2nd SECOVE Project Management Meeting: day 1

The 2nd SECOVE Project Management Meeting took place at the Engineering School of the Porto Polytechnic (ISEP) in Porto, Portugal. The main stakeholders of the project, including representatives of various institutions and organizations, participated in the meeting, during the 5th and 6th of July 2023.

On the first day (5^th July) of the meeting, the establishment, governance and funding of the SECOVE platform was discussed. There was a presentation of the SECOVE roadmap, updates on its implementation and development of the web portal. Strategies to create synergies with other projects and groups were also highlighted. The relevance of vocational education and training (VET) and sustainable development were central to the discussions. Plans were presented for developing challenging modules that encourage an entrepreneurial mindset and relevant skills. Additionally, recommendations were shared to align VET courses with Smart Specialization Strategies (RIS3). Other topics covered included teacher training on sustainable energy, development of common units on sustainable energy using virtual reality (VR) and international certification. The promotion of synergies between VET, the labour market and regional needs, as well as the inclusion of women in technical occupations, were widely discussed. Research findings on inclusive and attractive VET practices were presented, and plans to establish a SECOVE observatory, participatory pilot workshops and awareness campaigns were discussed. The promotion and support for quality and innovation in VET was also addressed, with emphasis on the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in applied research and the creation of Innovation Poles. The meeting was completed with the presentation of the project’s quality assessment, the annual assessment reports and the activities of the Quality Assurance Committee.

The session concluded on a positive note, with participants expressing satisfaction with the progress and continued commitment to collaboration to achieve the objectives of the SECOVE project.

To learn more about the project, please click here.