European Programme Erasmus+

Sector Skills Alliances

On 26 January 2017, the Call for Proposals EACEA/04/2017 “Sector Skills Alliances” has been published by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme. 

The aim of the current EACEA/04/2017 “Sector Skills Alliances” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme, is to tackle skills gaps with regard to one or more occupational profiles in a specific sector by identifying existing or emerging sector specific labour market needs (demand side) and by enhancing the responsiveness of initial and continuing VET systems to the labour market needs (supply side).

 

The general objective of the current EACEA/04/2017 “Sector Skills Alliances” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme, is to support the design and the delivery of transnational vocational training content, as well as teaching and training methodologies for European professional core profiles. 

 

Transnational projects to be submitted within the current EACEA/04/2017 “Sector Skills Alliances” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme, should work to achieve the following objectives:

- identification of existing and emerging skills needs for professions in specific sectors, strengthening the exchange of knowledge and practice between education and training institutions and the labour market;

- modernizing VET by adapting provision to skills needs;

- integrating work based learning in VET provision, and exploiting its potential to drive economic development and innovation, increasing the competitiveness of the sectors concerned;

- building mutual trust, facilitating cross-border certification and therefore easing professional mobility in a sector, and increasing recognition of qualifications at European level within a sector;

- supporting a strategic approach to sectoral cooperation on skills.

 

Eligible activities supported by the current EACEA/04/2017 “Sector Skills Alliances” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme, are:

 

Lot 1 - Sector Skills Alliances for skills needs identification will work to identify and provide detailed evidence on skills needs, and gaps in a given specific economic sector. This would make it possible to address such gaps through training provision, whether it be VET-based or any other education and training sector.

 

Lot 2 - Sector Skills Alliances for design and delivery of VET will work to respond to identified skills gaps and needs in a specific economic sector, by developing innovative curricula, as well as teaching and training delivery methodologies. The curricula and training methodologies should include a strong work-based learning component, and support trans-national learner mobility.

 

Lot 3 - Sector Skills Alliances for implementing a new strategic approach (“Blueprint”) to sectoral cooperation on skills will work to improve skills intelligence and to provide a clear strategy and instruments to address skills shortages in specific economic sectors. It will be piloted in six sectors: automotive, defense, maritime technology, space geo information, textile-clothing-leather-footwear and tourism.

 

Eligible applicants in the framework of the current EACEA/04/2017 “Sector Skills Alliances” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme, are:

 

Lot 1:

- European and/or national social partners;

- labour ministries or associated bodies (agencies or councils);

- public or private employment services;

- labour market research institutes, national statistics offices;

- public or private, small, medium or large enterprises (including social enterprises);

- chambers of commerce, of industry or of labour;

- sectoral or professional associations of employers or employees; chambers of skilled crafts;

- European or national sectoral umbrella organisations;

- training or education providers at local, regional or national level.

 

Lot 2:

- public or private enterprises (including social enterprises) in particular those with an own training department, those providing apprenticeships, and those providing shared training (collaborative training);

- EU or national organisations representing industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, relevant sectoral organisations;

- public or private VET providers, including inter-company training centres and higher education institutions providing VET;

- networks of VET providers and European or national organisations representing them;

- Education and Training authorities at regional or national level, and Ministries;

- organisations or networks – at EU or national level – representing social partners, industry, sectoral organisations, professions and education and training stakeholders, including youth organisations;

- chambers of commerce, of industry, of skilled crafts or of labour, and other intermediary bodies;

- sector skills councils.

 

Lot 3:

- public or private enterprises active in the selected pilot sectors especially those with an own training department, those providing apprenticeships, and those providing shared training (collaborative training);

- EU or national organisations representing industry, small and medium-sized enterprises, relevant sectoral organisations;

- public or private education or training providers, including training centres and higher education institutions (and military academies of the defence sector);

- networks of education or training providers and European or national organisations representing them;

- authorities responsible for education and training or employment, at regional or national level, and related Ministries;

- organisations or networks – at EU or national level – representing social partners, industry, sectoral organisations, professions and education and training stakeholders, including youth organisations;

- chambers of commerce, of industry, of labour and other relevant sectoral intermediary bodies;

accreditation, certification, recognition or qualification bodies (bodies with “regulatory function”).

 

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of the current EACEA/04/2017 “Sector Skills Alliances” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme, is divided as follows:

- for Lot 1 (2 or 3 years) each grant will amount to between 330.000 euros and 500.000 euros;

- for Lot 2 (2 or 3 years) each grant will amount to between 700.000 euros and 1.000.000 euros;

- for Lot 3 (4 years) each grant will amount to maximum 4.000.000 euros.

 

The deadline for submitting proposals in the framework of the current EACEA/04/2017 “Sector Skills Alliances” call for proposals, published by the European Commission in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme, is 2 May 2017.

 

Further information on the current call for proposals is available on the European Commission’s web site at: https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus-plus/funding/sector-skills-alliances-2017.