MOBUILDING Project Kicks Off in Valladolid: A Strategic Push for Cross-Border Mobility and Excellence in VET

Valladolid, Spain – April 2025
The city of Valladolid hosted the launch of the MOBUILDING project, a new Erasmus+ policy experimentation initiative aiming to enhance apprenticeship mobility in the building sector across Europe. The kick-off meeting, held on April 9–10, 2025, brought together a dynamic consortium of partners from across Europe, including policymakers, VET providers, and stakeholders from the construction and smart electricity sectors.
Hosted by the Regional Directorate for Vocational Education and Training of Castilla y León (EDUCACYL), the two-day meeting marked the official start of a project that aspires to tackle the legal, structural, and cultural barriers limiting cross-border mobility of apprentices in the construction industry—a sector that employs 18 million people and contributes around 9% to the EU’s GDP.

Breaking Barriers to Build Skills
Led by INFODEF (Spain), the MOBUILDING project seeks to:
  • Identify and address obstacles to mobility in apprenticeships.
  • Develop a European Platform for Apprenticeship Mobility in the building sector.
  • Enhance outreach and quality in learning mobility experiences.
The kickoff meeting set the strategic framework for project implementation, with presentations of the draft work plans across all work packages—from mapping mobility barriers (WP2), led by ECTE , to supporting hosts and sending organizations (WP3), enhancing outreach (WP4), ensuring quality assurance (WP1), and disseminating outcomes (WP5).

Kick-Off Meeting for Erasmus+ VET Project in Kahramanmaraş: A Milestone for Professional Growth

The Erasmus+ project titled “Creation of E-Guidance via an Innovative Set of Toolkit for Professional Know-How Enhancement at VET” (Project Number 2024-1-TR01-KA220-VET-000246582) successfully held its kick-off meeting on April 28-29, 2025 at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University (KSU) in Türkiye. This significant event brought together representatives from eight partner organizations, including KSU, TSOML, LPU, HMKU, INFO, ECTE, ZIK, and ALOES, laying the foundation for a collaborative and impactful initiative in vocational education and training.

The two-day meeting aimed to set the tone for the project’s ambitious goals, which focus on enhancing the professional know-how of VET (Vocational Education and Training) professionals through innovative digital tools and training modules. The agenda was packed with crucial discussions, including partner introductions, development of a gamification module, financial planning, social media strategy, dissemination, and the creation of a dedicated project web page. These topics reflect the project’s commitment to providing cutting-edge resources that bridge knowledge gaps and improve the overall quality of vocational training.

Participants had the opportunity to engage in interactive sessions, strengthening their professional networks and exchanging valuable insights. The collaborative atmosphere encouraged open communication, ensuring that each partner’s unique perspective contributes to the project’s success. Discussions also covered the technical and financial challenges of implementing the project, fostering a shared understanding of the project’s long-term impact.

Beyond the formal sessions, the meeting also included cultural activities that provided participants with a deeper appreciation for the local culture of Kahramanmaraş, reinforcing interpersonal bonds and promoting mutual understanding among the diverse group of attendees.

As the project progresses, it aims to empower VET professionals by providing cutting-edge resources and innovative solutions that address the evolving needs of the education sector. The next steps include refining the gamification module, finalizing the financial framework, and expanding the project’s online presence to reach a broader audience.

ELEVATE PROJECT: Empowering Women in Net-Zero Technologies for the Smart Electricity for Buildings (SEB) – – Bridging the Gap through Vocational Education and Training

The ELEVATE project aims to bridge the gender gap in net-zero technologies within the Smart Electricity for Buildings (SEB) sector by enhancing vocational education and training (VET) opportunities for women. It seeks to address the underrepresentation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields—especially in the renewable energy and smart electricity domains—by implementing targeted educational programs, mentorship initiatives, and awareness campaigns

Key Objectives

  1. Assess Gender Disparities in VET for Net-Zero Technologies: Conduct research on female participation, barriers, and opportunities in the SEB sector.
  2. Develop a Mentorship Framework: Create structured mentorship programs to support women in entering and advancing in net-zero careers.
  3. Design and Implement Targeted VET Programs: Develop specialized curricula to train women mentors in green technologies, ensuring they acquire relevant skills.
  4. Promote Role Models: Showcase successful women in net-zero industries and provide mentorship to inspire more participation.
  5. Establish Partnerships and Networks: Collaborate with VET providers, policymakers, industries, and educational institutions to foster career pathways.
  6. Enhance Awareness and Advocacy: Launch campaigns to challenge gender stereotypes in STEM and encourage women’s participation.

Methodology & Implementation

The ELEVATE project will use a structured approach based on research, training, mentorship, and advocacy. Its methodology includes:

  • Conducting baseline studies to understand the barriers preventing women from pursuing careers in net-zero technologies.
  • Developing a training curriculum and mentorship program to provide guidance and skills development.
  • Using Design Thinking techniques to tailor education and career pathways for women.
  • Organizing networking and knowledge-exchange workshops to engage industry leaders, educators, and trainees.
  • Running awareness campaigns to attract more women into VET programs focused on net-zero technologies.

The project will be implemented across multiple European regions, leveraging the expertise of a diverse consortium of VET providers, universities, research institutions, and policy-makers.

