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:
- EmpowerVET Teaching & Learning Approach: A deep dive into the pedagogical framework guiding the project.
- Entrepreneurship Education for Sustainable Development: Modern strategies for embedding sustainability mindsets in vocational programmes.
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:
- SDG+Lab Kassel: A hub where VET schools collaborate with local stakeholders to co-create solutions for sustainable futures.
- HOT Lab – Textiles from Solid Wood: Demonstrating circular materials engineering relevant to forestry, agriculture, mechanics, and construction.
- Eichenberg Biochar Visit: Practical insights into circular economy applications and climate-positive technologies.
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:
- Educational approaches and assessment models relevant to competency-based learning.
- Ideation workshops where teams transformed their identified challenges into actionable concepts for school-level innovation.
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:
- Advanced understanding of student-centred learning and sustainable entrepreneurship education.
- Practical exposure to innovation labs and circular economy practices adaptable to Albanian curricula.
- Strengthened international networks, ensuring long-term collaboration beyond the project timeline.
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!
