Vocational education: Launch of the Erasmus + project INSIDE-CoVE, towards more centres of vocational excellence in construction

The kick-off meeting of the International Network for Sustainable and Innovative Digital Excellence in Construction Vocational Education (INSIDE-CoVE) took place on March 11-12 in Thessaloniki, Greece. Hosted by the project coordinator, the Architectural Aluminium Academy of Greece, the event brought together 26 partners from educational institutions, industry, and research across six European countries: Greece, Ireland, Spain, Germany, Cyprus and Belgium. 

This project is part of the network of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) dedicated to advancing skills in the construction industry. Launched by the European Commission to promote excellent vocational education in Europe, the CoVEs are formed by networks of partners that develop local “skills ecosystems” to provide high quality vocational skills to young people and adults, and contribute to regional development, innovation, industrial clusters, smart specialisation strategies and social inclusion. CoVEs aim at stimulating local business development and innovation, by working closely with companies, in particular SMEs, on applied research projects, creating knowledge and innovation hubs, as well as supporting entrepreneurial initiatives of their learners. 

In this context, INSIDE-CoVE will promote local innovation, regional development, and social inclusion through a three-layered curriculum approach. The digital layer focuses on data, software, and hardware skills, while the green layer integrates energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The inclusion layer prioritises the well-being of the construction workforce, engaging social groups such as youth and women. To develop Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) skills at various levels and reach a diverse range of learners, the project will introduce an innovative Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). 

Over the next four years, the initiative will focus on three main objectives: 

1. Providing innovative teaching and learning materials for upskilling and reskilling professionals in the AEC sector. 

2. Establishing new collaborations and partnerships by leveraging knowledge triangles within four European national CoVE ecosystems: Germany, Ireland, Greece and Spain. 

3. Ensuring long-term sustainability through effective governance structures and business models.

EBC will contribute valuable insights from craft and SME entrepreneurs in the construction sector, considering their critical role in shaping major industry developments and initiatives. Additionally, EBC will facilitate the dissemination of project results and support policy and governance efforts through its extensive network of members and stakeholders across the EU. Additionally, EBC will liaise this project to other relevant ongoing initiatives, the Construction Blueprint for Skills 2 and the Pact for Skills in construction.