European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships (EuropeAid HQ)

Partnership for Excellence - Centres of Vocational Excellence

Last update: Nov 16, 2022 Last update: 16 Nov, 2022

Details

Location:EU 27EU 27
Contracting Authority Type:Development Institution
Status:Awarded
Budget:EUR 44,000,000
Award ceiling:N/A
Award floor:N/A
Sector:Education, Training
Eligible applicants:Government / Public Bodies, Academic Institutions, Private Sector, Other(Companies, industry or sector representative organisations, Innovation agencies)
Eligible nationalities:EU 27EU 27
Date posted:28 Apr, 2021

Attachments 13

Description

Call Updates

Feb 16, 2022 4:11:17 PM

EVALUATION results

Published: 14/04/2021

Deadline: 07/09/2021

Available budget: EUR 46.082.817,36

The results of the evaluation are as follows:

Number of proposals submitted (including proposals transferred from or to other calls): 84

Number of inadmissible proposals: 1

Number of ineligible proposals: 0

Number of above-threshold proposals: 32

Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals: EUR 117.810.496,36

We recently informed the applicants about the evaluation results for their proposals.

For questions, please contact: eacea-eplus-vet@ec.europa.eu

Oct 5, 2021 5:07:10 PM

Call ERASMUS-EDU-2021-PEX-COVE has closed on 7 September 2021.

84 proposals have been submitted.

Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in February 2022.

Jun 10, 2021 2:06:52 PM

Model grant agreement (MGA)  available 

Apr 26, 2021 5:56:50 PM

The submission session is now available for: ERASMUS-EDU-2021-PEX-COVE(ERASMUS-LS)


Partnership for Excellence - Centres of Vocational Excellence

TOPIC ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2021-PEX-COVE

Programme: Erasmus+ Programme (ERASMUS)
Work programme part: ERASMUS-2021
Call: Partnership for Excellence - Centres of Vocational Excellence (ERASMUS-EDU-2021-PEX-COVE)
Work programme year: ERASMUS-2021
Type of action: ERASMUS-LS ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants
Type of MGA: ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant [ERASMUS-AG-LS]
Deadline model: single-stage
Opening date: 20 April 2021
Deadline date: 07 September 2021 17:00:00 Brussels time

Scope:

CENTRES OF VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

The initiative on Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) defines a bottom-up approach to excellence where institutions for vocational education and training (VET) are capable of rapidly adapting skills provision to evolving economic and social needs. It aims to foster transnational collaborative platforms, which would be difficult for isolated member states to establish in the absence of EU incentives, technical support, and mutual learning opportunities. The concept of vocational excellence that is proposed is characterised by a learner-centred holistic approach in which Vocational Education and Training:

Is an integrative part of skills ecosystems, contributing to regional development, innovation, inclusion, and smart specialisation strategies;
Is part of knowledge triangles, working closely with other education and training sectors, the scientific community, and business;
Enables learners to acquire vocational and key competences through high-quality provision that is underpinned by quality assurance, builds innovative forms of partnerships with the world of work, and is supported by the continuous professional development of teaching and training staff, innovative and inclusive pedagogies, mobility and internationalisation strategies.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION

This action supports the gradual establishment and development of European platforms of Centres of Vocational Excellence, contributing to regional development, innovation, and smart specialisation strategies as well as to international collaborative platforms. Centres of Vocational Excellence will operate at two levels:

1. At national level in a given local context, by embedding CoVEs closely in the local innovation ecosystems, and connecting them at European level.

2. At transnational level through platforms of Centres of Vocational Excellence to establish world-class reference points for vocational training by bringing together CoVEs that share:

a common interest in specific sectors (e.g. aeronautics, e-mobility, green and circular technologies, ICT, healthcare, etc.) or
innovative approaches to tackle societal challenges (e.g. climate change, resource depletion and scarcity, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, Sustainable Development Goals, integration of migrants, upskilling people with low qualification levels, etc.).
The platforms aim for "upward convergence" of VET excellence. They will be open for the involvement of countries with well-developed vocational excellence systems, as well as those in the process of developing similar approaches, aimed at exploring the full potential of VET institutions to play a proactive role in support of growth and innovation.

CoVEs are intended for organisations providing vocational education and training, at any EQF levels from 3 to 8, including the upper-secondary level, the post-secondary non-tertiary level as well as the tertiary level (e.g. Universities of applied sciences, Polytechnic institutes, etc.).

However, applications cannot include only activities that target learners at tertiary level; applications that focus on VET at tertiary level (EQF levels 6 to 8) must include at least one other VET qualification level between EQF levels 3 to 5, as well as a strong work-based learning component.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In order to be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, project proposals for Centres for Vocational Excellence must comply with the following criteria:

Who can apply?

