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 Partner / Project Coordinator
Expertise: Capacity Building | Digital Pedagogies | EU Project Management
blinc eG (Blended Learning Institutions’ Cooperative) coordinates the EmpowerVET consortium with a focus on strategic planning, methodological integrity, and quality management. As a European pioneer in competence-oriented education, blinc eG guides the development of the EmpowerVET Framework for Digital and Inclusive VET.
Their leadership ensures that innovation is not only conceptual but also applicable across schools and training centers in the Western Balkans.
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: 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.
