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 blinc eG (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:
- Desk Research: mapping national strategies, policies, and best practices in entrepreneurship education.
- Questionnaire Surveys: collecting data from VET professionals to assess the integration of entrepreneurship and digital skills in practice.
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:
- How well VET programs align with labor market demands;
- The degree of curriculum flexibility and responsiveness to change;
- Integration of entrepreneurial and digital competences;
- Participation in professional development activities;
- Impact of continuous improvement on student employability.
Questionnaire 2: Pedagogical and Digital Readiness
This version explores teachers’ perceptions of:
- Relevance of entrepreneurship in VET curricula;
- Effectiveness of digital tools and platforms in teaching;
- Access to continuous professional training;
- Confidence in applying modern pedagogical strategies;
- The perceived benefits of regular program updates for job readiness.
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:
- The creation of national research reports for each partner country;
- The EmpowerVET Competence Inventory;
- The Train-the-Trainer Curriculum (WP3);
- Policy briefs supporting VET modernization in the Western Balkans.
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.
