News & Events

Join the NEARVET Action Research Project Contest!

Present your innovative ideas in VET and win resources to boost your Applied Research projects!

We are excited to announce that the Nearvet Action Research Project Contest is now open!

The contest invites individuals from all backgrounds in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector to showcase their applied research and innovative ideas.

Our aim is to uncover applied research projects (from 2019 onward) and encourage new proposals that address real challenges and offer impactful solutions in areas such as curriculum development, industry collaboration, and sector-specific issues. 

Winners will present their work to a European audience and receive a prize worth €800 in resources to support future research and innovation! 

What is Applied Research in VET?
Applied research in VET focuses on addressing real-world problems with practical, hands-on solutions. It bridges the gap between academic knowledge and its practical application in various industries, meeting the needs of both learners and employers. 
Examples of eligible projects include:
•    Development of new VET curricula to meet industry demands
•    Innovative collaborations between schools and businesses
•    Creation of digital tools, apps, or training methodologies that support vocational learning
•    Projects aimed at solving specific sectoral challenges, such as reducing dropout rates, increasing engagement, or improving skill alignment with labor market needs

Who Can Participate?
The contest is open to anyone engaged in applied research within the VET sector, including VET teachers, trainers, practitioners, students and trainees, companies, industry representatives, research institutions, and higher education institutions.

Why Participate?
The top three winning projects will be featured during the NEARVET final conference, which will take place in Larissa, Greece, on December 12th, 2024. Each winning project will receive a prize valued at €800 in resources designed to support further research and innovation. These prizes include software licenses, online training courses, digital tools, and other valuable resources to help expand your research projects.

Contest Timeline
•    Submission Deadline: December 5th, 2024, by 17:00 CET
•    Winner Announcement: December 10th, 2024

You can submit your project by clicking here.

Submission Requirements and Evaluation Criteria
Projects must be submitted through the designated online platform, accessible by clicking here.
Each submission should include:
•    Project title and brief description
•    Information on whether the project is a new proposal or a completed initiative
•    Details about the problem addressed and the target audience
•    Methodology and explanation of the innovation introduced
•    Overview of the project's potential impact and scalability
(Download the full contest regulations here).

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of experts based on several criteria: relevance, innovation, feasibility, impact, scalability, and alignment with NEARVET’s core competencies.

NEARVET Added Value
Projects aligned with NEARVET’s Competence Framework will stand out and increase their chances of being selected.
Want to discover the 15 core competencies needed to implement applied research in VET identified by NEARVET? Click here to download the PDF!