Europe could become more competitive and more innovative by recognising the role of VET in R&D. The European Commission is aware of that. The Council Recommendation on VET calls for the establishment of CoVEs, acting “…as catalysts for local business investment, supporting recovery, green and digital transitions, European and regional innovation and smart specialisation strategies, development of vocational education and training, including at higher qualification levels (EQF levels 5-8) in line with national context and provide innovative services such as clusters and business incubators for start-ups and technology innovation for SMEs, as well as innovative reskilling solutions …”. In the same vein, Erasmus+ has included applied research (AR) in VET as a priority. The objective of AIRinVET is, after understanding existing experiences, to define the role of VET in R&D by proposing a European reference framework for AR in VET. This framework will help European countries and regions to build more competitive innovation systems. To produce the framework, we will: 1- Do a mapping of VET centres involved in AR in Europe and abroad. The AR affinity group of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics will support us. 2- Do case studies to explain, describe, evaluate, and understand different approaches to do AR in VET. 3- Analyse how VET AR activities can fit in different policy contexts in Europe 4- Identify financial models of AR in VET. 5- Create a glossary to clarify the meaning of the term “applied research”, and other terms related to R&D, in the context of VET. 6- Identify the main barriers to engage SMEs: What are the success factors? 7- Create tools to develop VET staff and teachers mind-sets for AR. 8- Develop a framework and work on ways of building the capacity of VET systems to work on AR projects.9- Co-work with established AR agents within regional innovation ecosystems

Problem settingThe pace of technological developments is so rapid that the jobs that young people think about today may be redundant by the time they finish school. This has resulted in increasing skills mismatch, both quantitative (shortages) and qualitative (skills of students relative to the needs of employers)EU-, national- and regional actors have responded to this with an overwhelming amount of programmes and initiatives. However, these efforts are largely uncoordinated and highly fragmented. As such, they largely fail to deliver the systemic changes that are needed.ObjectivesThe project aims to respond to this challenge by strengthening and upscaling existing successful STE(A)M strategies (e.g. Dutch & Danish Technology Pacts) and kickstarting the ‘bottom-up’ development of new ones in Member States that do not yet have one in place. It will do so by:- Launching a “European STE(A)M platform”. Building on the existing EU STEM Coalition network, this platform will facilitate best practice sharing, provide direct support to governments and stakeholders in the development of new approaches and function as an EU-level expertise hub- Kickstarting the development of new strategies through a series of roundtables. These roundtables will identify national skills challenges and deliver country recommendations (taking into account how similar challenges are addressed in other Member States) and a ‘value proposition’, outlining how the EU STEM Coalition can support their implementation. The roundtables are based on a methodology that successfully contributed to the development of national STE(A)M/Skills strategies in the past.Through the planned activities, the project aims to facilitate the shift from top-down, supply-oriented activities driven by a single stakeholder (e.g. national ministry) towards integrated national STE(A)M strategies based on the close cooperation between government, industry and education providers on all levels.

The world is facing various environmental challenges in the urban environment. Biodiversity decreases, climate change shows its impact (e.g. harsher weather conditions) while cities still expand. Concrete replaces green spaces. Following thesedevelopments, it is research that shows that urban green landscapes are nowadays not just for its beauty; it has a real importance to tackle these contemporary challenges, while it also positively impacts the well-being of the people and the urban economy,and creates social cohesion. Someone working in this field is not ‘just a gardener’, but someone that can contribute to solve the problems mentioned. The rapid societal changes require rapid responses by the business sector. The European Platform for Urban Greening (EPLUG) aims to intensify the collaboration within the knowledge triangle (VET – Research & Development – Business) to facilitate these adjustments and to develop high quality curricula and qualifications focused onthese urban greening skills needs and societal challenges. The network aims to increase the quality and adaptability of the skills ecosystem (VET, Companies, Policy setting, Individuals) for urban green landscaping. As driver of excellence and innovation,each European CoVE on Urban Greening promotes the proactive role for VET in local/regional development. While centres for collaboration in various countries will be established, a knowledge exchange between the centres will be organised. Staff in VET schools will be trained to create innovative online and offline educational programmes for students and employees. Through this, EPLUG aims to positively contribute to the biodiversity, climate adaptation and well-being in the urban green environment. The project consortium wants to anchor their strong partnership into frameworks of regional development, innovation andsmart specialisation (Centres of Vocational Excellence), while combining their activities at the European level (Platform of these CoVEs).

<< Objectives >>The specific objectives of this project are:1)Increasing the knowledge base of specific target groups and their motivation in vocational education and training in the green sector2)Enhancing the quality, strategies, and approaches to recruit individuals for the VET green sector3)Increase the long-term collaboration between relevant stakeholders<< Implementation >>•Train professionals to do interviews and conduct a survey, analyze the data and publish results. •Conduct interviews and a survey, analyze data and publish results in every region •Produce target audience personas per region •Develop a marketing and communication strategy on recruitment for each partner•Develop regional Worlds of Green •Create an online tool that facilitates the collaboration and exchange of knowledge and good practices between stakeholders•Exchanges good practices<< Results >>The project increased the attractiveness of VET in the green sector. Concrete results are:1)Increased knowledge on the motivation of the target groups2)Increased quality of recruitment3)Enhanced long-term collaborationsLong term benefitsOn the medium term (1-5 years) this project contributes to increased enrolment in VET in the green sector. On the long term (5-10 years) this project contributes to the green transition in Europe.

Water is life. It is a precondition for human, animal, and plant life as well as an indispensable resource for the economy and fundamental in climate regulation.PoVE Water Scale-up is a joint initiative of 8 VET schools, 7 Water industry professionals, 4 academic partners and 3 support partners in Europe (NL,DE,MT,CZ,LV,EE,BE) and beyond (SA) to educate our VET students to become agile, digitally skilled and sustainable oriented water sector professionals that our future desperately needs.The aim of the project is to integrate Vocational Excellence in the Water sector, thus ensuring high quality skills and competences that lead to quality jobs and careers, meeting the needs of an innovative, inclusive and sustainable economy.Objectives and activities are:• Expand the holistic approach to Vocational Excellence in the EU Water sector by securing a central role of VET in the regional Innovation Ecosystems and further developing strong and enduring relationships between VET, research & the water industry.• To expand PoVE Water geographically in a sustainable way (environmentally and economically) in line with the EU Green deal by setting up and interlinking CoVE Water networks that operate on interregional level.• Drive innovation in water related VET on a regional and EU level by developing contemporary (Digital, VR) learning materials.• Ensure that current and future water sector professionals have the key skills & competences demanded by developing blended training programmes.• Increasing student’s, teacher’s and professional’s competence for international mobilities by organising international mobilities as common practise in Water related VET.• Building EU and global recognition for PoVE Water as a worldwide point of reference for VET in the water sector.• Future proof the workforce for the Water sector and avoid a brain- & skillsdrain by securing current and increasing future students in water related studies.