Platform; ongoing
EUSDR Priority Area(s): PA 9 People & Skills
The Danube Region Platform on Centres of Vocational Excellence serves as a forum for policy and practice exchange on Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) with a thematic focus on going green and social inclusion. The platform was launched in 2021 by EUSDR Priority Area 9 in cooperation with the European Training Foundation (ETF) Network for Excellence (ENE).
As part of the initiative, a Policy Platform was established, promoting exchange and cooperation among core stakeholders from responsible national institutions in Danube Region countries and experts from the European Commission, PA 9 and ETF. The Danube Region Platform also promotes the development of transnational CoVEs-projects in the Danube Region.
Objectives: The objectives of the platform are:
- To facilitate knowledge exchange and promote cooperation on VET excellence among policy makers, VET providers, and transnational experts
- To promote the establishment of Centres of Vocational Excellence in the Danube Region.
The platform will contribute to actions 5 and 6, by promoting the establishment of “centres of vocational excellence” and by strengthening regional cooperation to facilitate the networking of relevant stakeholders.
Need and (expected) impact: In the EUSDR Action Plan, adopted by the European Commission in April 2020, “promoting the establishment of ‘centres of vocational excellence’” is named under Action 6 as an important goal of PA 9. In this context, the Action Plan refers to the function of CoVEs as “catalysts for local business investment, supporting local innovation and smart specialisation strategies by ensuring a supply of high-quality skilled workers through a flexible and timely offer of training”.
Implementing vocational excellence approaches features prominently in the overall EU policy agenda for skills and for Vocational Education and Training (VET). CoVEs are considered a relevant instrument for meeting the needs of an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable economy, supporting the green transition and the EU Green Deal, the European Skills Agenda, the European Education Area, the 2020 Council Recommendation on VET, as well as the Osnabrück Declaration.
The Policy Platform promotes dialogue on approaches to VET excellence and current developments regarding CoVEs in the Danube Region. Experts from the European Commission, PA 9, and ETF contribute to the discussions and share information on developments on a national, regional, and international level and opportunities for cooperation and financial support, e.g. in the framework of the ETF Network for Excellence, Erasmus+ or other relevant instruments. Best practice examples in the form of project presentations from CoVEs at platform meetings further support mutual learning and cooperation.
Macro-regional dimension: As of May 2024, the following 13 Danube Region countries have agreed to participate in the platform: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Ukraine.
Stakeholders involved: Stakeholders from educational institutions, representatives from already established CoVEs, representatives of responsible national administrations/institutions, and experts from the European Commission, PA 9, and ETF.
Budget and Funding: The policy platform is facilitated via the PAC project in cooperation with ETF. Potential spin-off activities (the foreseen CoVE) could apply for Erasmus+ CoVE calls or other funding sources to finance project activities.
Further information: https://peopleandskills.danube-region.eu/coves-platform/
Contact: Mr Mag. Jürgen Schick, Priority Area Coordinator, PA 9, Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, Austria,