Any participating organisation legally established in a Programme Country can be the applicant. This organisation applies on behalf of all participating organisations involved in the project.

What types of organisations are eligible to participate in the project?

Any public or private organisation active in the field of vocational education and training, or in the world of work and legally established in a Programme country or in any Partner Country can be involved as full partner, affiliated entity or associated partner. For example, such organisations can be (non-exhaustive list):

VET providers
Companies, industry or sector representative organisations
National/regional qualification authorities
Research institutes
Innovation agencies
Regional development authorities
Number and profile of participating organisations

The partnership must include at least 8 full partners from a minimum of 4 Erasmus+ Programme countries (including at least 2 EU Member States) involving:

a) at least 1 enterprise, industry or sector representative organisation, and

b) at least 1 vocational education and training provider (at secondary and/or tertiary level).

Further composition of the partnership should reflect the specific nature of the proposal.

Duration of project

4 years.

Where to apply?

To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
Call ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2021-PEX-COVE

When to apply?

Applicants have to submit their grant application by 7 September at 17:00:00 (Brussels time).

Applicant organisations will be assessed against the relevant exclusion and selection criteria. For more information please consult Part C of the programme Guide.

SETTING UP A PROJECT

Centres of Vocational Excellence are characterized by adopting a systemic approach. They are expected to go far beyond the simple provision of a quality vocational qualification. Features that characterise transnational cooperation platforms include a set of various activities grouped under the three clusters mentioned below:

1. Teaching and learning – including providing people with skills relevant to the labour market, in a lifelong learning continuum approach; developing innovative learner-centred teaching and learning methodologies including distance learning resources developing modular and learner-centred transnational VET learning provision (curricula and/or qualifications) thus facilitating the mobility (including virtual mobility) of learners and staff, as well as the recognition at regional and/or national levels.

2. Cooperation and partnerships – including contributing to the creation and dissemination of new knowledge in partnership with other stakeholders; and establishing business-education partnerships for apprenticeships, internships, sharing of equipment, including resources for distance learning, exchanges of staff and teachers between companies and VET centres, etc.

3. Governance and funding – including ensuring effective governance at all levels involving relevant stakeholders; and making full use of EU financial instruments and funds. A non exhaustive list of activities corresponding to each cluster is presented in the Application Form. The activities proposed in the project applications should bring an added value and will have a direct impact on the achievement of the project results.

The project must include relevant deliverables linked to:

at least 3 of the activities listed in the Application Form under Cluster 1 - Teaching and learning,
at least 3 of the activities listed in the Application Form under Cluster 2 - Cooperation and partnership, and
at least 2 of the activities listed in the Application Form under Cluster 3 - Governance and funding.
The applicant can include activities that are not listed under the three clusters above. These must demonstrate that they are particularly appropriate to meet the objectives of the call and identified needs, and must be considered and presented as part of a coherent set of activities.

CoVEs are not intended to build new VET institutions and infrastructure from scratch (although they may also do so), but instead to bring together a set of local/regional partners, such as initial and continuing VET providers, tertiary education institutions including universities of applied sciences and polytechnics, research institutions, companies, chambers, social partners, national and regional authorities and development agencies, public employment services, etc.

Projects are required to apply EU wide instruments and tools whenever relevant.

Projects must include the design of a long-term action plan for the progressive roll-out of project deliverables after the project has finished. This plan shall be based on sustained partnerships between education and training providers and key industry stakeholders at the appropriate level. It should include the identification of appropriate governance structures, as well as plans for scalability and financial sustainability. It should also ensure the appropriate visibility and wide dissemination of the work of the platforms, including at EU and national political level and include details on how the roll-out will be implemented at European, national and/or regional levels with relevant partners. The action plan shall also indicate how EU funding opportunities (e.g. European Structural Funds, European Fund for Strategic Investment, Erasmus+, COSME, sectoral programmes), and national and regional funding (as well as private funding), can support the roll-out of the project. This should take into account national and regional smart specialisation strategies.

EXPECTED IMPACT

The gradual establishment and development of European platforms of Centres of Vocational Excellence is expected to increase the attractiveness of vocational education and training and to ensure that it is at the forefront of providing solutions to the challenges posed by rapidly changing skills needs.

By forming an essential part of the “knowledge triangle” – the close collaboration between businesses, education and research – and playing a fundamental role in providing skills to support innovation and smart specialisation, the Centres of Vocational Excellence are expected to ensure high quality skills and competences that lead to quality employment and career-long opportunities, which meet the needs of an innovative, inclusive and sustainable economy. This approach is expected to pave the way for VET to act within a more comprehensive and inclusive conceptualisation of skills provision, addressing innovation, pedagogy, social justice, life-long learning, transversal skills, organisational and continuing professional learning and community needs.

