EC Call for Proposals: Pilot VET Mobility Scheme for the Enlargement Countries and Africa

Deadline: 14 May 2019

The European Commission is currently inviting applicants for a program entitled “Pilot VET mobility scheme” in order to contribute to the improvement and modernisation of VET systems in the Enlargement countries and Africa, as well as reinforcing the links between VET and the labour market.

Program Lots

The program is divided into two lots:

• Lot 1:
  • Enlargement countries: Western Balkans and Turkey
    • Exchange programmes between Enlargement countries and European VET providers implemented;
    • The knowledge, technical and pedagogical skills of VET teachers is improved;
    • The knowledge of VET managerial staff is improved;
    • The transversal, generic and subject specific skills of learners are enhanced.
  • Indicative activities: Mobility arrangements (identification of target groups, development of individual programmes and action plans for schools and teaching staff, implementation of mobility in the EU), document best practices, dissemination at national and regional level, creation and institution of networks and partnerships for exchanges.
• Lot 2:
  • Africa
    • Exchange programmes between African and European VET providers implemented;
    • The knowledge, technical and pedagogical skills of VET teachers is improved;
    • The knowledge of VET managerial staff is improved;
    • The transversal, generic and subject specific skills of learners are enhanced;
    • Best practices, teachers’ and students’ inputs are integrated into curriculum and training reform in the participating schools;
    • Improved quality of training offered by African VET providers.
  • Indicative activities: Mobility arrangements (identification of target groups, development of individual programmes and action plans for schools and teaching staff, implementation of mobility in the EU), capacity support for curriculum development and consultancy support for management, development of new/revised trainer offer and contents, document best practices, dissemination and national, regional and continental level, creation and institution of networks and partnerships for exchanges.

Budget Information

• The Commission expects to fund two proposals (one for each lot). The total maximum budget earmarked for the co-financing of the two lots is estimated at 6.95 million EUR.
• The maximum grant for the proposals will be:
  • Lot 1: Enlargement countries: Western Balkans and Turkey: 2 million EUR
  • Lot 2: Africa : 4.95 million EUR

Eligibility Criteria

• Lot 1: Enlargement countries: Western Balkans and Turkey
  • A participating organisation can be:
    • Any public or private organisation (or subsidiary/branch) in the field of vocational education and training (referred to as a VET provider), legally registered in a European Union Member State or in one of the Enlargement countries targeted by this action, providing courses that lead to a qualification recognised by the competent authorities in their own country and accredited by the relevant national authorities; or
    • Any legally registered consortium of public or private VET providers registered in an European Union Member State or Enlargement countries targeted by this action; or
    • Any public or private organisation active in the labour market (referred to as a company) and legally registered in a European Union Member State or in one of the Enlargement countries targeted by this action.
    • In addition, organisations active in the labour market or in the fields of education in a European Union Member State or Enlargement country targeted by this action can be involved as intermediary organisations. They are also considered as partners in the project and can assist in better matching the apprentice/student profiles with the needs of the enterprises in cases of traineeships and to jointly prepare participants.
    • Other types of organisations (NGOs, local authorities, Small and Medium Enterprises, etc.) from Enlargement countries or European Union Member States can also be involved in the project as associated members. Their role in the project and activities must be clearly described, but is generally of an advisory nature rather than an active role and they are therefore not considered as project partners and they do not receive funding.
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the applicant must be:
    • a public or private VET organisation (or subsidiary/branch) active in the field of vocational education and training and legally registered in a European Union Member State; or
    • a legally registered consortium of public or private VET organisations registered in a European Union Member State;
    • The applicant (or lead applicant in the case of a consortium) must be established in an EU Member State.
• Lot 2: Africa
  • A participating organisation can be:
    • Any public or private organisation (or subsidiary/branch) in the field of vocational education and training (referred to as a VET provider), legally registered in a European Union Member State or in an African Union Member State targeted by this action, providing courses that lead to a qualification recognised by the competent authorities in their own country and accredited by the relevant national authorities; or
    • Any legally registered consortium of public or private VET providers registered in an European Union Member State or an African Union Member State targeted by this action; or
    • Any public or private organisation active in the labour market (referred to as a company) and legally registered in a European Union Member State an African Union Member State targeted by this action.
    • In addition, organisations active in the labour market or in the fields of education in a European Union Member State or African Union Member State targeted by this action can be involved as intermediary organisations. They are also considered as partners in the project and can assist in better matching the apprentice/student profiles with the needs of the enterprises in cases of traineeships and to jointly prepare participants.
    • Other types of organisations (NGOs, local authorities, Small and Medium Enterprises, etc.) from African Union Member States or European Union Member States or can also be involved in the project as associated members. Their role in the project and activities must be clearly described, but is generally of an advisory nature rather than an active role, and they are therefore not considered as project partners and they do not receive funding.
  • In order to be eligible for a grant, the applicant must be:
    • a public or private VET organisation (or subsidiary/branch) active in the field of vocational education and training and legally registered in a European Union Member State; or
    • a legally registered consortium of public or private VET organisations registered in a European Union Member State;
    • The applicant (or lead applicant in the case of a consortium) must be established in an EU Member State.

How to Apply

Applicants can download the application form vi9a given website.

Eligible Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, Turkey, Mauritania, Tunisia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Angola, Malawi, Namibia and South Africa.

For more information, please visit https://ec.europa.eu/education/resources-and-tools/funding-opportunities/vet-mobility-pilot-2019_en