The Lounge Lab

What is lifelong learning? How can humans learn new technologies via upskilling? Is education stuck in the past or can new concepts define its evolution? In this episode we are joined by Prof. Thrasyvoulos Tsiatsos, Director of the Software and Interactive Technologies Lab (SWITCH ). Together we shed light on the initiatives that support lifelong learning and the place of skills in this growing field.

What are open data? Which guidelines should they follow? Do we need certain skills to operate them? And ultimately, are they indeed an indicator of altruism?Join us in this episode with PostDoc Researcher Apostolos Kritikos and Assistant Professor Evdokimos Konstantinidis to find out whether sharing is indeed caring in the world of data!

You go into university, you study and you graduate. Congratulations! Now what? Feeling lost in the path you need to take? Do you need a master degree or not? And does your university cover your needs?You are not alone in this! Launching a spinoff podcast, called SKILLAB Youth, we want to give a voice to the younger generation. In this episode, we are joined by Eleanna Papaioannou, a researcher in the project and a student in the School of Informatics of the Aristotle University. Together, we voice the concerns of students, providing useful tips for learning, evolving and surviving.

What is European policymaking and what challenges does it entail? Are upskilling and reskilling necessary concepts for effective policies? What will the trajectory of policymaking look like in the future? And in the end, how are these policies translated in practical outcomes for education?In today's episode, with the company of Dionysis Kapetanos from ViLabs, we attempt to shed light on the landscape of European policymaking, drawing some quite interesting results in the process!

In the latest episode of the Lounge Lab, we are back to discuss with Dr. Ioannis Arapakis from Telefonica!Together we discuss recommender systems, in the context of the SKILLAB Project. What are recommender systems and why are they useful? Has AI impacted their development? How do they fit in the context of upskilling? And what could be recommended for their future?Find out the answers with us!

What are open source skills? How are the used for the development of open software solutions? Are they useful for young developers? And how does education support the dissemination of open source as a principle? We open (source) up these subjects, together with Dr. Marco Jahn and Dr. Rosaria Rossini from Eclipse Foundation!

What makes a good leader? Which are the essential soft skills to succeed in project management? How can managing European projects be a smooth experience? And after all, is leadership an innate characteristic or something that can be acquired?Together with Dr. Sofia Tsekeridou , Senior Research & Innovation Manager at Netcompany, we provide answers to these and more!

How can IT SMEs perform effective upskilling? Are HR processes flawed or can the recent advent of AI hold responsibility? And how do clients perceive a skilled personnel?In this episode of the Lounge Lab, together with Tudor Cret and Ovidiu Codreanu from the CLUJ IT ecosystem, we discuss the innate challenges of upskilling the working staff. Can the race for skill acquisition be won? Or is it a set outcome?Let's find out!

Do you have what it takes to succeed in the business world as an aspiring entrepreneur? What constitutes the Entrepreneurial Mindset? And how do soft or hard skills fit into teaching this mindset to students? In today's episode, along with Dr. Dionysios Kehagias and Dr. Dimitrios Tsoukalas from CERTH, we discuss the essentials of the Entrepreneurial Mindset and its representation in education. In the end, is entrepreneurship something you acquire or something you are born with?

How are skills tracked and which methods are used for their analysis? Which indicators showcase the evolution of the labour market? And how is Greece adapting to labour market changes?In this new episode, recorded in the new studio of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, we are glad to host Dr. Ilias Livanos, an Expert at the Department of Skills and the Labour Market at CEDEFOP. Together we discuss pressing issues on EU upskilling and draw insights on the future of the labour market landscape.

In this episode of the Lounge Lab, we are honored to host Prof. Alexandros Chatzigeorgiou and Assoc. Prof. Apostolos Ampatzoglou from the University of Macedonia. Together, we discuss the concept of reskilling in Software Engineering and whether people from different backgrounds can become software wizards.How is GenAI affecting software production? Are there specific skills to invest upon when learning software? And what is the role of educational institutions in this transition? The answers are more than surprising!

How do upskilling and reskilling fit in modern HR? Which strategies should companies follow for effective skill management? And how does AI and education play their part?In this episode of the Lounge Lab, along with Associate Professor Panagiotis Gkorezis, from the Department of Economics, AUTH, we dive into the fascinating world of HR to discover how the skills of the present shape the HR strategies of the future.