Centres of Vocational Excellence

The Erasmus+ Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) grant aims to establish and develop international collaborative networks for vocational education and training (VET). The objective is to drive reforms in the VET sector, ensuring high-quality skills that meet the demands of an innovative and sustainable economy. This initiative supports relevant European strategies, including the European Green Deal and the Communication on Skills and Talent.

Eligible applicants include a diverse range of organizations such as vocational education providers, higher education institutions, research institutions, companies, social partners, and public authorities. A mandatory consortium of at least three organizations from different EU or associated countries is required for application. The geographic scope includes EU member states, EEA countries, and EU candidate countries, promoting projects that facilitate local and regional partner engagement.

The grant funding type is a lump sum grant, with a total budget of 60 million euros for 2025. While individual grant amounts are not specified, it is estimated that they range between 1 million and 5 million euros per project. The application process is a single-stage open call, with proposals due by June 11, 2025. Projects must focus on developing skills ecosystems related to teaching and learning, cooperation and partnerships, and governance and funding.

The CoVE projects are expected to span 48 months, focusing on creating sustainable vocational training programs that address challenges such as climate change and digitalization. While exact success rates are not provided, it is generally expected that they could fall between 10% and 39% for competitive Erasmus+ calls. There is no co-funding requirement, as the lump sum model typically covers full project costs.

The initiatives aim to create impactful vocational training solutions that enhance regional development and social inclusion. A long-term action plan for the rollout of project deliverables post-funding is also a requirement. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the Erasmus+ Programme Guide for detailed information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and funding rules. For assistance, a dedicated contact email is available for inquiries.

The ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PEX-COVE call, part of the Erasmus+ Programme, focuses on establishing and developing international collaborative networks of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs). These CoVEs aim to drive reforms in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, ensuring high-quality skills and competences that lead to quality employment and career-long opportunities, meeting the needs of an innovative, inclusive, and sustainable economy. The initiative supports the European Green Deal, the Communication on attracting Skills and Talent, and the new Industrial and SME Strategies.

The CoVEs operate at both national and international levels. Nationally, they involve local stakeholders to create skills ecosystems for innovation, regional development, and social inclusion. Internationally, they bring together CoVEs with shared interests in specific sectors or industrial ecosystems, innovative approaches to tackle economic and societal challenges, or innovative approaches to increase the outreach, quality, and effectiveness of existing CoVEs.

The networks will bring together existing CoVEs or develop the Vocational Excellence model by linking partners from various countries, fostering international cooperation to develop Vocational Excellence in their local context. They can contribute to the New European Bauhaus initiative.

CoVEs achieve their objectives by collaborating with various local/regional partners, including initial and continuing VET providers, higher education institutions, research institutions, science parks, innovation agencies, companies, employers, chambers and their associations, social partners, social enterprises, sectoral skills councils, professional/sector associations, national and regional authorities, development agencies, employment services, qualifications authorities, and social inclusion organizations.

The call supports projects that bring together local or regional partners from various countries to develop activities under three clusters: Teaching and learning, Cooperation and partnerships, and Governance and Funding. CoVEs are required to apply EU-wide instruments and tools such as the EQF, EQAVET, and Council Recommendations on apprenticeships and key competences. They must also design a long-term action plan for the progressive roll-out of project deliverables, based on sustained partnerships and including appropriate governance structures and plans for scalability and financial sustainability.

The call's budget is 60,000,000 EUR, and it utilizes ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants. The call is a single-stage submission process. The opening date was December 5, 2024, and the deadline for submitting applications is June 11, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The evaluation period is from June to November 2025, with information to applicants provided in December 2025, and the signature of the grant agreement expected in February 2026.

The admissibility conditions include a page limit of 120 pages for Part B of the Application Form (Technical Description). The layout must adhere to the Important Notice of Part B Technical Description of the Application Form, as described in the ERASMUS+ Programme Guide 2025. Eligible countries and other eligible conditions are also described in the ERASMUS+ Programme Guide 2025. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria, as well as submission and evaluation processes, are detailed in the ERASMUS+ Programme Guide 2025.

Application form templates include a standard application form (ERASMUS BB and LSII), a detailed budget table (ERASMUS LSII), and information on partnerships and activities (ERASMUS COVE). Guidance is provided through the ERASMUS Programme Guide and Model Grant Agreements (MGA), including the Lump Sum MGA. Additional documents include the Call Document (OFFICIAL JOURNAL), ERASMUS+ Work Programme, ERASMUS Regulation 2021/817, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

For help related to this call, applicants can contact eacea-eplus-vet@ec.europa.eu. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and IT Helpdesk are also available for questions related to submission of proposals and technical aspects.

In summary, this Erasmus+ call aims to foster vocational excellence by supporting the development of international networks of CoVEs. These centers will work to improve skills ecosystems, promote regional development, and address societal challenges through innovative vocational training programs. The call encourages collaboration between education providers, businesses, and other stakeholders to ensure that VET programs are relevant, high-quality, and aligned with the needs of the labor market. The funding mechanism is based on lump sum grants, and the application process involves a single-stage submission with a deadline of June 11, 2025. Applicants should consult the Erasmus+ Programme Guide and other provided documents for detailed information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and application procedures.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is targeted towards Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) and their networks, which include a wide range of local and regional partners such as initial and continuing VET providers, higher education institutions including universities of applied sciences and polytechnics, research institutions, science parks, innovation agencies, companies, other employers, chambers and their associations, social partners, social enterprises, sectoral skills councils, professional/sector associations, national and regional authorities and development agencies, employment services, qualifications authorities, social inclusion and reintegration organisations, etc.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant (ERASMUS-LS).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants, bringing together local or regional partners from various countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is implied to be within the Erasmus+ programme guidelines, which generally includes EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some third countries. The call supports projects bringing together local or regional partners from various countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is vocational education and training (VET), with a focus on skills development, regional development, innovation, social inclusion, and addressing the green and digital transitions. It also targets specific sectors and industrial ecosystems, as well as innovative approaches to tackle economic and societal challenges like climate change, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and the integration of migrants.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call is geared towards international collaborative networks, implying participation from multiple countries. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2025 should be consulted for eligible countries.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be focused on development, validation, and demonstration, with an emphasis on establishing and developing international collaborative networks of Centres of Vocational Excellence. The action supports the gradual establishment and development of international collaborative networks of Centres of Vocational Excellence.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the topic is EUR 60,000,000. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant. The exact funding range per project is not specified, but it will be determined based on the proposed estimated budget.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text mentions that respect of the no-profit and co-financing principles is generally assumed in the frame of lump sums. Applicants do not have to provide information about sources of funding.

Summary:

This is a call for proposals under the Erasmus+ program, specifically targeting the establishment and development of international collaborative networks of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs). The call aims to promote vocational excellence by supporting reforms in the VET sector, ensuring high-quality skills and competences, and fostering innovation, regional development, and social inclusion. The call encourages the development of skills ecosystems that contribute to regional development, innovation, smart specialisation, and cluster strategies. Projects should focus on teaching and learning, cooperation and partnerships, and governance and funding. The call is open to a wide range of organisations, including VET providers, higher education institutions, research institutions, companies, and public authorities. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and applications must be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal. The deadline for submitting applications is June 11, 2025. The call seeks to support projects that bring together local and regional partners from various countries to develop activities under three clusters: Teaching and learning, Cooperation and partnerships, and Governance and Funding. CoVEs are required to apply EU-wide instruments and tools and must include a long-term action plan for the progressive roll-out of project deliverables after the project has finished. The Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2025 provides more detailed information on eligibility criteria, evaluation processes, and other relevant aspects of the call.