Newsletter 10/2020

The VET Excellence Awards are a major part of European Vocational Skills Week, and you have a say in who takes home the prizes. Take a look at the inspiring nominees here and vote for your favourite through the open public vote by 10 November. The winners will be announced on 13 November.

We're happy to report that a further 11 organisations have agreed to act as National Contact Points in support of the Week and to help spread the message of VET. These are in addition to the 12 we introduced in the previous newsletter. The new contact points are listed below, and you can read more about their mission in this article.

AustriaAustrian Institute for Research on VET (AIRVET) / Österreichisches Institut für Berufsbildungsforschung (ÖIBF)

BelgiumTechnobel

EstoniaThe Education and Youth Authority

FinlandFinnish National Agency for Education

FranceAgence nationale pour la formation professionnelle des adultes (Afpa)

ItalyENAIP NET

LuxembourgAnefore

PolandŁukasiewicz Research Network Institute for Sustainable Technologies. Human resources management department (Łukasiewicz ITeE)

PortugalISQ

SloveniaAssociation of Slovene Higher Vocational Colleges (Association HVC)

SpainAsociación Mundus

The full report on the study is available here, and there are a series of further documents available to support businesses: an introduction to up- and re-skilling, good examples of policies, good practices, and guidance packs for companies and for intermediary bodies and social partners.

The new Erasmus+ Programme (2021-2027) has been designed to be easier than ever for any kind of organisation to access. Erasmus accreditation gives access to learning mobility opportunities for learners, teachers, trainers and other education staff. Organisations only need to be accredited once to receive funding for learning mobility activities during the programme’s seven-year duration. Organisations providing VET or adult education, local and regional public authorities, companies and other organisations that host, train or work with learners and apprentices in VET can apply.

If your organisation already has a VET Mobility Charter, this is your opportunity to extend it until 2027 by applying for Erasmus accreditation. A ‘light’ re-accreditation process has been designed for you. For more information, read the Accreditation Brochure or contact your Erasmus+ National Agency. You can also take part in our Mini-MOOC Erasmus accreditations – a new path to mobility. The course can be taken any time until 29 October and the materials will remain available afterwards.

The European Commission published extraordinary calls for proposals to support digital education readiness and creative skills. These calls should improve online, distance and blended learning and develop skills and competences that encourage creativity and boost quality and innovation. Interested organisations should contact the Erasmus+ National Agency in their country. Further information and explanations of the call are available in the second corrigendum to the 2020 Erasmus+ Programme Guide.