European projects

The COVE Forum 2024, held in Lyon, was an exceptional event for the industrial innovation and technology sector. This year, we had the privilege of attending on behalf of two of our most ambitious projects: Cove Team Up and Cove Seed. The experience was unforgettable, full of learning, connections, and countless opportunities for the growth of our initiatives.

What is the COVE Forum?

The COVE Forum 2024, held in Lyon from September 10 to 12, 2024, brought together educators, policymakers, and industry representatives from across Europe. This event provided a platform for Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) to share knowledge, best practices, and solutions to enhance vocational education and training. One of the main highlights was the collaboration with the WorldSkills 2024 event, held simultaneously, giving attendees the chance to explore international standards in vocational education.

The forum featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, focusing on sectors such as digitalization, sustainability, and innovation in vocational education. Although the exact numbers of attendees and sessions have yet to be confirmed, it was a large-scale event offering networking opportunities for CoVEs at both the European and international levels.

For more details, you can access the program and additional updates on the official forum page

(CoP CoVE).

Representing Cove Team Up

TEAM#UP is an Erasmus+ funded project that integrates practical knowledge about ecological restoration into vocational education and training (VET) schools and lifelong learners.

For more information, visit the project’s website:

TEAM#UP

Driving Startup Growth with Cove Seed

The primary goal of SEED (Sustainable Energy Education) is to impact global climate change prevention through excellent and innovative vocational training focused on providing solutions to become a fossil-free energy continent. The transition challenges are evolving rapidly, with high demand for digital and green innovation. Solutions are still unclear, and technologies are constantly evolving. Well-equipped students, professionals, and an appropriately skilled workforce are needed for the tasks and challenges. Vocational training, as a driver of innovation and growth, has a significant responsibility. Additionally, labor shortages demand new ways of working and educating.

More information on the project’s website:
SEED

Reflections and Key Conclusions

The COVE 2024 Forum not only gave us the opportunity to show the work of Cove Team Up and Cove Seed, but also to learn from other projects and initiatives that are transforming the technology sector. Among the main conclusions that we took away were the following:

1. Global collaboration: It was clear that collaboration across sectors and regions is essential to address the biggest industrial and environmental challenges.
   
2. Innovation and sustainability: Digital transformation remains a priority for industries, but sustainability is taking center stage at all levels.
3. Opportunities for startups: The startup ecosystem is more active than ever, and it is critical to provide them with the tools they need to scale their solutions and achieve global impact.

Looking to the future

We are very excited about what the future holds. COVE Forum 2024 was just the beginning of a year full of new challenges and opportunities. With everything we’ve learned and the new connections we’ve made, Cove Team Up and Cove Seed are more prepared than ever to continue to drive technology innovation and support the next generation of industry leaders.

If you’d like to learn more about our projects or are interested in collaborating with us, don’t hesitate to get in touch! The road to innovation is an adventure that we want to continue traveling together with you.

The second newsletter of the TEAM UP project is now available. Project status updates, sessions, dissemination…

Discover the future of the TCLF industries with our latest report. We highlight the key competencies and skills to excel in this ever-evolving sector. Don’t miss out on the insights from our qualitative research based on focus groups and 474 responses!

The first face-to-face meeting of the project in Alicante begins, which will last for 2 days, May 2nd and 3rd, 2024.

PaViVET’s main objective is to harness the power of video as a high-impact methodological tool for students with functional diversity in Vocational Training.

More information on the project’s website:

PaViVET Project

On April 18th and 19th, the second meeting of the METASKILLS4TCLF project took place in Igualada (Barcelona), Spain. This is a European project aimed at identifying the skills necessary to be included in the training for the fashion, clothing, footwear, and accessories sector, aligning them with the latest needs of the business world.

The twenty-one partners, coming from 11 European countries, had the opportunity to discuss and coordinate not only the progress of the project but also the upcoming tasks to be carried out in the following months. The Advanced Digital Innovation Center for Vocational Training (CIDA) participated as a representative of the General Directorate of Vocational Training of the Valencian Community in these sessions, contributing the priorities in VET centers.

During the meeting, several important topics were addressed that will guide the development of the project in the coming months:

• A global and shared vision of the tasks and achievements attained.
• Evaluation of the deliverables and products developed in different working sessions in collaboration with the partners.
• Space for discussion and proposals.

The meeting strengthened collaboration among the partners and ensured that the project progresses efficiently and effectively. These actions aim to have a significant impact on the advancement and applied innovation in vocational training centers in our community, where the importance of companies in the footwear, clothing, and leather sectors is significant not only nationally but also internationally.

Stay tuned for updates and news about the project’s progress and upcoming events!

The TEAM#UP project convened its Advisory Board for the first time on February 14, 2024. The meeting involved expert members representing a spectrum of expertise and organisations committed to environmental conservation and education.

