Build Your VETter Future Challenge

Build Your VETer Future Challenge is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership in VET (KA220-VET), coordinated by Xarxa FP, bringing together seven organisations from five European countries to address early school leaving (ESL) in construction and wood-related VET studies.

The project uses Challenge-Based Learning (CBL), open innovation and international collaboration to engage VET students at risk of dropping out in a real-world challenge set by the sustainable timber construction company EGOIN SA.

Students from different European countries work together to design a modular, sustainable and energy-efficient educational space built primarily from wood, progressing from exploration and creativity to physical prototyping and final presentation.

General objective

The aim of the Build Your VETer Future Challenge is to contribute to reducing early school leaving and increasing the attractiveness of construction and wood-related VET studies by engaging students in an innovative, international and real-world learning experience based on Challenge-Based Learning and open innovation.

Specific objectives

• Address early school leaving in construction and wood VET studies through engaging, student-centred learning experiences.
• Increase the attractiveness of VET studies and careers in sustainable construction and the wood sector.
• Develop students’ technical, digital, creative, social and socio-emotional skills through teamwork and challenge-based learning.
• Strengthen cooperation between VET providers and the construction industry by connecting students with a real-world professional challenge.
• Promote green and sustainable skills related to timber construction, energy efficiency and low-impact building.
• Strengthen European cooperation between VET institutions through international mixed teams and transnational learning activities.
• Develop transferable methodologies and recommendations that can support VET providers in preventing early school leaving.

Main Actions

1. Established a European cooperation partnership connecting seven organisations from Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and Finland to address early school leaving in construction and wood VET studies.
2. Designed and implemented an international Challenge-Based Learning competition involving 30 VET students and tutors from five European countries, working in mixed international teams.
3. Organised four transnational learning activities covering the different stages of the challenge:
   • Exploration Session in Barcelona
   • Creativity Session in Leuven
   • Acceleration Session in Viborg
   • Prototype Session in Rovaniemi
4. Launched a real-world challenge developed with EGOIN SA, asking students to design a modular and sustainable educational space that is adaptable, energy efficient and built primarily from wood.
5. Supported students throughout the process from initial research and ideation to the development of physical prototypes, combining technical knowledge with creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.
6. Developed an international competition framework including jury evaluation, final showcase and awards, providing students with an opportunity to present their work in a professional and European context.
7. Produced methodological resources, tools and recommendations to support the transfer of Challenge-Based Learning and innovative approaches for preventing early school leaving in VET.

Key Results

• An innovative Challenge-Based Learning model for VET, combining real-world industry challenges, international teamwork and hands-on learning.
• An international competition involving 30 VET students and 5 tutors from five European countries, working together across borders.
• Physical prototypes/mock ups developed by international student teams in response to a real construction-sector challenge.
• Increased opportunities for students at risk of early school leaving to develop technical, creative, digital, teamwork and socio-emotional skills.
• Increased awareness of sustainable construction principles, including timber construction, energy efficiency, natural insulation, renewable energy and low-environmental-impact solutions.
• Stronger connections between VET students, VET providers and the construction industry through direct involvement of EGOIN SA.
• Recommendations and transferable approaches for VET providers and stakeholders working to prevent early school leaving and improve the attractiveness of VET.
• Strengthened European cooperation between VET institutions and construction-sector stakeholders.

Through its innovative combination of Challenge-Based Learning, international collaboration and real-world industry engagement, Build Your VETer Future Challenge aims to make VET studies more attractive and meaningful for young people while helping VET systems respond to the challenges of early school leaving, the green transition and changing labour market needs.

Total budget: 250.000 EUR