Four Countries, Four Pathways to Vocational Excellence: New International Case Studies
The new publication Vocational Excellence: From partnerships to skills ecosystems – International insights presents four international case studies illustrating how Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) operate within skills ecosystems and build partnership structures across Europe and beyond. The study was developed as part of the EU-funded project Internationalising Vocational Excellence (IntVE), coordinated by the European Training Foundation (ETF).
The case studies were carried out in the Netherlands, Greece, Egypt and Moldova and examine the diverse strategies CoVEs use to respond to economic and societal needs. Based on research conducted between January and March 2025, the report was written by a team led by Willem Kleinendorst (CINOP), with case study contributions from Pauline van den Bosch (CINOP), Simon Broek (Ockham IPS) and Monika Auzinger (3s).
In the Greek case study, Monika Auzinger focuses on TourX, an Erasmus+ initiative driving the development of Centres of Vocational Excellence in the tourism sector. The project – coordinated by AKMI, a leading Greek provider of post-secondary vocational education – brings together 23 organisations from six EU countries and one partner from China. Its aim is to establish regional knowledge triangles in which VET providers, businesses and public authorities jointly develop innovative training approaches for the tourism sector.
The full publication offers in-depth insights into the governance, partnership and innovation approaches of the four CoVEs examined, illustrating how vocational excellence is built on network structures and sustained collaboration.
Contact: Monika Auzinger
Client: ETF
