We are pleased to introduce VETInnovate — Transformation of VET Centres to Become Regional Leaders of Inclusive, Sustainable and Digital Skills Ecosystems, a new project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme (KA220-VET – Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training).
Launched in September 2025 and running until February 2028, VETInnovate brings together organisations from across Europe with a shared objective: to support Vocational Education and Training (VET) centres in strengthening their role within regional skills ecosystems. By fostering collaboration between education providers, industry, researchers and policymakers, the project aims to help VET institutions respond more effectively to emerging labour market needs, particularly in the areas of digitalisation, sustainability and inclusion.
What is VETInnovate about?
VETInnovate focuses on three interconnected areas of action:
- A practical self-assessment tool — the project is developing a structured self-assessment tool that enables VET centres to evaluate their current capacities and identify areas for improvement. Based on an 8-pillar framework, the tool combines training materials, practical examples and assessment elements.
- Real transformation in practice — around 20 VET centres across Europe will be supported in applying and testing the developed methodologies, ensuring that the project delivers concrete and applicable results.
- Building sustainable skills ecosystems — the project promotes long-term collaboration between education, industry and policy actors, strengthening the role of VET centres as key players in regional innovation systems.
Project partnership
The VETInnovate consortium brings together six organisations from four countries, combining expertise in vocational education, research, sustainability, digital transformation and innovation.
Project coordinator: CESOL – Asociación Española de Soldadura y Tecnologías de Unión (Spain)
Project partners:
- FEMEVAL – Federación Empresarial Metalúrgica Valenciana (Spain)
- REDASP – Regional Development Agency for Šumadija & Pomoravlje (Serbia)
- ISIM Timișoara – National R&D Institute for Welding & Material Testing (Romania)
- C.S. – Center for Sustainability (Cyprus)
- Helixconnect Balkans (Serbia)
VETInnovate kick-off meeting highlights
The first spark of the VETInnovate project lit up at the kick-off meeting hosted by CESOL in Madrid at the end of October (29.10 – 01.11.2025). During these days, project partners presented their organisational profiles, planned the work for the upcoming six months and set important strategic goals, operational approaches and common working methods.
What has happened so far?
The second Transnational Meeting was held in Valencia from 4 to 5 June 2026. During the meeting, partners presented their part of the VETInnovate Self-Assessment Tool, the core output of the project. Work is currently progressing on the definition of the eight pillars of the framework, including:
- Development of training materials
- Design of self-assessment indicators
- Collection of case studies & good practices
- Creation of evaluation questions
At the same time, the project has established its visual identity and launched its initial communication channels. The project website is already available and will progressively evolve as a central hub for project information, updates and results.
Work in progress
- In the coming months, the project will enter a key phase of validation and refinement. Revision sessions with VET experts and stakeholders will be organised to test and improve the Self-Assessment Tool.
- These activities will prepare the ground for the pilot phase, during which VET centres will apply the developed methodology in real contexts, strengthening their capacity in digital, green and inclusive education.
- In parallel, work will continue on the development of the VETInnovate digital platform, which will integrate training resources, tools and certification elements, supporting the long-term sustainability of project results.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Project: 2025-1-ES01-KA220-VET-000351008 — VETINNOVATE