Network of network VET Leaders’ seminar in April 2022 in Brussels

What is Network of Networks?

Salpaus is a member of European Network of networks. The network is an informal alliance of national and regional groupings of colleges.

The Network of Networks (NoN) consists of five regional and national networks representing four countries: The Dutch Alliance (TDA) in the Netherlands, HETEL in the Basque Country, ES, FINN-NET in Finland (Salpaus, Varia, Gradia and Tredu), the Scottish Colleges in the UK and Northern Ireland Colleges in the UK. Collectively these five networks currently represent over 50 Vocational Education and Training providers that offer a wide variety of VET programmes at upper secondary level covering EQF levels 1-5

Network of networks (NoN) is aiming at strategic cooperation, mutual learning, and exchange of best practices. Through close cooperation at regional, national, and European level NoN wants to improve the quality and efficiency of Vocational Education and Training (VET). Furthermore, it aspires to implement European VET policy initiatives at a grass roots level and share best practices to strengthen the quality of VET across our network.

Network of networks Erasmus+ KA3 project 2019-2022

In 2019 Network of networks decided to develop its cooperation and impact in European VET education with Erasmus+ KA3 project “Network of Networks – International Network of VET Providers. A Grassroots Approach”, no. 608977-EPP-1-2019-1-NL-EPPKA3-VET-NETPAR. The project aims at the creation of an international network of VET providers through a grass roots approach. It responds to the needs of the VET sector in the EU that has to deal with a low image in society and it wants to improve the attractiveness of VET supported by capacity building and the testing and implementation of best practices.

Network of networks VET Leaders conference in April 2022

One aim of the KA3 project was to involve leadership from member colleges. Three webinars were organised during the project and to celebrate the results of the project, VET Leaders conference was organised in Brussels April 6-7, 2022. Fellow VET leaders’, education and development managers, consultants and coordinators, all working for the improvement of VET education in Europe got together for a two-day conference in Brussels. The conference was offering an opportunity to discuss mutually interesting topics, share challenges and solutions and develop ideas with peers across the five networks of VET organisations.

The programme consisted of following themes and topics:

• EACEA welcoming speech by Helene Barry, project advisor for European Programmes
• reflections on VET leaders’ questionnaire results,
• Why should we care about EU policy agenda on VET? - Learning café
• Keynote - EU Policy on VET by Ana Carrero, DG for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
• The Future of Network of Networks - Workshop
• The role of VET in European development and innovation - Fishbowl dialogue
• Signing of the NoN agreement

Salpaus representatives in the conference were vice principal Seija Katajisto and International development coordinator Elisa Hassinen.

Network of networks cooperation continues

As a result of the KA3 project and VET Leaders conference it was decided to apply NoN Action plan for 2022-2025 which main aim is to cooperate on different levels; leaders meet every 2nd year, all staff members have a possibility to participate in NoN working groups of Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Work-based Learning, and Internationalisation. International coordinators are continuing their work in coordinating the international cooperation. NoN will also continue organising study visits of staff members and development work in Erasmus+ KA2 projects for further VET education development.