Partnership for Excellence - Centres of Vocational Excellence

Overview

Objectives

Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) aim to operate at two levels. At the national level the aim is to involve a wide range of local stakeholders creating skills ecosystems for local innovation, regional development, and social inclusion, while working with CoVEs in other countries through international collaborative networks. At international level, the aim is to bring together CoVEs that share a common interest in: specific sectors or industrial ecosystems, innovative approaches to tackle societal challenges (e.g. climate change, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, sustainable development goals, integration of migrants, upskilling people with low qualification levels, etc.), or innovative approaches to increase the outreach, quality and effectiveness of existing CoVEs.

Activities/actions supported

This call will support projects bringing together local or regional partners from various countries to develop a set of activities under three clusters:

1. Teaching and learning,
2. Cooperation and partnerships, and
3. Governance and Funding.

Cluster 1 focuses on providing opportunities and materials for skills development;

Cluster 2 focus on creating specific partnerships and contributing to CoVE outreach, including by joining the Pact for Skills;

and Cluster 3 focuses on CoVE governance and creating skills ecosystems.

Projects must include activities under each of the clusters.

Anticipated outcomes

The gradual establishment and development of European networks of Centres of Vocational Excellence is expected to increase VET responsiveness to adapt skills provision to evolving economic and social needs, ensuring that VET is at the forefront of providing solutions to the challenges posed by rapidly changing skills needs. The CoVEs will form an essential part of the knowledge triangle by encouraging close collaboration between business, education and research, as well as between the VET community and across borders.

Institution providing the funding

European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)

Size of funding

EUR 4,000,000

Conditions

Overview of eligibility criteria

In order to be eligible, any participating organisation bust be legally established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme.

Participating organisations can be (non-exclusive list) VET providers, companies, industry or sector representative organisations, national/regional qualification authorities, research institutes, innovation agencies, regional development authorities.

Furthermore, please note that:

• Projects proposal must involve partnerships. And partnership must include at least 8 full partners from a minimum of 4 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme (including at least 2 EU Member States).
• Each EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme must include: at least 1 enterprise, industry or sector representative organisation, AND at least 1 vocational education and training provider (at secondary and/or tertiary level).

Overview of award criteria

Project proposals will be assessed taking into account the following four criteria, for a maximum of 100 points:

• Relevance of the project (up to 35 points)
• Quality of the project design and implementation (up to 25 points)
• Quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements (up 20 points)
• Impact (20 points)

Only 1 proposal per ecosystem can be funded. To be considered for funding, proposals must score at least 70 points.

Procedures

Application procedures

Applicants must fill in a detailed budget table according to the application form via the Funding and Tenders Portal. The standard application template for Erasmus+ projects is available at this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/erasmus/temp-form/af/af_erasmus-bb-lsii_en.pdf

The Application Form must be prepared by the consortium and submitted by a representative.

Application support available

For more information on the call and the application procedure please consult the Erasmus+ Programme Guide at https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-programme-guide

For help related to this call, please contact: eacea-eplus-VETec [dot] europa [dot] eu (eacea-eplus-VET[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Link to funding opportunity

Link to the programme for more info