The newly approved international partnerships aim to align vocational training with industry trends and labor market demands, enabling students in Europe and other regions to acquire skills that are increasingly valued by employers.
Training in Education and Vocational Training
Projects funded under the Vocational Education and Training (VET) capacity-building program promote collaboration between European and non-European organizations, helping to bridge the gap between education systems and the opportunities offered by the labor market. These initiatives focus primarily on countries outside Europe.
Focus on global partnerships
More than 28 million euros were allocated to the 59 new projects selected, which span 68 countries. The selection was based on a record number of eligible applications.
The initiatives aim to strengthen VET systems globally through knowledge sharing and joint development, demonstrating the Erasmus+ program’s ongoing commitment to building international partnerships beyond the borders of the European Union.
The partnerships involve European VET organizations and partner entities from the Western Balkans, neighboring countries to the south and east, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Highlights of 2026
DIGITAL INNOVATION WITHOUT BORDERS
These projects are driving a new generation of digital learning tools, promoting the dissemination of technological advances and best practices in digital education to benefit students across different continents.
SUSTAINABILITY ON A GLOBAL SCALE
Global challenges require joint responses. Projects focused on developing green skills bring together international partners to build a more sustainable future. Among the areas covered are renewable energy technologies, sustainable agriculture, and environmentally responsible entrepreneurship.
STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL NETWORKS
The collaborative aspect of these initiatives helps to strengthen global networks of educators, trainees, and industry experts. By fostering the exchange of ideas, methodologies, and resources, the projects enrich the learning experiences of all participants.
Expected impact
These partnerships are expected to increase the employability and skill levels of trainees, while also strengthening the capacities of trainers, both in Europe and in partner countries. By aligning vocational training with international industry trends and labor market needs, these projects promote economic growth and social development in various regions of the world.
Project Examples
- Strengthening vocational education and training for flood management, climate resilience, and crisis preparedness in Latin America;
- Transition to a vocational education and training (VET) teaching workforce prepared to support Ukraine’s reconstruction;
- Strengthening VET in green entrepreneurship for young women in the fashion industry in Tunisia and Morocco;
- Training of Ophthalmic Nursing Technicians in Sub-Saharan Africa;
- Transforming technical and vocational education to develop skills in waste-to-energy in East Africa;
- Training drone pilots for precision irrigation and water-efficient agriculture in the Western Balkans;
- Implementing digital quality assurance systems and graduate tracking to better align VET with labor market needs in Albania.