The third edition of the European Vocational Skills Week will take place from 5 to 9 November 2018 in Vienna, Austria. As in 2016 and 2017, the award-giving will be one of the major highlights of Week.The awards will highlight examples of excellence in four categories: Companies and learners, VET innovators, European funding for excellence, and European Agencies awards. This year the awards will be given during the Closing event on 9 November 2018 by Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.
The awards will highlight examples of excellence in four categories:
Category 1: Companies and learners – Apply
European Alliance for Apprenticeship: These awards aim at identifying excellent contributions to the supply, quality, image and mobility of apprenticeships from within the members of the ‘European Alliance for Apprenticeships’. The EAfA award focus is on companies hiring apprentice(s) and being member of the Alliance.
Training and work: The purpose of the award is to give visibility to good practices of career-long professional learning in micro, small and medium enterprises, taking place in Europe, and to inspire new practices and policies. Training at Work Award focuses on career long learning for employees/workers offered by micro, small and medium companies and is open to all companies.
Category 2: VET innovators
Innovative VET provider: This award, developed in cooperation with the expert group Platform of European Associations of VET providers, aims to identify a European provider of VET that has contributed to VET excellence through innovative practices. In addition, in the context of the European Year of Cultural Heritage a special mention will be given to an innovative provider of VET skills in cultural heritage – Apply
Teacher and trainer: This award, developed in cooperation with the expert group Platform of European Associations of VET providers, Obessu and ETUCE, aims to identify a VET teacher and/or trainer who has excelled in improving the VET learning/training experience of youngsters or adults. – Apply
VET researcher: The VET Research Award aims to reward an outstanding VET research project, a research team or an individual researcher who has made an outstanding contribution to innovative thinking in VET, including initial and higher VET, continuing VET, adult learning and career-long professional learning – Apply
Category 3: European funding for excellence
European Social Fund project: The purpose of the award is to give visibility to excellent initiatives and practices co-funded by European Social Fund in the area of vocational education and training.
Erasmus+ project: The award draws attention to projects co-funded Erasmus+ which aim to implement new practices and policies improving access and attractiveness of VET to people of all ages. It aims also to raise awareness of the importance of cooperation and partnerships in VET. The National Managing Authorities of the European Social Fund and the National Erasmus+ Agencies are proposing the candidates for these awards.
Category 4: European Agencies
Cedefop VET Photo award: This competition is organised by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. It aims is to mobilise VET learners (young and adults) throughout Europe to showcase what VET means for them, and how they go about their daily VET learning experience. Apply by 15th July
European Training Foundation (ETF) award: This award aims at promoting entrepreneurship as a key competence in VET. The competition is open to all VET providers from ETF partner countries. More information will follow soon.
