About the partners

The Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences is the largest and highest performance university of applied sciences in Lower Saxony. Four faculties (Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Engineering and Computer Science, Management, Culture and Technology in Lingen, as well as Business Management and Social Sciences) and the Institute of Music form the backbone of the university at the two locations in Osnabrück and Lingen.

With around 110 degree programs, the Bachelor’s, Master’s and advanced training levels is truly comprehensive. Our university has been a pioneer in many areas of academic training – in the establishment of new degree programs, for example – and has thus earned the reputation of being an innovative and progressive institution of higher education.

The university has a noteworthy research orientation. It is committed to the approach of a “University of Applied Sciences”. That is, the university is actively involved in society and sees research as an essential contribution to practically assist in solving socially relevant issues. It places great emphasis on a close dialog with its economic, social and political environment.

The University of Kassel is a young, modern and vibrant university, characterized by its openness to new ideas in every single area of its work. Receptivity, initiative, transdisciplinary thinking and unconventionality are traits we cherish and welcome in studies, research and teaching, but also in knowledge transfer and entrepreneurial ventures, to which the university provides special support.

We aspire to develop, validate and implement ideas – even if they are not yet in the mainstream. The University of Kassel has an unconventional profile with fields of expertise in nature, technology, culture and society. Questions relating to the future of our planet and our existence such as globalisation, climate change, environmental protection as well as questions regarding the evolution of technical systems or demographic change are characteristic of our profile in both research and teaching.

We nurture creativity, critical analysis, ethical reflection and unconventional thinking. Extending the development of academic fields beyond their boundaries is another marker for many University of Kassel research centres searching for sustainable answers to our most important questions.

Created in the early 1970s, the French Centre for Research on Education, Training and Employment (Céreq) is devoted to research on workforce employability and the evolution of professions and certifications. As a public expertise centre working for the benefit of key stakeholders in the fields of vocational training and employment development, Céreq provides research, statistics and policy implementation support. It also provides expertise and guidance for clarification of training policy options at the regional, national or international levels.

The Centre’s areas of expertise have progressively expanded to include all aspects of initial and continuing vocational education and training, i.e. workforce mobility, lifelong learning and skills development, assessment of state-funded employment assistance programmes, monitoring of changes in training requirements, and analysis of key player roles in vocational education and training.

BFI Upper Austria’s educational activities especially focus on training schemes aimed at the (re-)integration of unemployed persons or persons disadvantaged in the labour market. The institute meets the new requirements of the 21st century’s labour market. It has become a market leader in all variations of re-entry into the job market, second chance education and vocational qualification in health, social and other service jobs.

BFI Upper Austria is member of the BBRZ GROUP, which range of offers is geared toward the current and envisionable near-future requirements of the economy and the labour market. Highly qualified staff, effective quality management, the permanent contact and close cooperation with decision makers and companies, all make the BBRZ GROUP a reliable partner for private and public enterprises. At the same time, this provides the company group with a basis for its professional and up-to-date range of educational programmes.

ASPETE (School of Pedagogical and Technological Education) is situated in Athens, but it also operates branches in a number of cities across the country. It provides undergraduate (1st cycle) and postgraduate (2nd cycle) degree programmes, as well as programmes of pedagogical training, further training or specialization. To this end, ASPETE is committed to policies and standards that define best practices and encourage transnational cooperation.

ASPETE’s Department of Education supports the Technological Departments by providing pedagogical and general courses that constitute an integral part of the curriculum. In doing so, it supports ASPETE’s commitment to an education emphasizing the preparation of knowledgeable engineering educators who demonstrate depth and breadth in engineering subject area contents, as well as in pedagogy. The Department also provides scientific supervision and support to the programmes of pedagogical training, further training or specialization implemented by ASPETE.

The German-Hellenic Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DGIHK) represents more than 800 companies and organizations in Greece and Germany. DGIHK provides a broad spectrum of services to its members and entrepreneurs: market studies, consultancy in finance, law and tax issues, training & education, event organizing, arbitration & mediation, German trade fairs, recruiting and others. Main focus is given in certain sectors, projected by the characteristics/ needs of Greece, such as Entrepreneurship, Agrofood, Energy, Training & VET, Tourism and IT applications.

The German Hellenic Chamber is implementing at the moment three VET Projects via the Athens central offices aiming to produce dual education courses at certain sectors in touristic professions and one project via the Thessaloniki branch aiming to produce OER material for VET programs.

Within its host country Greece, the DGIHK is a member of the Network of Foreign Bilateral Chambers in Greece, in Thessaloniki and therefore closely connected with international organizations in Greece. The DGIHK is actively participating in related network activities and meetings, providing important information regarding German industries and their economic relations to Greece.

Workers’ Education and Training College was established on 24 April 2003 as an Adult Training and Research organisation closely related to the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (KNSB), one of the nationally representative social partners. The WETCO mission is to offer the following services: in time information, opportunities to acquire systematic and advanced knowledge, qualifications and skills to increase competitiveness and employability of adults.

In order to enlarge the influence of the modern industrial relations among the civil society, the College provides Adult training, incl. Training of Trainers, Vocational Education and Training, Key competencies Training, as well as Career Guidance and Counselling, Research and Analysis on Labour market, LLL and VET areas. WETCO has a significant expertise in elaboration of VET curricula and methodologies, Key competencies Training, Career Guidance and Counselling, European and national project management. WETCO has its internal Quality Management System.