EC-EACEA Call for Proposals: Joint Qualifications in Vocational Education and Training (VET) Program

Deadline: 31 January 2018

The European Commission-Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is seeking proposals for a program entitled “Joint qualifications in vocational education and training (VET)” to support the preparation or setting up of joint VET qualifications including at higher level or the improvement of such existing qualifications.

The overall objectives of the call are, on the one hand, to increase the employability of young people and to contribute to the development of a highly skilled, qualified and mobile workforce from which companies should also benefit and, on the other hand, to support joint developments in VET in Europe and strengthen overall its quality, relevance and attractiveness.

Grant Information

• The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of projects is estimated at a maximum of 6 million EUR.
• Each grant will amount between 200 000 EUR and 500 000 EUR. It is expected to fund around 20 proposals.

Eligibility Criteria

• The partnership must be composed of partners from at least two different Erasmus+ programme countries (at least one of which must be a Member State of the European Union):
  • the 28 Member States of the European Union: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom ,
  • the non-EU programme countries: former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Turkey.
• Moreover, the partnership shall include at least three partners, including the two following organisations:
  • a VET provider (at upper secondary, post-secondary non-tertiary or tertiary level),
  • an enterprise (public or private) or a chamber of industry, trade and crafts or a sectoral/professional organisation.
• One of those partners will be the coordinating organisation, applying for the Erasmus+ grant on behalf of the consortium of partner organisations.
• Other eligible participating organisations include:
  • relevant qualification authorities or equivalent (at national, regional, or sectoral levels). The involvement of such an organisation from each of the countries participating in the project will represent an asset in the evaluation of the quality of the project consortium and cooperation arrangements,
  • public local, regional or national authorities,
  • social partners (employers’ and workers’ organisations),
  • research institutes,
  • European umbrella organisations,
  • sector skills councils, or equivalent,
  • public employment services,
  • youth organisations,
  • parents’ associations,
  • other relevant bodies.

Activities

Beneficiaries should undertake the two main following activities:

• Design or improve a joint qualification in VET, aimed at responding to concrete skill needs in the countries with mandatory partners, with a view to its recognition as qualification in each of these countries.
  • The joint qualification should be composed of clearly identified units:
    • defined through a detailed qualification profile, that is a comprehensive outline of the expected learning outcomes,
    • complemented by the design of a joint curriculum, with a strong work-based learning component, and supporting cross-border, transnational and interregional learner mobility,
    • complemented by assessment standards.
• Set up new sustainable cooperation structures to ensure transparency, comparability, appropriate quality assurance systems and mutual recognition of qualifications, whilst making existing engagement more systematic and targeted.
  • Concrete results must be achieved within the project’s duration:
    • Design or improve a joint qualification in VET
      • deliver tangible and sustainable outcomes in establishing a joint VET qualification including better transparency, comparability and recognition of those qualifications,
      • provide evidence on how specific skills’ needs will be matched with labour market needs in the countries/regions participating in the partnership.
• Set up new sustainable cooperation structures
  • show concrete efforts to increase employability of VET learners through enhanced work-based learning and inbuilt mobility opportunities,
  • implement long-term synergies to ultimately improve VET attractiveness.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply online via given website.

For more information, please visit EC-EACEA.