Vocational education and training

Did you know that 9 in 10 Erasmus+ participants say that their experience has helped improve their language skills? Or that there were more than 140 sports projects funded by Erasmus+ in 2016? Language learning and sports activities are key elements in promoting intercultural exchanges in the framework of the Erasmus+ programme. Through language learning, people experience cultural nuances, while physical activity and working towards common goals are great ice breakers.

Green skills are more and more in demand on the labour market, and those who acquire them increase their employability substantially, while also helping to protect the planet. Many Erasmus+ projects are contributing to both of these efforts, through VET schools and employers. Many different aspects of environmental protection - such as renewable energy, eco-building or green transports - and many different professions are involved.

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: the new Erasmus+ application is now available to download! The app allows participants to easily track their progress before, during and after their mobility; to share and vote for their preferred tips to help others integrate into the local community; and to improve their language skills.

A blend of Slack, Facebook and LinkedIn has been created to encourage the Erasmus+ generation and key actors to have their say about the future of Europe and Erasmus+. Unveiled last month, the Erasmus+ Generation Online Meeting Point gives young people and Erasmus+ stakeholders a space to meet, debate, propose topics, identify problems and put forward solutions to collectively shape and build the future of the programme.

In line with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable development Goals, the Erasmus+ programme contributes to a greener, equitable and fair society. Ensuring that Europe can continue to grow and improve in a viable way is crucial for our future. This is why Erasmus+ supports education, training and volunteering for a sustainable economy.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Erasmus Programme and to celebrate its success, a celebratory event was held in Strasbourg on June the 13th. Among debates on the future of the programme, an awards ceremony and an interactive exhibition, consensus for a larger budget was reached at the heart of the European Parliament's plenary session.

Building houses for Roma communities, taking care of disabled relatives, taking time off work to help others... Besides being a great means for making a contribution to society and meeting new people, these can all be pathways towards greater employability. There are many examples to share.

From firefighters to supermarket staff, Erasmus+ helps Europeans learn vocational skills to become active citizens. Through learning different skills, participants contribute more to society. On top of that, a number of Erasmus+ projects support vocational learners to acquire specific skills to make their work much more inclusive.

Looking for information on how to manage your Erasmus+ projects? Want to know more about the Mobility Tool+? Check out the new guide for beneficiaries, now available online.

Tired of scrolling through long, PDF-based applications? Erasmus+ applications forms are moving from an old, PDF-based format to a web format. The first pilot to be filled in fully online will be the Youth application forms. Web forms for other sectors are coming soon!

This month, we are delighted to let you in on a little secret… The Erasmus+ app is nearly ready! While we don't want to give too much away just yet, let's just say that it is sure to enhance the mobility experience for generations to come. But before the big release date, scheduled for mid-June, we need your help…

The European Solidarity Corps is starting to take shape! Around 28,000 young people have registered, hundreds of organisations have used the portal, several thousand registered young people have been contacted and dozens of placement offers have been made. After these achievements, we are excited to find out what’s next in store.

There are many ways in which the Erasmus+ programme can get you socially engaged, whether by volunteering, participating in trainings, through exchange or by getting bright new ideas.

The EU is taking action to increase the effectiveness, attractiveness, quality and flexibility of vocational education and training (VET). One key way is through further developing the European Credit System for VET (ECVET) , which has already helped VET systems become more flexible at national level. Erasmus+ is crucial to this evolution as it will build on the great work being done by the European VET community through EU-funded projects.

Real life-long learning is about more than just adding professional training sessions and courses to your CV. We also learn in other ways, through our own interests and experiences, without an approved syllabus or without even intending to acquire knowledge. The New Skills Agenda highlights that people should be able to use the full range of their skills for their careers or for further learning, including what they gain in non-formal or informal learning.

Building on the success of last year, the 2017 European Vocational Skills Week will be organised from 20 to 24 November.

Want to sign up more than 1 person to use our services? There is now a new helpful feature in the "Participant Portal" that allows up to 10 additional users to be added. This means there will be constant access to an organisation's data even if one of the users leaves your organisation.

What is it that makes an idea fit for European funding? Check out our online platform where you can have a look at all projects that have been accepted for funding and make sure that your idea is innovative enough! The platform is updated on a daily basis and projects are shared there to inspire you and help you find new partners. Why not take a look?

Around 30 500 applications were received by National Agencies before the closing date of 2nd February 2017 for the first round of calls for mobility of individuals. The number of participants has been significantly rising since the launch of the Erasmus+ Programme in 2014.

Erasmus+ opens the door to a world of employment opportunities. Whether you find a job in a new country or sector, or build upon knowledge relevant to your field, Erasmus+ is proven to improve your prospects for a successful career. In fact, mobile higher education students are twice as likely to have a job one year after graduation compared to their non-mobile peers. Volunteering also boosts participants' chances of finding a job, as 75% of employers value such experience.