Supporting Centres of Vocational Excellence across the Danube Region: New Funding Opportunity

The Danube region is undergoing significant demographic shifts and technological change, creating mounting pressure on Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems to adapt to rapidly changing labour market needs and societal demands. Recognising this challenge, the Danube Region Programme (DRP) has allocated 3 million euro to support Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs). These centres aim to complement and strengthen national, regional, and local initiatives, fostering innovation and resilience within VET systems.

The DRP proposes two complementary approaches, a strategic and an operational one. The strategic approach builds on the foundation of the Danube Region Platform on Centres of Vocational Excellence, launched by Priority Area 9 of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). Efforts in support of the Strategy may include pilot transnational projects in the strategically targeted priorities and areas, as well as the creation of networks linking VET policymakers with labour market stakeholders. Such initiatives aim to foster stronger cooperation across borders and ensure that VET systems evolve in line with regional needs. The operational track focuses on the modernisation and transformation of VET systems. Projects in this domain may address pressing social, economic, and pedagogical challenges while promoting the establishment of multilevel public-private partnerships in VET and skills development. These efforts aim to enhance the quality and relevance of training, ensuring learners are equipped for future opportunities. The DRP also encourages initiatives that bring together CoVEs with shared interests in priority areas such as social inclusion, green skills, digitisation, artificial intelligence, and upskilling for individuals with low qualifications. Moreover, embedding CoVEs into local innovation ecosystems and connecting them at a Danube-wide level is seen as a key driver for sustainable growth and regional competitiveness.

By proposing these two approaches and prioritising candidate countries, the DRP seeks to make VET systems more dynamic, inclusive, and aligned with the transformative changes shaping the Danube region’s economy and society whilst also supporting non-EU Danube countries in their accession preparations.

Disclaimer: This article does not provide complete or detailed information for application purposes. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the Call documents to ensure alignment with the Programme’s priorities and call requirements.