The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the reality of the education sector and has highlithened the need to transform the existing training systems to meet the current challenges. Just like all other education institutions, VET providers are facing the necessity to reinvent their learning environments so that digitalisation expands and complements the education process. Shifting from school-based education to learning via online platforms and the need for digital content have revealed not only the shortage of the digital technology at schools but also a significant lack of digital skills of teachers and trainers. Even before the COVID-19 crisis teachers in many countries reported the need for ICT training (OECD, 2019).The e-VET project seeks to establish a transnational partnership focusing on the needs of VET providers in view of the digital transformation of the education sector. The project partners will research and analyse the existing digital training solutions, methodologies and techniques for distance learning in order to identify the ones that are easily adaptable and transferrable to different VET training programmes. All the findings will be compiled in the Guidelines for Delivering Remote Teaching in VET.The project contributes to the Covid-19 situation by improving VET teachers’ digital competences not only to use the most up-to edge technologies but also encouraging them to be creators of the digital content which meets the best educational and pedagogical requirements. The project partnership seeks to create the so-called soft results - development of digital skills and guidelines, which could become a valuable resource of educational institution and in the long run ensuring quality and inclusive teaching and learning in various situations, e.g. remote learning due to various reasons such as quarantine, sickness, Erasmus mobility, revision, apprenticeship.The project forms a Strategic Partnership to support digital education in the EU aiming at:-Improving teachers’ digital competences to empower them not only to use various ready-made digital resources in remote and hybrid teaching but also to encourage them to be creators of digital content of vocational curricular by providing a practical training on using various apps, software and learning environments.-Developing the guidelines that will facilitate provision of remote/hybrid training for VET providers.-Implementing short-term transnational training activities for trainers of VET institutions who will be able to use the acquired knowledge and skills for the development of digital content and implementation of remote/hybrid training.-Establishing preconditions for the creation of international virtual learning environment and development of the joint VET programme among the partner organizations.Main target groups addessed:- VET teachers and trainers;- VET students;- VET providers;- Stakeholders (employers, associations, chambers).

"In line with ET2020 objectives recently elaborated in Riga Conclusions (2015) calling to developing high quality and labour market relevant vocational skills and qualifications, which outlines the need ""to promote work-based learning in all its forms ... by involving social partners, companies, chambers and VET providers, as well as by stimulating innovation and entrepreneurship”, ExcellWBLProject has set the following goals:- to identify and collect examples and experiences of outstanding workplace tutors, motivated companies, effective cooperation mechanisms;- to boost the reputation and attractiveness of work-based learning (WBL) through praising, awarding, advertising persons, organizations and approaches which can serve as role models;- to produce material of examples which can be used in training WBL tutors from companies and VET schools and in training of VET managers;- to promote partnerships between VET schools and enterprises in the Baltic Sea region.The main target groups of ILP4WBL project are:- VET providers, managers of VET schools, coordinators of WBL, VET tutors supervising WBL;- Employers, business stakeholders and WBL tutors from companies;- WBL tutor trainers;- Authorities and Policy-makers.The above-mentioned goals will be achieved through the following project steps:- Identifying and collecting national examples of excellence in WBL in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania in 3 categories - Tutors, Companies, Networks;- Development of ExcellWBL Case-book with selected examples of excellence in Baltic WBL in a form of open education resources (OER);- Development of the training programme for VET managers, WBL coordinators and stakeholders: “Promoting Baltic WBL through Examples, Cases and Peer Learning”;- Piloting the training programme and OER during international staff training;- Multipliers' events and dissemination activities to ensure wide use of ExcellWBL outputs and their sustainability.The expected outcomes of ILP4WBL will be:- OER “National Examples of Excellence in WBL: Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania”;- ExcellWBL Case-book: “Selected Examples of Excellence in Baltic WBL”, also published as OER;- Training programme: “Promoting Baltic WBL through Examples, Cases and Peer Learning” for VET managers, WBL coordinators and stakeholders;- Approximately 280 people will be directly involved in Project activities;- Produced material of examples which can be used in WBL tutor training from companies and VET schools, as well as in training of VET managers.ILP4WBL project partnership consists of VET providers, workplace sector representatives, WBL tutor trainers, VET stakeholders and decision makers from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Germany."

<< Objectives >>Green Leadership addresses 2 general objectives:1) to propose innovative approaches for skills development in VET responding to the needs of labour market and economy;2) to address environmental challenges by developing green competences of VET teachers, trainers and managers, as well as green and transversal competences of VET students.<< Implementation >>This project approach is reflected in 4 main steps:1) identifying best practices of green transition in the Baltic region;2) developing and piloting Green Leadership training program for VET teachers and managers;3) testing active learning approaches in VET: local green hackathons, Baltic Green Hackathon;4) sharing and promoting results and methods.<< Results >>Outputs include:1) Green Leadership training program for VET teachers and managers;2) Active learning methods;3) VET students presentations of solutions for green transition.The main result will be green competences and other transversal competences of participants.Target groups include VET teachers, managers and VET students. Indirect target groups are VET stakeholders, authorities, sectoral representatives, teacher trainers. Approx. 400 participants will be directly involved in project.

