Skills Talks: Global Conversations on Skills and Employability
Skills Talks is a global conversation series hosted by EASEC, where academics, institutional leaders and experts discuss how skills are developed, assessed and recognised across education and the world of work. The series brings together voices from universities, organisations and different regions to explore the future of skills, employability and talent development.
Why We Created Skills Talks
Institutions around the world are facing a shared challenge: how to prepare people with the skills needed for the future of work. Universities, organisations and governments increasingly recognise that technical knowledge alone is no longer enough. Skills Talks was created to bring together experts helping shape this transformation.
Through open conversations, the series explores:
How institutions can strengthen employability
How soft skills can be assessed and recognised with credibility
Which frameworks and standards are shaping the future of education and work
EASEC
SKILLS TALKS
Global Conversation Series
Skills, Employability & the Future of Work
Academics, institutional leaders and experts discuss how skills are developed, assessed and recognised worldwide.
Global Experts
Academics & leaders
20 min episodes
Focused conversations
Episode Topic
The Future of Employability: What Universities Need to Know
Invited Expert
University Leader · Higher Education
Available on
EASEC YouTube Channel
Streamed globally
EASEC channels
6 Topic Areas
Education & Work
Global Conversation Series
Skills Talks is a short-form global conversation series featuring leading voices from education, employability, talent development and skills innovation.
Conversations are streamed through EASEC channels and later shared as educational resources for institutions and professionals worldwide.
The series covers topics such as:
Each episode features a 20-minute conversation with an invited expert, sharing practical perspectives on how institutions can better develop and recognise human skills.
Watch the Episodes
EASEC on YouTubeEach episode brings together a leading voice from education, employability or skills innovation for a focused 20 - 40-minute conversation. New episodes are published regularly across EASEC channels.
Two Students, Same Exchange, Completely Different Skills
Giorgio Marinoni
Manager, HE & Internationalization · IAU
Two students, one exchange — completely different outcomes. Giorgio Marinoni of the IAU explains why institutions keep measuring mobility numbers instead of what students actually learn, and what it would take to turn internationalization into certifiable, measurable competencies.
Watch Episode
Competency-Based Hiring: The Model Replacing the Resume
Mónica López Sánchez
Founder & CEO · SER en Acción
Mónica López Sánchez — founder of SER en Acción and architect of human and digital transformation — explains why today's hiring model has an expiration date, and what it really means to build competency-based recruitment.
Watch Episode
Community Engagement: Connecting the University with Its Surroundings
Claudia Burgos Aguayo
Social Innovation & Quality Assurance · University Management
How can universities become active agents within their territories rather than isolated institutions? Claudia explores community engagement as a driver of social development, employability, and meaningful learning — and why authentic collaboration must go far beyond regulatory compliance.
Watch Episode
Why Most Training Programs Fail (And It's Not the Content)
Shilpi Upadhyay
Founder & Director · Dive and Pro
Most corporate training fails — not because of poor content, but because organisations treat it as an event, not a process. Shilpi breaks down the real formula for lasting change: Learning + Behaviour + System Support.
Watch Episode
University Employability: How to Bridge the Skills Gap
Ignacio Campoy Aguilar
CEO · Formación Universitaria
How can universities train professionals that companies actually need? Ignacio shares the keys to closing the gap between academic training and the job market — professional certificates, soft skills, and AI transforming education in Spain and Europe.
Watch EpisodeTopics We Explore
Skills Talks explores some of the most important questions shaping education, employability and the future of human skills. Through each conversation, the series brings together perspectives that help institutions understand how skills can be developed, assessed and recognised with greater relevance and credibility.
Skills Development
How institutions can design learning experiences that build real-world competencies and transversal skills.
Employability
How universities can better prepare students for the changing demands of the labour market.
Soft Skills and Transversal Competencies
The growing importance of communication, collaboration, leadership, adaptability and other essential human skills.
Skills Assessment and Recognition
How competencies can be assessed and recognised through reliable frameworks and standards.
Future of Work
How education systems and organisations must evolve in response to technological and economic change.
Global Skills Frameworks
How international standards such as ESCO, EQF and other frameworks help align education and employability.
Conversation Format
Skills Talks follows a clear and focused conversation format designed to highlight the insights and experience of each guest. Questions are shared in advance to ensure meaningful and focused conversations.
20 - 40
minutes per episode
The goal is simple
Give experts a platform to share their insights with a global audience.
Questions are shared with guests in advance to ensure meaningful and focused conversations.
Opening the conversation by contextualising the guest's background and current focus area within skills and education.
Exploring the most pressing tensions institutions face today — from curriculum design to graduate readiness.
The guest shares concrete examples and lessons learned — what works, what doesn't and why.
Looking ahead — how the guest sees the landscape evolving and what institutions should be doing now.
A closing reflection — one key takeaway that institutions and decision-makers can act on immediately.
Who Can Participate?
We invite leaders and experts working in areas related to skills development, employability, higher education and talent development. If you are working on initiatives that help people develop and demonstrate their skills, your experience can contribute to the global conversation.
Skills development
University leaders · Academic directors
Employability and career readiness
Directors of employability or career services
Higher education innovation
Academics researching skills and competencies
Talent and workforce development
HR and talent development leaders
Competency frameworks and standards
Experts in education policy and skills ecosystems
Training and learning innovation
Learning designers · Training organisation leaders
If you are working on initiatives that help people develop and demonstrate their skills, your experience can contribute to the global conversation.
Why Participate in Skills Talks
Taking part in Skills Talks is an opportunity to contribute to a global conversation on skills, employability and the future of education. Each episode gives guests a space to share their perspective, highlight their work and connect with a wider international audience.
Global Reach
Share your work, ideas and experience with an international audience interested in education, employability and skills development.
Thought Leadership
Contribute to the international conversation on how institutions can better develop, assess and recognise human skills.
Meaningful Connections
Connect with universities, organisations and institutional leaders from different regions who are shaping the future of education and work.
Innovation in Practice
Highlight innovative approaches, practices and experiences in education, talent development and employability.
Join the Global Conversation on Skills and Employability
Skills Talks brings together leading voices from education, employability and talent development. If you are working on initiatives that help people develop and demonstrate their skills, we want to hear from you.
About EASEC
EASEC – European Accreditation of Soft Skills and Employability Competencies – is an international organisation dedicated to advancing the assessment and recognition of transversal skills. Skills Talks is part of EASEC's mission to support institutions in understanding, developing and recognising the skills that shape employability and talent development worldwide.