Vocational education and training

CIMO supports institutions of vocational education and training (VET) and other organisations involved in VET at all levels in their international work by managing programmes funded by the European Union and through Nordic funding schemes.

These programmes advance international project cooperation and development work, student and teacher exchanges, on-the-job learning, study visits and initial, further and in-service training for teachers. The support available varies from one programme to another.

European cooperation is made possible by EU funding, while specific funding is also available for cooperation between the Nordic countries and for collaboration worldwide.

Activities supported

VET institutions, networks of VET institutions, working life and companies and other organisations involved in vocational education and training can make use of a range of international cooperation programmes. The EU’s Lifelong Learning Programme LLP supports international collaboration through its sub-programmes:

Leonardo da Vinci promotes

• student, teacher and expert exchanges
• transfer and development of innovation as well as network projects, and
• partnerships between school and working life

Comenius promotes

• pupil and teacher exchanges
• in-service training for teachers, and
• school partnerships

Grundtvig promotes

• project cooperation
• in-service training, visits and exchanges for adult education staff

The Transversal programme is a cross-sectoral programme, relating to areas which are relevant to all levels of education and training. This programme develops language and ICT training together with institutions of vocational education and training, and with institution of higher education. The programme seeks to promote European cooperation in fields covering two or more sub-programmes and the quality and transparency of the Member States’ education and training systems.

Study visits within the Transversal programme enable education and training professionals to meet their European colleagues.

Other funding options are available in the Nordplus programme, and through several bilateral EU programmes such as EU-US, EU-Canada, EU-Australia and EU-Korea.

The Nordplus Junior programme, supporting cooperation between the Nordic and the Baltic countries, includes

• exchanges between school classes
• funding for student exchanges and work placements for pupils
• in-service training and teaching in another country
• network and development projects, surveys and studies

Nordplus Horizontal supports cross-sectoral networks and project cooperation through, for example, seminars and workshops. The Nordic Languages and Culture programme seeks to enhance knowledge and understanding of the Nordic languages and cultures through projects, mobility and networks.

Contact us

Telephone +358 20 690 503 (Mon–Fri 8:00–16:15)

Email leonardo(at)cimo.fi
Staff telephone numbers are listed in CIMO’s electronic phone book.

Assistant Director, European Department
Mikko Nupponen

Head of Unit, Vocational Education and Training
Mika Saarinen