"In line with ET2020 objectives recently elaborated in Riga Conclusions (2015) calling to improving the quality and efficiency of education and training, which outlines the need “to ensure high quality teaching, to provide adequate initial teacher education, continuous professional development for teachers and trainers” and ""to promote work-based learning in all its forms"", to support professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors in school and work-based setting, our ILP4WBL has set the following goals: - to improve the skills and abilities of VET tutors for using Individual Approach (IA) and Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) in work-based learning (WBL); - to move towards uniformity and common understanding of IA and use of ILP within the Baltic Sea region; - to promote the mainstreaming of ILP (more active use by practitioners) by offering support tools and resources; - promoting partnerships between VET schools and enterprises in the Baltic Sea region for national and transnational mobilities, apprenticeships or WBL. The main target groups of ILP4WBL project are: - VET providers, managers of VET schools, coordinators of WBL, and particularly, VET tutors supervising WBL; - Employers, coordinators of training, particularly, workplace tutors (mentors) supervising WBL; - VET learners (apprentices, trainees) involved in national and transnational mobilities, especially for WBL. The above-mentioned goals will be achieved through the following project steps: - Review of existing practices and approaches in 3 countries; - Development of the training programme for VET tutors implementing WBL; - Development of open education resources (OER) to support the training programme; - Piloting the training programme and OER in 3 levels: international staff training (preparing Lead Trainers) national training workshops transnational mobilities of VET learners where trained tutors can test their skills; - Multipliers' events and dissemination activities to ensure wide use of the ILP4WBL outputs and their sustainability. The expected outcomes of ILP4WBL will be: - Review “Individual Learning Plan: Review of Existing practices and Approaches in 3 Countries”; - Training programme for VET/WBL tutors “Individual approach and individual learning plan in WBL”; - Open Education Resources, to support the use of individual approach and ILP in WBL, with assignments, methods, resources, examples of individual learning plans, video interviews with VET and workplace tutors and video interviews with VET trainees involved in C2 collected by 3 countries; - approximately 90 trained VET tutors in Latvia, Lithuania and Finland; - VET schools enabled to provide guidance to host companies regarding the use of individual approach, development and implementation of ILP. ILP4WBL project partnership consists of VET providers, workplace sector representatives, WBL tutor trainers, VET stakeholders and policy/decision makers from Latvia, Lithuania and Finland."

Dig4VET proposal links with all objectives of ET2020 and with Objective 5 of Riga Conclusions: “introduce systematic approaches and opportunities for initial and continuous professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors in both school and work-based settings.”We believe that one the key elements in continuous professional development of education staff should be digital competences which enable teachers to use different digital tools in education process. Digital tools have the power to make education process more attractive, interactive, flexible, inclusive, more participatory and more personalized. Digital Education Action Plan (EC, 2018) notes that “digital technology has huge, largely untapped potential for improving education”. One of the policy pointers of ET2020 working group on VET (Cedefop, 2019) urges to “support teachers and trainers for innovation and digitalization”.The objectives of Dig4VET project are:-To improve skills and competences of VET teachers, trainers, mentors for use of digital tools in education process, for both: classroom and distance learning-To raise awareness of variety of digital tools and technologies that can be used in VET school and WBL settings.Dig4VET proposes empowering VET teachers, trainers and mentors/WBL tutors with the support of a training program for VET teachers, trainers and mentors which can be implemented by VET institutions (local level), by national CPD systems and internationally as Erasmus+ courses.Dig4VET objectives will be achieved through the following project steps and activities:-preparation; needs analysis and review -development of the training program and materials; -piloting/testing the training program at international level (2 joint staff training events); piloting the training program at national level (master classes);-developing OER to support the training program and demonstrate use of digital tools in VET and WBL process;-multipliers’ events at national and international levels;-dissemination activities.Direct target groups of our project and of the proposed training program are:-VET teachers, trainers, mentors/WBL tutors-VET teacher trainers, trainers of WBL tutorsIndirect target groups (can introduce the training program in VET schools and CPD systems):-VET managers, WBL coordinators, VET and WBL stakeholders;-VET policy and decision makers, authorities responsible for VET CPD.These target groups are represented by project partners and will be involved as participants. Dig4VET participants will include approximately 230 directly involved persons:-66 VET teachers, trainers, mentors, teacher trainers involved in piloting the program international and local trainings-At least 164 persons involved in multipliers’ events;Up to 10 000 persons will be reached through dissemination activities and needs analysis as respondents.Dig4VET project will develop the following outputs:1) Needs analysis and review report “Digital Competences of VET Teachers, Trainers, Mentors” which will include a review of existing practices of using digital tools in VET, results of SELFIE reviews in partner countries, review on VET distance/digital learning during virus outbreak in spring 2020, overview of digital tools available for use in Vet and WBL teaching and learning;2) Training program “Attractive, Interactive and Inclusive VET: Digital Tools for Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Validation” aimed at both VET school and WBL settings, taking into account the European Framework on Digital Competences of Educators and covering the education process stages: preparation - teaching/learning – assessment – validation.3) Open education resources (OER) including video lessons for use of some digital tools and examples provided by training participants for use of digital tools in VET and WBL contexts in specific VET fields/subjects.Dig4VET project outputs will be shared through the website www.qualityplacements.eu and through EU platforms for project results.We expect that Dig4VET impact will be in 2 main areas:- improved skills and competences, as well as motivation, of VET teachers, trainers and mentors for using different digital tools for teaching and learning, assessment and validation in VET and WBL;- better awareness of digital tools applicable for education and specifically for VET and WBL, as well as awareness of EU frameworks and tools, such as DigCompEdu, SELFIE.