Research & Innovation

The EmpowerVET project marked a major milestone this December with the successful delivery of the Train-the-Trainers Week in Göttingen, Germany (01–07 December 2025). Designed as a flagship capacity-building intervention under Erasmus+ CB-VET, the programme brought together educators, trainers, and institutional leaders from Albania, Germany, and Spain to co-create next-generation teaching and learning approaches tailored for the Albanian VET ecosystem. This intensive week was structured to accelerate pedagogical innovation, strengthen entrepreneurial competences, and foster cross-border collaboration—ultimately empowering VET schools to anchor sustainable development principles in their daily practice. A Strategic Start: Online Preparations Ahead of the physical mobility, participants joined an online session on 26 November, providing a streamlined project introduction, presenting the full training agenda, and engaging in an initial warm-up activity to set expectations and build rapport. Day-by-Day Highlights from Göttingen Monday, 1 December – Arrival and Onboarding Participants arrived in Göttingen and settled into the training environment, setting the stage for an intensive learning journey. Tuesday, 2 December – Foundations of Innovative Teaching The week officially opened with two high-impact themes: The afternoon focused on team building, forming international working groups composed of Albanian, Spanish, and German participants. These teams initiated Task 1, where they analyzed contextual challenges in their institutions and formulated joint problem statements to drive innovation in the days ahead. Wednesday, 3 December – Exposure to Cutting-Edge Innovation A full-day excursion showcased German best practices in sustainability and applied innovation: This immersion provided participants with real examples of prototypes and research labs that can inspire student projects and VET curricula in Albania. Thursday, 4 December – Ideation & Pedagogical Innovation With fresh insights from the excursion, trainers explored: By the afternoon, teams began selecting their best ideas and preparing prototypes—translating theory into tangible solutions. The day concluded with a joint networking dinner, cementing collaboration among partners. Friday, 5 December – Prototyping & Presentation Day Teams finalized their prototypes and delivered structured presentations, showcasing new concepts for innovative VET practices aligned with EmpowerVET’s mission. A reflective self-assessment exercise closed the academic portion of the week, ensuring participants internalized the competencies developed. Saturday, 6 December – Departures & Follow-Up Participants returned to their institutions, equipped with new tools, frameworks, and European partnerships to champion change. Why This Week Matters for Albanian VET The Göttingen training week is more than a mobility—it’s a strategic enabler for Albania’s VET transformation. Participants gained: Most importantly, the ideas and prototypes developed during the week will feed directly into EmpowerVET’s capacity-building actions, supporting Albanian VET schools to adopt modern teaching methodologies that align with EU priorities. A Catalyst for Systemic Change The Train-the-Trainers week in Göttingen demonstrated the power of co-creation and international collaboration in shaping future-ready vocational education. As EmpowerVET continues unfolding throughout 2025–2026, the competencies built here will echo across classrooms, curricula, and communities—driving meaningful, sustainable transformation. Thank you!

The EmpowerVET Project is not only about training and collaboration — it is built on a strong foundation of evidence-based research.At the heart of this process lies a comprehensive Research Design, combining desk research and field questionnaires, aimed at redefining how entrepreneurship and digital skills are embedded in vocational education systems across Europe and the Western Balkans. Understanding the Research Design The EmpowerVET research team, led by University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE)(Germany) and supported by UET (Albania), IES Ribeira do Louro (Spain), and Shkolla Profesionale “Salih Çeka” Elbasan (Albania), developed a mixed-method approach structured around two key pillars: Together, these instruments aim to build a Competence Framework that supports modern, inclusive, and sustainable VET ecosystems. Desk Research: Comparing European Models The desk research phase reviewed national frameworks from Germany, Spain, and Portugal, offering comparative insights on how entrepreneurship education is conceptualized and implemented in VET. 🇩🇪 Germany: Entrepreneurship through Dual Learning Germany’s National Skills Strategy (2022) and the “Excellence in VET” initiative emphasize entrepreneurial competence within the dual education model.Programs like VESVET and Unternehmergeist macht Schule showcase how project-based learning and LEVEL5 methodology strengthen creativity, risk-taking, and opportunity recognition among learners.However, challenges remain in teacher engagement and competence assessment — key lessons for other VET systems. 🇪🇸 Spain: Entrepreneurship Classrooms and Mentorship Spain’s Aulas de Emprendimiento (Entrepreneurship Classrooms) are at the core of VET innovation, providing students hands-on experience with business creation and mentoring.Entrepreneurship is embedded into the national curriculum via the Real Decreto 1105/2014, and connected to SDG-aligned initiatives such as green entrepreneurship and social innovation.Yet, disparities in resources and teacher training persist — calling for stronger national coordination. 🇵🇹 Portugal: Policy-Driven Integration Portugal’s Portugal 2030 Strategy, INCoDe.2030, and Qualifica Program have positioned entrepreneurship as a transversal competence across education and training.VET modules such as “Criatividade e Espírito de Iniciativa” and “Business Plan Creation” demonstrate how policy translates into practice.Still, systemic challenges — particularly teacher training and evaluation of entrepreneurial learning outcomes — remain. The Questionnaires: Giving Voice to VET Teachers To complement desk research, EmpowerVET designed two structured questionnaires targeting teachers, trainers, and VET practitioners in Albania and partner countries.Both focus on the relevance, flexibility, and innovation capacity of current VET programs. Questionnaire 1: Alignment with Labor Market and Innovation Needs This instrument assesses: Questionnaire 2: Pedagogical and Digital Readiness This version explores teachers’ perceptions of: Both surveys will feed into the EmpowerVET Research Report (September 2025), shaping data-driven recommendations for policy and curriculum innovation. Why This Research Matters This dual approach — combining policy analysis and practitioner insight — ensures that EmpowerVET’s outcomes are both strategically grounded and practically relevant.The results will inform: Ultimately, this research is about understanding what works — and transforming that knowledge into tangible tools for teachers, students, and policymakers. Next Steps Throughout 2025, partners will finalize the research tools, conduct surveys, and hold focus groups with experts across education, business, and civil society.Findings will be consolidated into the EmpowerVET Research Report, to be discussed at the next Transnational Project Meeting in Spain (October 2025). Stay tuned for insights from the field as EmpowerVET continues to empower education through research, innovation, and collaboration.

