HUCO Labs joined the international DigiGreen conference taking place in Vilnius on 4 of June. Each year, DigiGreen brings together experts driving green and digital transformation to share insights on emerging smart technologies and the latest best practices shaping the future. In 2026 the conference offered 10 panel discussions featuring 40 speakers from Lithuania, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Latvia, and Estonia, covering topics ranging from energy, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation to investment, security, cleantech, and future skills.
HUCO Labs powered the session on Future Skills, addressing the challenge on how to prepare talents for an uncertain future, with technologies changing our work environment at an unprecedented pace and the skills required evolving faster than traditional education systems can adapt.
Moderated by Andželika Rusteikienė from Junior Achievement Lithuania the session brought together representatives from Higher Vocational Education and Training institution, business, and the non-profit sector: Anna Maria Patella, Head of the International Department of ITS Cuccovillo, Jarūnė Preikšaitė, CEO of Women Go Tech, and Tomas Ruzgys, General Manager at Crayon.
Technical skills are not enough for future success
Jarūnė Preikšaitė from Women Go Tech, highlighted that AI literacy is quickly becoming a basic competency that professionals across all sectors will need and employees increasingly need new competencies that did not exist only a few years ago. Yet technical skills alone are not enough. Critical thinking, communication, negotiation, analytical thinking, and the ability to interpret and apply information remain among the most valuable competencies in the workplace.
The experience of Women Go Tech, running upskilling programmes, demonstrate successful career transitions depend on much more than curriculum design. Mentorship and community are equally important. While formal training provides knowledge, experienced mentors help learners navigate challenges, and communities create support networks that encourage confidence, motivation, and peer learning.
Bridging the Gap Between Certification and Real-World
From the employer’s perspective, Tomas Ruzgys emphasised a challenge that many organisations encounter today: the gap between certification and actual workplace performance. Candidates often arrive with impressive credentials and completed training programmes, yet still struggle to apply their knowledge effectively in real-world situations. The rapid pace of technological development makes it impossible to master everything. . As a result, the ability to learn while working becomes more valuable than any individual qualification. Soft skills play a crucial role in transforming technical knowledge into meaningful action.
To address this challenge, SoftwareOne Academy was created as a model for integrating learning directly into the workplace. The programme welcomes university graduates, apprentices, career changers, and individuals returning to work after career breaks. Rather than separating training from practice, participants learn through real projects, mentoring relationships, and daily work experiences.
HUCO Labs: Turning Collaboration into Future-Ready Skills
The discussion also explored the role of higher vocational education in preparing learners for an uncertain future. Anna Maria Patella argued that future readiness depends on developing a strong foundation that enables individuals to adapt to continuous change. While technologies evolve, the need for resilience, flexibility, and confidence remains constant.
She stressed that students need more opportunities to practice, experiment, and apply their knowledge before entering the labour market. Future-oriented education should therefore move beyond traditional lectures and embrace methodologies such as problem-based learning, challenge-based learning, case studies, and project work.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of cooperation. This is precisely where collaborative initiatives such as the HUCO project become particularly valuable. By bringing together partners from education, industry, and civil society to co-design courses, test innovative learning approaches, and exchange expertise, HUCO Labs helps bridge institutional divides. Through practical experimentation and joint action, partners develop relevant, responsive, and future-oriented learning solutions.
Continuous Learning, Practice, and Cross-Sector Collaboration
Although each speaker represented a different sector, a clear consensus emerged: preparing people for the future requires much more than teaching technical knowledge. It requires continuous learning, practical experience, adaptability, and strong cooperation between education providers and employers. Practical experience and workplace learning are essential for transforming knowledge into capability. While mentorship and collaboration are powerful enablers of both individual growth and systemic change.