GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

This action supports the gradual establishment and development of international collaborative networks of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs). CoVEs will operate at two levels:

• At national level involving 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 bringing together CoVEs that share a common interest in:
  • specific sectors or industrial ecosystems (https://bit.ly/3ORieSo & https://bit.ly/3ESIlns);
  • innovative approaches to tackle economic and societal challenges (e.g. climate change, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, sustainable development goals, integration of migrants and disadvantaged groups, upskilling people with low qualification levels, etc.); or
  • innovative approaches to increase the outreach, quality and effectiveness of existing CoVEs.

 The networks will bring together existing CoVEs, or develop the Vocational Excellence model by linking partners from various countries, that intend to develop Vocational Excellence in their local context through international cooperation. They could contribute e.g. to the delivery phase of the New European Bauhaus initiative by collaborating with the communities involved in the local transformations fostered by the initiative.

 CoVEs are not intended to build new VET institutions and infrastructure from scratch (although they may also do so). They can be existing vocational schools/providers that strive to achieve excellence by engaging in the set of activities proposed by this European initiative. CoVEs can also be newly set-up centres established with the purpose of providing excellent training offers and services that are responsive to labour market needs.

 Projects must choose relevant activities (providing details on the concrete actions and deliverables) indicated under the following three clusters:

• Cluster 1 – Teaching and learning;
• Cluster 2 – Cooperation and partnership;
• Cluster 3 – Governance and funding.

More information about the clusters and examples of activities can be found in pages 246-251 of the 2023 Programme Guide (the link can be found under the “More information” section of the present email).