Remembering Helmut Zelloth
It is with great sadness that we report the sudden and unexpected death of our dear colleague Helmut Zelloth, one of our senior experts in vocational education and training. A graduate of Klagenfurt University for Educational Sciences in the Austrian region of Carinthia, Helmut joined the ETF in 2000 to support the enlargement effort as country coordinator for Poland and Estonia. He went on to work in Latvia, North Macedonia and Croatia.
Helmut accompanied the ETF’s evolution as a centre of expertise, spearheading thematic expertise development in the areas of teaching and learning, quality assurance in VET, apprenticeships, work-based learning and career guidance. In these fields, he led many ETF initiatives, provided policy advice, participated in European and international networks, and contributed to international conferences and publications. Helmut deployed his broad understanding of human capital development policy in supporting the design and implementation of major EU support programmes, most notably in Egypt and Lebanon. From 2015 to 2019, he led the ETF’s strategic project on vocational education and training provision and quality assurance.
Helmut was deeply valued for his personal and professional contribution to the European Training Foundation. He served as confidential counsellor for staff experiencing difficulties, and was active in mentoring more junior colleagues and supporting them in developing their expertise and self-confidence. A keen skier and mountaineer, Helmut is warmly remembered for the enthusiasm with which he shared his passion with colleagues by organising regular skiing and hiking trips in the mountains he loved so much, and where sadly he passed away.
Helmut is survived by his wife Marketa and daughter Sissy. The management and staff of the ETF convey our deepest sympathies to Helmut’s family and friends in this tragic loss.
Those of you who would like to share your thoughts and memories of Helmut with his family are invited to send them to the following e-mail address: to_helmut@etf.europa.eu
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