By being firmly anchored within regional/local contexts while at the same time operating at transnational level, the Centres of Vocational Excellence will form strong and enduring partnerships between the VET community and the world of work at national level and across borders. They will thereby ensure the continuous relevance of skills provision and achieve results that would be difficult to obtain without knowledge sharing and sustained cooperation.

Through the wide dissemination of project outcomes at transnational, national and/or regional levels and the development of a long term action plan for the progressive roll out of project deliverables, taking national and regional smart specialisation strategies into account, individual projects are expected to engage relevant stakeholders within and outside the participating organisations and ensure a lasting impact after the project lifetime.

AWARD CRITERIA

The following award criteria apply:

Relevance of the project (maximum score 35 points)

Link to policy: the proposal establishes and develops a transnational cooperation platform of Centres of Vocational Excellence, aiming to foster VET excellence; it explains how it will contribute to achieve the goals of the policy priorities covered by the Council Recommendation on VET for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, as well as the Osnabrück Declaration;
Consistency: the extent to which the proposal is based on an adequate needs analysis; the goals are clearly defined, realistic and address issues relevant to the participating organisations and to the action;
Innovation: the proposal considers state-of-the-art methods and techniques, and leads to innovative results and solutions for its field in general, or for the geographical context in which the project is implemented (e.g. content; outputs produced, working methods applied, organisations and persons involved or targeted);
Regional dimension: the proposal demonstrates its integration and its contribution to regional development, innovation and smart specialisation strategies, based on the identification of local/regional needs and challenges;
Cooperation and partnerships: the extent to which the proposal is suitable of realising a strong and enduring relationship at both local and transnational levels, between the VET community and businesses (can be represented by chambers or associations), in which interactions are reciprocal and mutually beneficial;
European added value: the proposal clearly demonstrates the added value at the individual (learner and/or staff), institutional and systemic levels, generated through results that would be difficult to attain by the partners acting without European cooperation;
Internationalisation: the proposal demonstrates its contribution to the international dimension of VET excellence, including the development of strategies to foster VET transnational mobility and sustainable partnerships;
Digital skills: the extent to which the proposal foresees activities related to digital skills development (e.g. skills anticipation, innovative curricula and teaching methodologies, guidance, etc.) related to the development of digital skills;
Green skills: the extent to which the proposal foresees activities (e.g. skills anticipation, innovative curricula and teaching methodologies, guidance, etc.) linked to the transition to a circular and greener economy;
Social dimension: the proposal includes a horizontal concern throughout the various actions to address diversity and promote shared values, equality, including gender equality, and non-discrimination and social inclusion, including for people with special needs/fewer opportunities.
Quality of the project design and implementation (maximum score 25 points)

Coherence: the overall project design ensures consistency between project objectives, activities and the budget proposed. The proposal presents a coherent and comprehensive set of appropriate activities and services to meet the identified needs and lead to the expected results. There are appropriate phases for preparation, implementation, monitoring, exploitation, evaluation and dissemination;
Methodology: the quality and feasibility of the methodology proposed and its appropriateness for producing the expected results;
Management: solid management arrangements are foreseen. Timelines, organisation, tasks and responsibilities are well defined and realistic. The proposal allocates appropriate resources to each activity. A clear set of Key Performance Indicators, and a timeline for their assessment and achievement are defined;
Budget: the budget provides for appropriate resources necessary for success, it is neither overestimated nor underestimated;
Work plan: quality and effectiveness of the work plan, including the extent to which the resources assigned to work packages are in line with their objectives and deliverables;
Financial and quality control: control measures (continuous quality evaluation, peer reviews, benchmarking activities, etc.) and quality indicators ensure that the project implementation is of high quality and cost-efficient. Challenges/risks of the project are clearly identified and mitigating actions properly addressed. Expert review processes are planned as an integral part of the project. These processes include an independent external assessment at mid-term and at the end of the project;
If the project includes mobility activities (for learners and/or staff):The quality of practical arrangements, management and support modalities;
The extent to which these activities are appropriate to the project's aims and involve the appropriate number of participants;
The quality of arrangements for the recognition and validation of participants' learning outcomes, in line with European transparency and recognition tools and principles.
Quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements (maximum score 20 points)

