Innovation Vocational Excellence and Sustainability in Tech – INVESTech

The ICT sector is growing rapidly and constantly evolving, creating a strong need for new skills and innovation. However, according to the OECD, current VET programmes often struggle to keep up with these changes and do not always provide students with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in ICT jobs in industry. The fourth and fifth industrial revolutions are key drivers of the changing role of VET, as they are shaping the content and form of new jobs, skills and occupational requirements. “INVESTech aims to promote the innovation potential of VET in participating countries by fostering cooperation between education, labour market and other stakeholders; facilitating skills development and the use of innovative technologies; promoting green transition and social inclusion; and providing opportunities for transnational cooperation and the exchange of best practices, thus ensuring that VET can play a key role in supporting innovation, skills development, green transformation and social inclusion.

The aim of the project is to support the creation of an international cooperation platform and the development of Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) in the field of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in five European countries: Slovakia, Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Lithuania.

Project results

• E. Learning platform – an integrated platform with digital courses tailored to different qualification levels (EQF 4–8) created to ensure access to knowledge and continuous professional development.
• Mobile app for strengthening knowledge and skills – a digital tool developed that allows students and professionals in healthcare, technology, and other fields to learn in a flexible and personalised way.
• Virtual reality practical training tools – VR solutions designed to provide practical experience in realistic conditions and increase learning effectiveness.
• Guide to green transformation – a methodological publication developed to help vocational training institutions integrate green skills into their training programs.
• Entrepreneurship academy courses – innovative courses designed and tested to develop entrepreneurial skills in the field of technology, with a particular focus on employees and students.
• Establishment of national competence centres (CoVEs) – competence centres linking educational institutions, companies, and NGOs established or strengthened in the countries participating in the project.
• International cooperation network – a partnership platform created to ensure the exchange of experience between educational institutions and industry representatives in different countries.

Added value

The INVESTech project will provide Klaipėdos valstybinė kolegija/Higher Education Institution with the opportunity to develop competencies in the fields of advanced technologies, entrepreneurship, and green transformation by introducing innovative tools such as virtual reality, mobile applications, and digital platforms, thereby strengthening the quality of study content and students’ practical skills. At the Lithuania’s level, the project will contribute to the training of qualified specialists, reducing significant skill gaps in artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, Industry 5.0, and other high-tech fields, as well as promoting closer cooperation between higher education institutions, vocational training organisations, and industry representatives. At the European Union level, the project will strengthen cross-border cooperation, create a network of competence centres to ensure the dissemination of knowledge, innovation, and best practices among partner countries, and thus increase Europe’s competitiveness and leadership in the fields of technology and sustainability