KCETB’s Director of Further Education and Training, Martha Bolger, was delighted to attend a recent EU engagement in Greece, a strategically important opportunity to deepen European collaboration and drive forward our FET objectives at an international level. This engagement also supports KCETB’s long-term ambition to develop a national centre of excellence in craft and heritage, positioning the region as a leader in traditional skills innovation and cultural preservation.
Through active participation in three key EU-funded projects, KCETB is reinforcing its commitment to innovation in skills development, heritage preservation, and intergenerational learning. These engagements provide valuable opportunities to influence programme direction, enhance capacity across our teams, and position KCETB as a strong contributor on the European stage.
Speaking following the visit, Director of Further Education and Training Martha Bolger said “Under the Digitext Erasmus + project, I travelled to Greece with other participants from Carlow to expand skills via a capacity development series of engagements in Kilkis. Meeting the Chamber of Commerce, local university and manufacturers gave me a unique understanding of the tight knot eco system that supports each other in the region. I look forward to the Greek group coming to Ireland in July.”
Supported through the Craftwork 4.0 All and Digitext projects, the Digitext Exchange in Greece in June provided a valuable opportunity to explore the full textile value chain in practice. The primary objective of this mission was to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the sector by moving beyond theoretical frameworks and engaging directly with the physical realities of production, from spinning mills to dyeing plants. This hands-on exposure enabled the delegation to identify the practical challenges involved in modernising a traditional industry, while also informing future skills development and innovation pathways aligned with KCETB’s ambitions. Meanwhile, the Hands Across Generations steering group is progressing key objectives in fostering intergenerational learning models, ensuring long-term impact across participating regions.
Collectively, this strategic engagement in Greece underscores KCETB’s leadership in European projects, its commitment to leveraging EU funding opportunities, and its focus on creating sustainable pathways for learner development, staff upskilling, and cross-cultural exchange, while advancing its vision for a national centre of excellence in craft and heritage.