Keynote speakers:

Mr. Sandeep BAPNA, VP of International, Khan Academy

Prof. Sharon K. PARKER, John Curtin Distinguished Professor in organisational behaviour, Curtin University

Mr. Özgür Burak AKKOL, Chair of the Board of Directors of Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK)

Distinguished speakers:

H.E. Prof. Dr. Vedat IŞIKHAN, Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye

Mr. Mathias CORMANN, OECD Secretary-General

H.E. Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, President of the Republic of Türkiye

Organised by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth of the Republic of Germany and the OECD

Formal tour-de-table on key skills policy developments since the OECD Skills Summit 2024 with Ministers and Heads of delegations Co-chaired by:

H.E. Prof. Dr. Yusuf TEKIN, Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye

Mr. Frantisek RUZICKA, OECD Deputy Secretary-General

Visits to schools and businesses. Co-hosted by:

Ms. Celile Eren ÖKTEN, Deputy Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye

H.E. Ambassador Esen ALTUĞ, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Türkiye to the OECD

Presentations to introduce the topic of the Summit:

H.E. Prof. Dr. Vedat IŞIKHAN, Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye

Mr. Mathias CORMANN, OECD Secretary-General

Population ageing, combined with significant developments in technology and the green transition, is challenging traditional models of formal education. Individuals are living, learning and working for longer, even while the twin transitions are transforming how we teach, learn and work. Yet many students leave formal education without a strong foundation of skills for productive work and lifelong learning. It is critical to adapt existing education models to these challenges, while meeting the needs of students at different levels of education. This requires strengthening the ability of educators to equip students with a broad and evolving set of skills, knowledge and attitudes, especially in the context of artificial intelligence. This session will explore how formal education systems (early childhood, school, vocational and higher education) should adapt to equip students with the skills, knowledge and attitudes they need to navigate the megatrends and become lifelong learners. This includes reforming curricula, strengthening teaching workforces and reallocating educational investments and infrastructure. Discussions will focus on co-operation and good-practices for recalibrating models of formal education for a lifetime of opportunities. Discussion questions could include:

• How can curricula across all levels of formal education (pre-school, school, vocational and higher education) be reformed to equip young people with a strong foundation of skills, including those aligned with labour market needs?
• How can the teaching profession be made more attractive, and how can teachers be better prepared to implement modern curricula, apply effective pedagogy and integrate AI tools into their practice?
• How can countries optimise educational investments to manage costs, make effective use of infrastructure, and improve learning outcomes in the context of declining student enrolment?
• How can cross-country cooperation be improved to foster the development of innovative education models?

Format

• Opening presentations: Ms. Celile Eren ÖKTEN, Deputy Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye Mr. Andreas SCHLEICHER, OECD Director for Education and Skills
• Plenary discussion co-chaired by Ms. Celile Eren ÖKTEN, Deputy Minister of National Education of the Republic of Türkiye and Mr. Andreas SCHLEICHER, OECD Director for Education and Skills

Organised by Business at OECD (BIAC)

Harnessing the skills of adults across generations empowers workers at all life stages to have longer and more productive working lives in the face of ongoing megatrends. Globally, adults’ skill levels, engagement in learning and participation in the labour market remain areas of concern, especially for older adults. It is critical that governments fully leverage the existing talent pool as working lives extend and workforces shrink. This session will examine effective strategies for ensuring that all adults have access to relevant and accessible upskilling and reskilling opportunities, improving career guidance, and supporting older workers with the health, resources and conditions to remain meaningfully employed. The discussion could cover how workplaces can foster inter-generational learning by promoting collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and mentorship between younger and older employees, maximising the contributions of a multi-generational workforce and drawing on the unique strengths each generation brings. Discussion questions could include:

• How can education and training programmes, including vocational and higher education, be made more flexible and accessible for busy adults balancing work, caregiving and other responsibilities?
• How can the costs of adult learning be shared effectively between governments, employers and individuals to ensure affordability, particularly for learners and smaller enterprises?
• What role can career guidance services and skills needs intelligence play in encouraging greater adult participation in education and training, including older workers?
• How can governments and employers support older workers to remain meaningfully employed and active, including as contributors to intergenerational learning and knowledge transfer?

Format:

• Opening presentations: Mr. Samet GÜNEŞ, Director General of Türkiye Employment Agency (İŞKUR) Mr. Stefano Scarpetta, OECD Chief Economist
• Plenary discussion co-chaired by Mr. Samet GÜNEŞ, Director General of Türkiye Employment Agency (İŞKUR) and Mr. Stefano Scarpetta, OECD Chief Economist

Fostering and tapping into everyone’s talent by unlocking the potential of all groups is not only justified on equity grounds, but is essential for bolstering countries’ labour forces and economic prosperity. In many countries, certain groups have fewer opportunities to develop their talents in education. The share of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET) has decreased in many countries, but still represents a significant loss of potential talent. In addition to older adults, women and migrants are often under-represented in employment – a missed opportunity to bolster working-age populations. This session would explore strategies to activate this hidden talent to fully harness the available skills base that countries have at their disposal. It would seek solutions for improving educational access and continuity for disadvantaged learners. Discussions would cover workforce accessibility for groups under-represented in employment, such as disadvantaged students, youth NEETs, women and those with migrant backgrounds. Strategies for reaching and mobilising the NEET population, including high-potential, highly qualified young people, will be of special interest. In addition, discussions could also examine how skills mobility—both internal and global—can be strategically leveraged to address labour shortages exacerbated by demographic shifts, considering mechanisms to facilitate smoother transitions between sectors, regions and countries to better match skills supply with demand and promote growth and prosperity. Discussion questions could include:

• How can educational gaps and disadvantages be reduced, for example between boys and girls, for students with low-educated or foreign-born parents, or for other disadvantaged groups?
• How can policy makers more effectively prevent and address youth NEET, including with the help of technology?
• How can policy makers reduce employment gaps among older workers, women and migrants, and reduce the share of informal employment, to better harness the skills of under-utilised groups?

Format:

• Opening presentations: Prof. Dr. Lutfihak ALPKAN, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye Mr. Frantisek RUZICKA, OECD Deputy Secretary-General
• Plenary discussion co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Lutfihak ALPKAN , Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye and Mr. Frantisek RUZICKA, OECD Deputy Secretary-General

Announcement of the OECD Skills Summit 2028: Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria Closing remarks:

• Mr. Frantisek RUZICKA, OECD Deputy Secretary-General
• H.E. Prof. Dr. Vedat IŞIKHAN, Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Republic of Türkiye