Deadline: 14-Aug-23
The Villum Foundation is seeking applications to enable young people in Europe to become frontrunners in digital and green transitions.
The European Vocational Education and Training Initiative (EVI) supports inclusive VET, specifically addressing the green and digital transition, as well as young people’s social skills and motivation for education. Villum Foundation focuses primarily on projects in the Czechia, Slovakia, Italy and France.
In odd years, Villum Foundation funds projects in Czechia and Slovakia, and in even years Villum Foundation funds projects in Italy and France.
Focus areas
The funding is mainly focused on projects in two focus areas.
- Focus area 1 supports initiatives at an institutional level, funding facilities, training and organisational change.
- Focus area 2 relates to the skills and motivation of youth to engage in VET and education in general.
The two focus areas are interrelated and overlap. Applications may address one of the focus areas, but Villum Foundation also welcomes projects containing elements of both focus areas.
- Focus area 1: Enhancing quality of vocational education and training (VET) especially within the digital and green transitions.
- VET is an important lever of Europe’s digital and green transitions. Highly qualified and motivated employees are crucial if the industries are to become more sustainable and climate-friendly, while at the same time remaining efficient and competitive. Villum Foundation supports high-quality vocational education and training, provided by competent teachers in state-of-the-art facilities – especially in areas relating to the digital and green transitions.
- Focus Area 2: Improving Young People’s Social Skills and Motivation for Education, Particularly in The Fields Related To The Digital And Green Transitions.
- Europe’s digital and green transitions will require that citizens develop the necessary skills to use new technologies in everyday life and at work. And they must be able to translate knowledge about technology and the environment into qualified decisions – for the benefit of a greener and more sustainable society.
- In order to enable young people to acquire the skills and competencies needed in the future, Villum Foundation funds initiatives building young people’s motivation for education, and interest in computer technology and sustainable environment.
Funding Information
The initiative is allocated EUR 10-15 million annually. Applications with a budget of less than EUR 150,000 will not be considered. Villum Foundation prefers projects with a budget over EUR 500,000 in order to realistically fulfil the ambitions.
- In 2023, applications for initiatives primarily in Czechia and Slovakia are eligible.
- In 2024, applications for initiatives primarily in Italy and France are eligible.
Projects
Villum Foundation prioritises projects that are:
- Developmental, i.e. having a real development perspective and seeking to change and improve a specific vocational educational challenge.
- Innovative. Please note that Villum Foundation does not only support new innovative initiatives, but also initiatives that in other contexts have proved their worth in promoting long-term sustainable and systemic developments.
- Long-term, preferably with a project period of several years, allowing for necessary time to increase chances for success and systemic impact.
- Directly including young people in its activities. Youth as a target group must benefit directly from the project, even though the main goal is organisational or sectoral development.
Eligibility Criteria
- Schools and educational institutions, civil society organisations, local innovators and public authorities can apply.
- Applicants cannot be individual persons.
- Please note: English is the working language in everyday communications with applicants and grantees. Applications must be submitted in English. When grants are given, communication with project managers must be possible without interpreters.
For more information, visit Villum Foundation.