities and safety protocols.
In the agri-food sector, in collaboration with ELGO-DIMITRA, skills development programs are being carried out in greenhouse cultivation techniques, contributing to the transfer of modern know-how and the promotion of regional development.
At the same time, through collaboration with the Greek-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, joint initiatives are being developed to improve technical and vocational education, aligning training with the labor market, facilitating the intergenerational transfer of know-how, and promoting excellence in vocational education.
In collaboration with SEV, upskilling and reskilling programs are being implemented for critical manufacturing sectors, as well as specialized training programs for students at public vocational schools (SAEK), which combine presentations by industry executives with visits to companies and organizations.
The Institute also collaborates with Democritus University of Thrace to develop training programs that meet the needs of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with an emphasis on the agri-food sector and on transferable technical skills for sectors with high growth potential.
At the same time, the Institute’s network of partnerships is constantly expanding, through collaborations with leading companies, industrial entities, and organizations, with the aim of developing specialized training programs, upgrading workforce skills, and making technical professions more attractive to younger generations.
A Skills Development Ecosystem
The Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development serves as a dynamic hub for learning, innovation, and collaboration. By combining the Eugenides Foundation’s educational experience with modern technologies, strong partnerships, and a constant focus on the needs of the labor market, it makes a substantial contribution to the development of the country’s human capital and to the cultivation of the skills required by the economy of the future.