Recognising Excellence: ETF Launches New Certificates to Spotlight VET Innovators

Excellence doesn't happen by chance—it requires vision, determination, and continuous innovation. Highlighting institutions that embody these values, the European Training Foundation (ETF) recently introduced two impactful certificates: "Committed to VET Excellence" and "Vocational Excellence". Announced at the IntVE Conference in Turin, these awards honour vocational education and training (VET) providers who set exceptional standards and inspire others to elevate their practices.

Two Distinct Paths to Recognition

Committed to VET Excellence recognises schools actively enhancing their educational quality through rigorous self-assessment and sustained improvement. This certificate acknowledges institutions not merely  measuring their achievements but significantly surpassing them by setting ambitious, achievable goals and actively pursuing excellence.

Awardees include:

• CIFP Pico Frentes, Spain – noted for pioneering teaching methods, strong industry collaborations, and a clear commitment to environmental sustainability.
• ENGIM Piemonte - San Luca, Italy – distinguished for innovative approaches to career guidance and lifelong learning within the wellness sector.

Vocational Excellence acknowledges schools demonstrating proven excellence in specialised vocational fields, highlighting their innovative methods and significant achievements.

Notable recipients:

• CIFP Río Tormes, Spain – recognised for excellence in entrepreneurial education, using advanced methodologies such as design thinking and lean start-up strategies.
• Šolski center Nova Gorica, Slovenia – celebrated for its successful integration of sustainable partnerships across education, industry, and community sectors.
• APRO Formazione, Italy – applauded for its forward-looking internationalisation efforts and its innovative gastronomic training ecosystem.

Strategic Alignment and Global Impact

These new certificates align closely with European Commission priorities, reflecting the ETF's commitment to enhancing vocational education's global visibility and strategic impact. The initiative aligns with broader European objectives, including substantial investment through Erasmus+ and the newly launched Union of Skills, emphasising the EU's leading role in international education development.

According to Doriana Monteleone, ETF expert and internal pioneer of this initiative, "The certificates not only reward excellence but also encourage continuous improvement and international collaboration among vocational providers, serving as catalysts of positive changes in the skills ecosystem."

Catalysing Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

Recipients will be featured in an open online registry; a resource designed to showcase exemplary practices and foster international collaboration and knowledge exchange among vocational institutions globally. The ETF Network for Excellence (ENE) currently connects nearly 350 CoVEs worldwide, aiming to expand even further by the end of the year, thereby enhancing the vocational education landscape through shared best practices and cooperative initiatives.

Your Institution’s Path to Excellence

These certificates are more than just recognition—they represent a strategic step towards national and international leadership in vocational education. Institutions that earn these certificates exemplify proactive innovation, impactful collaboration, and significant contributions to local and global VET ecosystems.

The ETF is preparing the next launch of these awards to allow institutions driven by excellence, innovation, and transformative educational impact, to showcase their contributions to improving the quality of vocational education.  

🔗 Registry of certified Vocational Excellence providers 
🔗 Internationalising vocational excellence conference: Making Excellence meaningful for all learners | ETF

For more information on Vocational Excellence please visit: webpage