The National Continuing Education Conference 2025 started early, name badge, coffee, a quick look at the agenda, deep breath. At 9:30 a.m. Bärbel Bas, Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, and Karin Prien, Federal Minister of Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, officially opened the event. It quickly became clear that this day would not just be about policy goals but even more about people, their work and their future.