Our Advisory board currently stands at eight members: Andrea Romero Montoya, from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Klara Čámská, from the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic; Egbert Roozen, from the European Landscape Contractors Association; Annette Zietlow, from the Ministry of Economics, Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry of Saxony-Anhalt in Germany; Jose Rabasco Tribes, from the Alicante Fire Department Consortium in Spain; Sigurd Boasson from Boasson AS in Norway, Karolina Sikala, from EUROPEA International and Kim Reilly, from Landcare Europe.

The meeting was chaired by the project coordinators Markus Meyer and Anita Kirmer, who shared their vision for TEAM#UP and underscored the importance of fostering green skills acquisition among VET students, especially in light of European Biodiversity, Climate and Nature Restoration initiatives. With a consortium spanning five countries, 15 partners, and nearly 70 individuals, the TEAM#UP project aims to empower the next generation of environmental stewards (including farmers, landscapers, foresters and gardeners) through immersive educational resources and training materials covering ecological restoration.

The discussion during the meeting revolved around various aspects of the project, including the integration of soil conservation principles, consideration of European Qualifications Framework (EQF) levels, and the accessibility of educational resources through an online platform under development, the Digital Ecological Restoration Toolbox. “We are thrilled to have such a diverse and dedicated Advisory Board onboard,” remarked Ryan Campbell, TEAM#UP Project Manager. “Their expertise and guidance will be instrumental in shaping the trajectory of our project and ensuring its relevance to the needs of educators and students across Europe.”

The Advisory Board members expressed enthusiasm for the project’s objectives and offered valuable insights to enhance its impact and reach. Sigmund Boasson, owner of two landscaping and urban greening companies in Norway, stated, “Joining TEAM#UP’s advisory board felt like a natural development in Boasson and MATTAK’s company profile. It’s about more than ecological restoration—shaping a future where nature thrives and humanity flourishes. Let’s ignite a green revolution together!”

Klára Čámská, working with the Nature Conservation Agency of the Czech Republic, shared with us her thoughts: “My inspiration is based on my friends and their fascinating research and practical results in ecological restoration [both at home and across Europe] and also with my colleagues, who commit each day to the demanding work with people for the benefit of nature. I would like to use both these “sources of knowledge and experience” to share with young people because I think they deserve to live in preserved nature.”

Karolina Sikala, representing a consortium of Green VET Schools across Europe commented: “I was inspired to join the advisory board of TEAM#UP for several reasons. Firstly, my passion for working with Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) drove me to participate in two different CoVEs, where I serve as a regional captain for one of them. Being involved in this project allows me to contribute my expertise, share experiences, and continually learn from others. Sharing is caring. Together we can dream big and do even bigger.”

Looking ahead, TEAM#UP plans to leverage the expertise of its Advisory Board to disseminate project updates, engage with stakeholders, and drive awareness of ecosystem restoration education.

For more information about the TEAM#UP project and its Advisory Board, please visit www.teamup2restore.eu and follow #teamup2restore on social media.

About TEAM#UP

TEAM#UP is an Erasmus+ project co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement N°101103653. The project aims to provide practical knowledge on ecological restoration to vocational education and training (VET) schools across Europe, empowering students with green skills for a sustainable future.

Contact:

Ryan Campbell, Ryan.Campbell@hs-anhalt.de

Project Manager, TEAM#UP

PAVIVET aims to harness the power of video as a high-impact methodological tool for students with functional diversity in Vocational Training. This innovative project will develop training initiatives centered around the creation and use of instructional videos, specifically designed to enhance learning for individuals with manipulative and auditory disabilities.

The project will start with a comprehensive mapping of the specific competencies needed by students and teachers at the European level. Subsequently, a unique and context-adapted training will be guided and tested within the European framework, focusing on the requirements of the targeted community.

This transnational project is a collaborative effort involving five partners from Spain, Finland, and Germany: FUNDEUN, CIDA (Advanced Digital Innovation Center of the Valencian Community, DGFP of the Conselleria de Educación, Universidades y Empleo), AMMATIOPISTO SPESIA, SOWIBEFO Verein für sozialwissenschaftliche Beratung und Forschung e. V., and KJF Werkstätten gemeinnützige GmbH.

For more information, visit the project page at FUNDEUN, the project leader

Link

Welcome 🌈 to our first Newsletter! Get ready for a journey of inspiration, collaboration, and success! We’re thrilled to have you on board. Stay tuned for exciting updates, stories, and achievements from our fantastic team! 

From CIDA, we want to announce the new call for European projects KA1 and KA2, focused on the development of Vocational Training. We are delighted to promote this opportunity that aims to strengthen and enrich the educational and employment landscape in the region.

Full details:

KA1

KA120-VET: Acreditaciones Erasmus en Formación Profesional

KA121-VET: Proyectos acreditados de movilidad de estudiantes y personal de Formación Profesional

KA122-VET: Proyectos de corta duración para la movilidad de estudiantes y personal de Formación Profesional

KA2

KA210-VET: Asociaciones a pequeña escala en Formación Profesional

KA220-VET: Asociaciones de cooperación en Formación Profesional