About

INNOVET is an initiative launched by EfVET with the main purpose of tackling some issues highlighted by VET providers related to: The lack of transnational conferences (not related to Erasmus+ projects) where VET schools from different countries can interact with each other and exchange know-how and practices. A rising demand for training opportunities for teachers, given the rapid changes going on in society. VET schools need resilient teachers, who are able to deal with innovation in education and introduce new pedagogical approaches/methodologies in class. The INNOVET project wants to develop and test a format of transnational conference where VET practitioners from all over Europe can develop innovation starting from the exchange of practices on themes at the top of the EU agenda with a particular emphasis on:
a) Teachers and trainers’ professional development, by organising joint staff trainings for VET teachers that will work as meeting places to exchange practices on themes at the top of the agenda in Europe concerning VET. These joint staff trainings will be used to test a format of transnational conference which answers the needs of VET providers described above, and can be replicated every year after the end of the project The expected result is to create a mainstream European event on VET known all around Europe which will offer teachers the opportunity to improve their knowledge and competences.
b) An intense exchange of practices during transnational events, which will focus on thematic areas selected as priorities by EfVET members through a bottom-up approach, namely Internationalisation and Technology and Industry 4.0 (renamed VET 4.0 due the impact that it is having on the teaching methodologies). Focusing on exchanging practices in these fields, project partners will set up a model of a “transnational conference” targeted to the staff of VET providers all over Europe which will be tested two times on 80 practitioners during the project in the joint staff training events foreseen. The testing will provide feedback used to improve the quality of the format for this transnational event.

INNOVET will focus on two aspects that are considered of primary importance: a) a transversal subject – Internationalisation and b) a vocational subject – Technology and Industry 4.0. This approach reflects the dual professionalism mentioned above, which characterises the role of VET teachers today.

INTERNATIONALISATION

Students with vocational qualifications are nowadays expected to have at least some international competences when entering the labour market; most employers for example highly value key competences. Internationalisation also helps educating the European citizens of tomorrow by equipping them with intercultural, social, and citizenship competences. However, the number of VET students participating in mobility is well below the 6% benchmark of ET2020. Besides, from an internal survey on 168 members of EfVET it emerged that almost 60% do not have a policy to train staff on international work. There is a need to train more VET providers on this issue.

TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY 4.0

A report on the future of work by the World Economic Forum estimates that up to 65% of children starting their school will end up working in occupations that do not yet exist today and, by the time of graduation, up to 50% of information received in the first year of a four-year technical degree may have become outdated. Rapid changes in professions and industries mean that qualifications no longer match the skill requirements of the labour markets and cannot ensure a successful professional career or even full-time employment. This is the moment for VET schools to invest in reviewing and adjusting their management and pedagogical approaches to these times of change.

The innovative aspects being proposed by INNOVET are related to two main aspects:

DEEPENING THE ANALYSIS OF TWO TOP PRIORITY AREAS IN THE FIELD OF VET:

INNOVET gathers some of the most innovative actors in Europe that are working on Internationalisation and VET 4.0. Putting together the know-how of the partners is expected to generate innovative ideas that are capable of revolutionising VET. The coordination of EfVET combined with the competences in the partnership will trigger a strong multiplier effect, which will mainstream the practices exchanged and the ideas developed in INNOVET to practitioners across Europe. 

Furthermore, regarding the two themes described above, INNOVET foresees an intense exchange of practices and ideas among partners, which will focus on sub-themes particularly relevant in the agenda at EU Level. For internationalisation, partners will deepen the discussion concerning phenomena such as learning mobility in companies and in class; internationalisation at home; joint qualifications; mobility of apprentices, long-term mobility etc.

For VET 4.0, partners will focus on the impact of technology and industry 4.0 is having on the way of teaching, the sub themes will include: knowledge management; technological changes in teaching; information about the changes happening in competences to students; interdisciplinary competences and quality of trainers etc. 

ONE-STOP-SHOP CONFERENCE:

Through the cooperation of all partners and the leadership of EfVET, the project will deliver a format for a one-stop-shop conference, where schools can participate and find in one place: 
a. Presentation of good practices from other organisations/schools around Europe that can immediately be transferred at local level (with the possibility of talking directly to the people who presented the practice for more details); 
b. Working groups for deepening the discussion on the top priorities for VET providers; 
c. Project groups to develop innovation
d. New contacts, that is to say organisations from all around Europe which are willing to collaborate in joint follow-up initiatives.