Together, these partners form a powerful alliance that drives systemic change in vocational education — supporting teachers, empowering learners, and bridging the gap between education and employment through innovation and collaboration.
We guide learners through the process of turning their ideas into viable businesses. From strategic planning to financial management, we provide comprehensive training that prepares students for the challenges of starting and running their own ventures.
Co-Creation: Solutions are designed collaboratively with educators, policymakers, and businesses.
Sustainability: Project results are built to last — institutionalized in curricula and digital platforms.
Transferability: Models and tools are designed for replication across the Western Balkans.
Empowerment: Every activity aims to empower teachers, learners, and institutions to lead change.
The EmpowerVET consortium is composed of forward-thinking institutions from the European Union and Western Balkans, united by one shared goal: to strengthen Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems through innovation, digitalization, and stronger collaboration between schools, universities, and the private sector.
This partnership builds on a culture of co-creation, trust, and long-term cooperation, ensuring that every partner’s expertise translates into tangible impact — from classroom practice to national policy alignment.
Role: Lead Academic Partner / Methodological & Research Coordinator
Expertise: Innovative Pedagogy | Educational Research | Competence-Based Learning
The University of Duisburg-Essen stands as the academic backbone of the EmpowerVET project, steering the methodological framework, research design, and pedagogical innovation. With a strong legacy in educational sciences and digital learning transformation, UDE leads the co-creation of competence-based curricula, modern teaching approaches, and evidence-driven assessment models. Its interdisciplinary research capacity and commitment to advancing inclusive, future-ready education ensure that EmpowerVET’s outputs are academically sound, scalable, and aligned with EU standards. The university’s leadership provides strategic direction, scientific validation, and continuous quality assurance throughout the project lifecycle.
Role: Pedagogical Innovation & WBL Model Transfer Partner
Expertise: VET Excellence | Work-Based Learning | International Mobility
IES Ribeira do Louro brings decades of experience in vocational pedagogy, enterprise collaboration, and entrepreneurship in education. Through its Living-Lab model, the school supports Albanian partners in embedding work-based learning principles, digital tools for trainers, and learner-centered methodologies that promote inclusivity and employability.
Role: National Implementation Partner / Pilot Institution
Expertise: Dual Education | Digital Learning | Business Engagement
As one of the largest VET institutions in Albania, SHPE Elbasan serves as the pilot site for EmpowerVET implementation, testing curricula, digital learning modules, and school-enterprise cooperation mechanisms. The school’s strong network of partner businesses and commitment to excellence make it a cornerstone of the project’s sustainability strategy.
Role: National Implementation Partner / Pilot Institution
Expertise: Organisational Development | Capacity Building | VET Modernisation
A & I Services & Consulting brings a robust consulting footprint in Albania’s skills-development landscape, acting as a key national partner in driving EmpowerVET’s implementation. With deep experience in vocational standards, institutional capacity building, and strategic alignment with labour-market needs, the organisation supports schools and training providers in adopting modern pedagogical models, strengthening internal processes, and enhancing compliance with national qualification frameworks. Its advisory capabilities and strong stakeholder networks position A & I as a pivotal enabler for scalable, high-impact deployment of EmpowerVET deliverables across the VET ecosystem.
Role: Research, Policy & Dissemination Partner
Expertise: Policy Research | Impact Evaluation | Higher Education-VET Bridging
UET contributes its academic expertise to ensure evidence-based decision-making and impact measurement. The university leads the design of policy briefs, analytical studies, and dissemination outputs — positioning EmpowerVET as a national and regional benchmark for modern VET governance and labor-market alignment.
