The final national conferences of the Erasmus+ project Influencing careers of VET students – influVET were successfully held in Croatia, Germany and Serbia on 27 March 2026, bringing together more than 90 participants from vocational education and training, career guidance, youth work, digital education, entrepreneurship and non-formal learning.
The conferences marked the final public presentation of the project results in the three partner countries. Organised by DOMAS in Croatia, Outreach Hannover e.V. in Germany and CNELL in Serbia, the events gathered teachers, school pedagogues, psychologists, career counsellors, youth workers, trainers, representatives of VET schools and organisations working with young people. The shared focus was on how to support VET students in understanding influencer careers and digital professions in a realistic, responsible and informed way.
Across all three countries, participants were introduced to the main influVET results: the Toolkit for VET students, the Curriculum for VET teachers and associated experts, and the Online Project Platform. The Toolkit was presented as a practical resource for workshops with students, covering topics such as personal branding, professional online communication, credible sources, digital safety, career planning and social media action plans. The Curriculum was recognised as a useful professional development tool for educators who want to strengthen their capacity to guide students in the influencer era. The Online Platform was presented as a space where project materials can remain accessible and support continued exchange after the project ends.
In the events took place in different national contexts, many of the same messages appeared in the discussions. Participants agreed that influencer careers should not be presented only as attractive online success stories, but also as work that requires planning, communication skills, financial literacy, ethical awareness, resilience and responsibility. Teachers and counsellors emphasised that students are already strongly influenced by social media, while schools often lack structured tools to discuss these topics as part of career guidance.
In Croatia, the discussion highlighted the importance of connecting influencer-related topics with different VET sectors, including health, design, technical, business and service-oriented education. In Germany, participants focused strongly on digital reputation, data protection, self-employment and legal responsibilities. In Serbia, the conference opened an important conversation about young people’s expectations of quick online success, financial independence and the psychological pressure of public visibility.
The participatory parts of the conferences were especially valuable. Through discussions and group work, participants identified concrete ways to use the project materials in schools, counselling services, youth organisations and adult education. Suggested applications included class teacher sessions, entrepreneurship classes, career orientation days, teacher training, youth work and cooperation between formal and non-formal education providers.
Feedback from participants was highly positive. They appreciated the practical nature of the project results, the balanced approach to influencer careers and the opportunity to discuss a topic that is very present in young people’s lives but still insufficiently addressed in education. Many participants stressed that the project does not encourage or discourage students from becoming influencers, but helps them think critically, understand risks and opportunities, and make informed career choices.
The final conferences confirmed the relevance of influVET in all three countries. They showed that influencer careers are not only a media trend, but a useful entry point for broader learning about digital communication, employability, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, media literacy and responsible online presence. With its Toolkit, Curriculum and Online Platform, the project leaves behind practical resources that can continue supporting VET students and educators beyond the project lifetime.