Increasing the transnational cooperation between VET providers will be the objective of this Erasmus+ (E+) call. Results were published on the 12 July 2019.
The results of the E+ call for proposals (CfP) ‘Networks and partnerships of Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers’ launched on the 7 November 2018 (deadline on the 31 January 2019) are now available. The projects will start between September and November 2019 and will last for 24 months. This action aims to promote the creation of bottom-up transnational and national VET providers’ networks and partnerships. Building on cross-border collaboration, those networks and partnerships shall work together at European and national level, towards enhancing the quality, efficiency, impact and relevance of VET for learners and employers. The EU’s Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), listed the call under Erasmus+’s Key Action (KA) 3: “support for policy reform”.
KA 3 projects aim to stimulate innovative policy development, policy dialogue and implementation, as well as the exchange of knowledge in the fields of education, training and youth. As such, transnational cooperation projects are one of the key instruments KA 3 actions rely on. The specific ‘Network and partnerships of VET providers’ CfP welcomed proposals in two lots. Lot 1 (national, regional or sectoral VET provider organisations) encompasses projects that create or improve networks and partnerships among VET providers, while having a national, regional or sectoral dimension. Lot 2 (European umbrella VET provider organisations) will promote the cooperation between European umbrella organisations of VET providers and support the implementation of European VET policies via national, regional and sectoral VET channels.
In practice, the beneficiaries selected for the call will engage into peer learning and exchange of best practices. It is crucial for the beneficiaries of the call to support at least three existing EU tools and initiatives in the field of VET. For instance, the selected partnerships could contribute to the European Vocational Skills Week by e.g. organising events or activities at country level, during which they would raise awareness about their work in the field and actively reach out to learners, teachers and companies.
From a policy standpoint, the KA 3 action aligns with the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop)’s third strategic area of operation (i.e. “informing VET”). In its 2019-2021 programming period and as part of its third strategic area, the Cedefop will for example give priority to identifying policies and practices that encourage stakeholders, institutions and VET providers to work in partnerships to address skill mismatch. The Cedefop’s 2019-2021 multiannual programme will extend until 2020 as of now, given that the multiannual financial framework (MFF) and the EU political framework and priorities for VET post-2020 are not decided yet. The Cedefop will continue to pursue its three strategic areas of operation (i.e. Shaping VET systems and qualifications (1), Valuing VET to empower people (2) and Informing VET by offering labour market intelligence (3)). However, in the course of 2019, the Cedefop’s Governing Board will adapt the strategic orientations to reflect the post-2020 priorities in VET. Furthermore, Cedefop’s revised Founding Regulation will also come into force in 2019, allowing for more coherence with the regulations of other decentralised agencies. A new director is also set to take over the European agency later this year.