The EmpowerVET Project officially launched with its Kick-off Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) held in Essen, Germany, on 27–28 February 2025.Partners from Germany, Spain, and Albania gathered for two days of strategic discussions, coordination planning, and the co-creation of the project’s shared vision: Empowering vocational education through innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable digital learning. A Strong Start for a Strong Partnership Hosted by blinc eG, the project coordinator, the meeting brought together representatives from: The session opened with partner introductions and a dynamic exchange about the vocational education systems in Albania and Spain — highlighting similarities, differences, and opportunities for mutual learning.Particular focus was placed on the dual education model, stonemasonry, manufacturing, and granite sectors — serving as examples of how practical training aligns with local labor markets. Project Branding & Communication Early collaboration focused on EmpowerVET’s visual identity.Partners jointly selected the final logo concept (image from option two with the font from option one), ensuring a professional and modern visual profile consistent with Erasmus+ branding standards.A shared Google Drive repository and mailing list were established to streamline communication and document management. Research Design and Methodology A major portion of the meeting centered on the structure and methodology of Work Package 2 (WP2) – the project’s research backbone.Key deliverables and deadlines were confirmed: The consortium agreed on a Mixed Methods Research approach, combining desk research, quantitative surveys, and qualitative focus groups.Each partner will analyze both their national context and one additional EU country to map best practices in entrepreneurship education within VET and ICT sectors. Focus groups will engage stakeholders from: The consortium emphasized sustainability and digital learning as cross-cutting themes throughout the research. From Research to Action Partners discussed the implementation of WP3 – Piloting and Transfer into EmpowerVET Courses, focusing on the Train-the-Trainer (ToT) activities to be held in Spain.This program will target over 16 trainers from higher education, VET, and business sectors, focusing on: These trainers will then cascade the training within their institutions, running pilot courses that integrate competence-based learning with real-life entrepreneurship projects. Key Strategic Decisions Several structural and strategic elements were confirmed during the meeting: This blend of asynchronous (self-paced) and synchronous (collaborative) formats aims to foster both creativity and entrepreneurial mindset among learners. Evaluation, Dissemination, and Next Steps Partners reviewed internal evaluation procedures, reporting timelines, and dissemination responsibilities.The European University of Tirana (UET) will provide templates for reporting, monitoring, and quality management.The consortium also discussed the launch of the EmpowerVET website and newsletter, ensuring a consistent communication flow toward stakeholders and the wider VET community. The next transnational meeting will take place in Spain (October 2025), where partners will present the first research results, plan the Train-the-Trainer implementation, and further refine the EmpowerVET competence framework. A Collaborative Vision for Change The Essen Kick-off Meeting marked not only the official start of EmpowerVET but also the beginning of a shared journey toward a more modern, sustainable, and connected vocational education system.Each partner left the meeting with a clear roadmap — and a common belief that empowering teachers, students, and institutions through collaboration and digital innovation is the key to transforming VET across Europe and the Western Balkans.