M4Pris Project Marks Successful Conclusion with Final Meeting and Conference in Nyborg, Denmark
The M4Pris project, dedicated to establishing a Peer Mentoring Programme for Prison Staff in Europe, culminated in two significant back-to-back events on June 17th and 18th, 2025, in Nyborg, Denmark. Hosted by project coordinator BrainLog and the Danish Prison Federation, these events brought together partners and stakeholders to celebrate three years of collaborative work and to chart a course for the future of professional development in correctional services.
The unique setting for both the project meeting and the final conference was the Nyborg Prison, providing a powerful and relevant backdrop for the discussions.
June 17: Final Transnational Project Meeting
The first day was dedicated to the final Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), bringing together representatives from all partner organizations to finalize the project’s outcomes.
During the intensive meeting, partners discussed the final project results, reflected on the lessons learned from the peer-mentoring pilot programs implemented across Europe, and shared strategic approaches for ensuring the sustainability of continuing vocational education and training (C-VET) for prison staff.
The day concluded with a cultural visit to the Nyborg Distillery, offering partners a pleasant opportunity to connect after a productive day of work.
June 18: The M4Pris Final Conference
The following day, the project opened its doors to a wider audience for the M4Pris Final Conference, held within the walls of the high-security prison in Nyborg.
This impactful event gathered prison officers, academics, training institutions, researchers, and judicial stakeholders from five EU countries. All were united by the shared mission of enhancing C-VET and fostering a professional, resilient, and well-supported prison workforce.
A highlight of the conference was the rare opportunity for participants to take a guided tour inside the prison’s high-security area. After a formal welcome from the Director of Nyborg Prison, attendees witnessed the inmates’ facilities, daily activities, and the operational duties of prison officers, offering an invaluable real-world context for the project’s work.
The conference agenda featured:
- Interactive presentations by Danish prison officers, who shared firsthand insights into their daily responsibilities and the practice of peer mentoring in Denmark.
- In-depth discussions comparing the different national correctional systems, challenges, and solutions.
- Meaningful dialogue sparked by the tour of the prison’s secure and rehabilitative environments.
The conference directly addressed the critical challenges facing prison systems across Europe, including staff shortages, burnout, and high turnover rates. The M4Pris project was presented as a foundational step toward creating more structured, recognized, and supportive career pathways within the justice and correctional sectors.
