Project number: 2025-1-DE02-KA220-VET-000362907

Implementation period: 2025- 2028

Transforming VET for youth empowerment and employment

Youth unemployment and labour market mismatch remain critical challenges across Europe, particularly for disadvantaged young people aged 16 – 30 including migrants, refugees, Roma youth, and NEETs. These groups face multiple barriers such as limited access to quality vocational education, lack of market‑relevant skills, discrimination, and low socio‑economic status, which significantly reduce their employment opportunities. At the same time, European labour markets experience a shortage of skilled workers in key vocational sectors such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical installations, while VET institutions often struggle to adapt their curricula to rapidly changing labour market demands. As highlighted by Eurostat and European labour market analyses, the gap between vocational education provision and real market needs continues to widen.

The VET4YE project addresses these challenges by developing accredited, competency‑based vocational courses aligned with labour market needs, supported by a standardised quality framework based on EQAVET principles. The project integrates innovative digital solutions, including Virtual Reality (VR), micro‑credentials, and digital badges, to enhance the attractiveness, quality, and relevance of vocational education and training.

Project activities:

• Research VET quality, develop a framework, and create accreditation using micro-credentials and digital badges.
• Design of VR-enhanced vocational courses and a virtual learning platform; train VET staff.
• Implement training, certify participants, and conduct study visits in Athens.

VET4YE is triple-aimed. Firstly it aims to improve the quality of VET curricula across Europe to become more attractive to young people. Secondly, it focuses on the enhancement of the employability of disadvantaged youth (18–25, including migrants, refugees, Roma, and NEETs) through training on high-demand but less popular professions and their introduction to the labour market. Finally, it aims to train VET teachers with new technologies such as VR, making training more attractive to young people.

DIRECT TARGET GROUP: Youth who are disadvantaged (18–25 years old).

INDIRECT TARGET GROUP: Employers in key professions (electrical installations, plumbing and carpentry),  Policymakers and organisations working on youth employability, General public (those of all ages interested in VET training in order to create a wider understanding of the value and potential of vocational education).

Project social media platforms Facebook Instagram LinkedIn TikTok

Project partnership:

Internationaler Bund – IB Mitte gGmbH für Bildung und Soziale Dienste Niederlassung Sachsen – Germany (project coordinator)

ΟΔΥΣΣΕΙΑ ΑΜΚΕ –  Greece

Didaxé Cooperativa Sociale a R.L. I – Italy

Calasanz Santurtzi S.L. S – Spain

ASTRONOD SPÓŁKA Z OGRANICZONĄ ODPOWIEDZIALN OŚCIĄ – Poland

CENTRUL PENTRU PROMOVAREA INVATARII PERMANENTE – Romania

A.B. INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT LTD – Cyprus

Etelä-Savon Koulutus Oy – Finland