August 12th marks International Youth Day, recognized by the United Nations since 1999. theme chosen by the UN for the 2026 editionThe book “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations” reminds us that young people from different realities, countries, and economies share similar goals: dignity, opportunity, participation, and access to quality education.
In Portugal and the European Union, these objectives have been taking shape through surveys, strategies, and action plans that directly listen to young people. We have compiled ten priorities that run through these documents and help to understand what the new generation is asking of the education system today.
1. Universal and equitable access to quality education.
The European Union's Youth Strategy 2019-2027 places quality education among its eleven areas of action, with the goal of ensuring universal and equitable access to lifelong learning, according to the... School Library NetworkEquity remains a starting point, not an already achieved goal, especially outside major urban centers.
2. Digital skills prepared for the future
The OECD's 2025 trends report identifies the integration of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and virtual reality as some of the fastest-growing transformations currently taking place in education, according to... Digital PointIn response, the European Commission adopted the Skills Union Package in March 2025, which includes an action plan dedicated to core skills and a strategic plan for STEM areas.
3. Mental health and well-being as part of the school curriculum.
Mental health is featured as an autonomous area in the European Youth Strategy, recognizing that psychological well-being directly influences academic success and retention in the education system.
4. A stronger bridge between education and the job market.
Access to quality work is repeatedly linked to education in European surveys. In Portugal, young people surveyed by Eurobarometer cite the cost of living and job instability as central concerns, reinforcing the demand for training pathways with clear career paths, according to the... European Commission.
5. Active participation in decisions that affect them.
The Youth Council Conclusions, adopted during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2021, argue that young people should have real opportunities for participation and decision-making in all matters that concern them, including the organization of the education system itself, according to the... School Library Network.
6. More personalized and participatory teaching methods
The same European strategy points to student-centered, more cooperative, and less standardized learning models as a way to respond to the diversity of paces and interests within the classroom.
7. Greater mobility and recognition of international experiences.
THE Education and Training Monitor 2025According to the European Commission, the outgoing mobility rate of Portuguese higher education graduates is 10.2%, slightly below the European Union average.
8. Gender equality and more inclusive societies
Gender equality and the building of inclusive societies are among the primary objectives of the European Youth Strategy, directly impacting how schools and universities welcome the diversity of their students.
9. Climate literacy and sustainability in the curriculum
A “green and sustainable Europe” is also one of the eleven areas of the European strategy, reflecting the pressure from young people themselves for climate change to cease being a side issue and become a cross-cutting theme in schools.
10. Media literacy for navigating a more complex information environment.
The Youth Council's conclusions underscore the need to strengthen media and information literacy skills so that young people can identify misinformation, polarization, and propaganda, and participate in an informed way in democratic life.
An effort that is also being promoted in Portugal.
Many of these priorities depend on digital infrastructure and concrete services. In Portugal, FCCN, the digital services unit of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), provides services and platforms used daily by students and higher education institutions. These services, as a whole, address several of the priorities identified here, from access to quality training to strengthening digital skills.
