June 5, 2025
modernAKIS 5th AKIS Coordination Bodies General Assembly: Tools, Dialogue and Exchange
The fifth General Assembly of the AKIS Coordination Bodies (AKIS CBs GA), organized by modernAKIS, took place from May 20 to 22, 2025, in Helsinki.
The event brought together 87 key AKIS actors from all 27 EU Member States and Ukraine, including policy makers, coordination bodies and key AKIS actors involved in AKIS policy change and implementation.
The assembly aimed to facilitate peer-to-peer exchange on the design, implementation, and evaluation of AKIS strategies under the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The program combined high-level input, interactive formats, and structured dialogue to support knowledge flows and strengthen systemic collaboration across the European AKIS landscape.
A wide range of sessions was held throughout the two-day event. A World Café format introduced participants to key project outputs, including digital learning modules, AKIS-in-Play games, Communities of Practice, and the akisconnect.eu platform. These tools were presented through posters and direct dialogue with contributors, enabling participants to explore practical applications and discuss governance, capacity building, and regional adaptation. A dedicated workshop used gamification to engage participants in co-developing AKIS strategies across four thematic areas: inclusion and trust, access to innovation, youth engagement, and evaluation. The exercise highlighted systemic challenges such as fragmented roles, local ownership, and used for adaptive learning. Additional sessions addressed the development of an analytical framework for AKIS evaluation, the alignment of Horizon Europe and EIP projects, and the role of governance structures in enabling effective knowledge flows. An open space exchange session allowed national Coordination Bodies to exchange insights on advisory systems, innovation, and communication. Across all formats, modernAKIS facilitated structured reflection and peer learning to support the operationalization of AKIS strategies at national and EU levels.
The General Assembly provided a platform for modernAKIS to convene the European AKIS community, share project results, and gather input for future development. Feedback from participants will inform the ongoing refinement of tools and approaches to support knowledge and innovation systems in agriculture and AKIS.
For more details on the event, please see AKISConnect.edu | 5th AKIS Coordination Bodies General Assembly (May 2025, Helsinki)
