The European Commission, under the Erasmus+ programme, has launched a call for proposals in its Key Action 3 area — Support for policy reform: Joint Qualifications in Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Erasmus+ is the EU’s funding programme for education, training, youth and sport. The overall objectives of the call for proposals 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.
The specific objective of the call is to support the preparation or setting up of joint VET qualifications including at higher level or the improvement of such existing qualifications.
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).
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.
Other eligible organisations include regional or national public authorities, social partners, youth organisations or research institutes.
Actions are expected to last for a duration of 24 months, with grant beneficiaries undertaking the two main activities as follows:
- Designing or improving 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
- Setting 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.
The deadline for applications is 31 January 2018, and the maximum EU co-financing rate will be 80%.
An info session / webinar on 24th October 2017 will be available in order to provide interested potential applicants with further information on the Call.
More detailed information can be found on the application procedure and the eligibility criteria on the Erasmus+ website, and in the application guidelines.