Configuration: the project involves an appropriate mix of complementary participating organisations with the necessary profile, competences, experience and expertise to successfully deliver all aspects of the project;
Upward convergence: the extent to which the partnership brings together organisations active in the field of vocational education and training, or in the world of work, that are at different stages of development of vocational excellence approaches, and allows for a smooth and effective exchange of expertise and knowledge among those partners;
Geographical dimension: the extent to which the partnership includes relevant partners from different geographical areas, as well as the extent to which the applicant has motivated the geographical composition of the partnership and demonstrated its relevance to the achievement of the objectives of the CoVEs; as well as the extent to which the partnership includes a wide and appropriate range of relevant actors at local and regional level;
Involvement of Partner Countries: if applicable, the involvement of participating organisations from Partner Countries brings an essential added value to the project;
Commitment: the coordinator shows high quality management, ability to coordinate transnational networks and leadership in complex environment; the distribution of responsibilities and tasks is clear, appropriate, and demonstrates the commitment and active contribution of all participating organisations in relation to their specific expertise and capacity;
Collaboration: an effective mechanism is proposed to ensure a good coordination, decision-making and communication between the participating organisations, participants and any other relevant stakeholder.
Impact (maximum score 20 points)

Exploitation: the proposal demonstrates how the outcomes of the project will be used by the partners and other stakeholders. It provides means to measure exploitation within project lifetime and after;
Dissemination: the proposal provides a clear plan for the dissemination of results, and includes appropriate targets, activities, relevant timing, tools and channels to ensure that the results and benefits will be spread effectively to stakeholders, policy makers, guidance professionals, enterprises, young learners, etc. within and after the project’s lifetime; the proposal also indicates which partners will be responsible for dissemination;
Impact: the proposal demonstrates the potential impact of the project:On participants and participating organisations, during and after the project lifetime;
Outside the organisations and individuals directly participating in the project, at local, regional, national and/or European levels. The proposal includes measures as well as clearly defined targets and indicators to monitor progress and assess the expected impact (short- and long-term);
Sustainability: the proposal explains how the CoVE will be rolled out and further developed. The proposal includes the design of a long-term action plan for the progressive roll-out of project deliverables after the project has finished. This plan shall be based on sustained partnerships between education and training providers and key industry stakeholders at the appropriate level. It should include the identification of appropriate governance structures, as well as plans for scalability and financial sustainability, including the identification of financial resources (European, national and private) to ensure that the results and benefits achieved will have a long-term sustainability.
To be considered for funding, applications must score at least 70 points (out of 100 points in total), also taking into account the necessary minimum pass score for each of the four award criteria: minimum 18 points for the “relevance of the project” category; minimum 13 points for “quality of the project design and implementation” and 11 points for the categories of “quality of the partnership and the cooperation arrangements” and “impact”. In ex aequo cases, priority will be given to highest scores for "relevance of the project" and then “impact”.

As a general rule, and within the limits of existing national and European legal frameworks, results should be made available as open educational resources (OER) as well as on relevant professional, sectorial or competent authorities’ platforms. The proposal will describe how data, materials, documents and audio-visual and social media activity produced will be made freely available and promoted through open licences, and does not contain disproportionate limitations.

WHAT ARE THE FUNDING RULES?

This action follows a lump sum funding model. The amount of the single lump sum contribution will be determined for each grant based on the estimated budget of the action proposed by the applicant. The granting authority will fix the lump sum of each grant based on the proposal, evaluation result, funding rates and the maximum grant amount set in the call.

The maximum EU grant per project is 4 million euros

How is the project lump sum determined?

Applicants must fill in a detailed budget table according to the application form, taking into account the following points:

a) The budget should be detailed as necessary by beneficiary/-ies and organized in coherent work packages (for example divided into ‘project management’, ‘training’, ‘organization of events’, ‘mobility preparation and implementation’, ‘communication and dissemination’, ‘quality assurance’, etc.);

b) The proposal must describe the activities covered by each work package;

c) Applicants must provide in their proposal a breakdown of the lump sum showing the share per work package (and, within each work package, the share assigned to each beneficiary and affiliated entity);

d) Costs described can cover staff costs, travel and subsistence costs, equipment costs and subcontracting as well as other costs (such as dissemination of information, publishing or translation).

Proposals will be evaluated according to the standard evaluation procedures with the help of internal and/or external experts. The experts will assess the quality of the proposals against the requirements defined in the call and the expected impact, quality and efficiency of the action.

Following the proposal evaluation, the authorising officer will establish the amount of the lump sum, taking into account the findings of the assessment carried out. The lump sum value will be limited to a maximum of 80% of the estimated budget determined after evaluation.

The grant parameters (maximum grant amount, funding rate, total eligible costs, etc.) will be fixed in the Grant Agreement.

The project achievements will be evaluated on the outcomes completed. The funding scheme would allow putting focus on the outputs rather than the inputs, thereby placing emphasis on the quality and level of achievement of measurable objectives.

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