Expected Impact

  • Increased participation of women in net-zero technology-related VET programs.
  • Improved access to mentorship, training, and career opportunities for women in the SEB sector.
  • Stronger collaborations between educational institutions, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
  • Development of policy recommendations and strategic frameworks to sustain gender inclusion in net-zero industries beyond the project’s duration.

Transnational Dimension & Sustainability

The project will operate across multiple European regions, including Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, North Macedonia, and Portugal. By establishing international partnerships and integrating gender-inclusive policies into VET curricula, ELEVATE aims to ensure long-term systemic change in green technology education and employment.

This initiative represents a critical step towards fostering gender equality in the green energy sector while addressing Europe’s need for a skilled workforce in net-zero technologies.​

SEBCoVE Project Participation in Castilla y León Skills Forum and MOBUILDING Policy Meeting

Representatives of the SEBCoVE project (sebcove.eu) were invited by the regional education authority of Castilla y León (educa.jcyl.es) to participate in the Castilla y León Skills 2025 Forum, held in Valladolid, Spain, during the second week of April 2025. This prestigious forum celebrates excellence in Vocational Education and Training (VET), featuring student competitions across a wide range of professions.

The SEBCoVE delegation showed particular interest in the competitions related to Electricity and Electronics, losely tied to the project’s focus on Smart Electricity for Buildings (SEB). SEBCoVE was showcased as an innovative approach to excellence in vocational education, emphasizing cross-sectoral cooperation, digital and green skills, and quality assurance.

During the event, the SEBCoVE team:

  • Presented the project’s vision and methodology as an example of a European Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE).

  • Engaged with local educational authorities to discuss the alignment of regional VET strategies with European quality and innovation standards.

  • Exchanged best practices on curriculum innovation, industry collaboration, and competence-based training.

MOBUILDING Project Synergy

In parallel, SEBCoVE representatives took part in the kick-off meeting of the Erasmus+ policy experimentation project MOBUILDING, which focuses on enhancing mobility opportunities for apprentices in the building sector. The project aims to address key structural, legal, and operational barriers to cross-border mobility by:

  • Developing a European Platform for Apprenticeship Mobility,

  • Strengthening outreach to employers and learners,

  • Improving the quality of learning mobility in the construction and SEB sectors.

SEBCoVE partners actively contributed to the policy dialogue, drawing connections between MOBUILDING’s mobility vision and SEBCoVE’s practices in promoting work-based learning, excellence frameworks, and innovation in training.

Synergies with the ELEVATE Project

Finally, the SEBCoVE team had the opportunity to explore potential synergies with the ELEVATE project (“Empowering Women in Net-Zero Technologies for the Smart Electricity for Buildings Sector”)—a forward-looking Erasmus+ policy experimentation initiative aiming to close the gender gap in the green tech sector.

ELEVATE focuses on:

  • Promoting female participation in VET for green and digital jobs,

  • Implementing mentorship programs,

  • Designing inclusive training curricula for net-zero technologies,

  • Launching awareness and advocacy campaigns to challenge gender stereotypes​.

The shared interest in the Smart Electricity for Buildings sector, along with overlapping goals around excellence, gender inclusion, and green skills, provided a fertile ground for future collaboration between SEBCoVE and ELEVATE—especially in areas of curriculum development, mobility for women in VET, and stakeholder engagement.

Building the Future of Smart Energy Skills: SEBCoVE’s Porto Meeting Marks Major Milestones

The SEBCoVE (Smart Electricity for Buildings – Centres of Vocational Excellence) project recently marked a significant milestone with its second consortium meeting held in Porto, Portugal, on April 7–8, 2025. Hosted at the School of Engineering of the Polytechnic of Porto (ISEP/IPP), the event brought together over 30 professionals and stakeholders from across Europe, united by a shared vision to advance vocational education and training (VET) in the smart electricity sector.

The meeting agenda was packed with pivotal updates, showcasing the impressive progress made since the project’s launch. Several core work packages (WPs) were presented, illustrating the synergy among the project partners and the high level of coordination across initiatives.

Key achievements included the development of innovative training curricula and digital tools (WP4), including micro-credentials, augmented reality applications, and serious games designed to modernize teaching methods. The Learning Management System (LMS) platform was also unveiled, along with structured feedback mechanisms to enhance learner engagement. Additionally, a cost-sharing LAB model for electricians and a roadmap for establishing regional SEBCoVEs underscored the project’s strategic foresight.

On the implementation front (WP5), the certification processes for learners and institutions are well underway, aligning with EQAVET and ISO standards. A robust skills ecosystem and knowledge triangle are being actively cultivated to ensure long-term sustainability and industry relevance. Quality assurance (WP6 & WP7) was another major highlight, with presentations on internal audits, monitoring tools, and certification schemes for micro-credentials under ISO 17024. Dissemination efforts (WP8) were equally strong, with visibility across events and platforms helping to anchor SEBCoVE as a leading initiative within the CoVE community.

The meeting concluded on a high note with collaborative planning for future mobilities and meetings, reaffirming the consortium’s commitment to continuous improvement. The overall success of the Porto meeting demonstrated the project’s growing impact, not just in terms of outputs but in fostering a community of practice redefining vocational training for the smart energy era.

For more insights on the project, visit sebcove.eu.

ID: 101144027