U-Talent: Empowering Young People for the Jobs of the Future in Rhodes

Athens, 30 APRIL 2026 – The U-Talent programme was successfully presented on Wednesday, 29 April at the Nestorideion Melathro in Rhodes, aiming to strengthen young people’s skills and support their smooth transition into the labour market.

The event opened with remarks by the UNICEF Representative in Greece, Dr Ghassan Khalil, who highlighted the importance of the collaboration between DYPA and UNICEF in developing modern tools and opportunities that respond to the needs of young people.

This was followed by a presentation of the programme by UNICEF Education Programmes Officer, Giorgos Simopoulos, who underlined the role of U-Talent as an innovative digital tool that enhances key skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and adaptability.

A central highlight of the event was the panel discussion titled “Empowering Young People for the Jobs of the Future”, bringing together representatives from the fields of education, social policy and academia. The panel featured:

• Maria Karaisarli, Region of Dodecanese, Career Guidance Counsellor
• Tsampika Karageorgi, Educator specialized in Intercultural Education, Directorate of Social Policy and Health
• Eleni Karantzola, Professor at the Department of Mediterranean Studies, University of the Aegean, and Coordinator of the newly established Child Rights Centre
• Anna Dimitriou, Responsible for the labour market integration of Roma beneficiaries, Directorate of Social Policy and Health
• Georgios Paroikakis, Teacher at EPAS Rhodes

Speakers highlighted key issues related to preparing young people for the labour market, the role of education as a tool for empowerment for all, and the importance of developing skills that respond to contemporary social and professional challenges.

The discussion also focused on the challenges young people face in transitioning to employment, the importance of strengthening the link between education and the labour market, and the role of universities, social policy services and vocational training structures as active hubs of skills and innovation.

In the second part of the event, students and trainers from EPAS Rhodes had the opportunity to explore and test the U-Talent digital tool, actively contributing with their feedback to its ongoing improvement.

The event concluded in a positive and collaborative atmosphere, reaffirming the importance of cooperation between institutions, educational stakeholders and local communities in creating more and better opportunities for young people.

The U-Talent programme aims to enhance youth employability by developing modern skills and promoting their active participation in society.