The VETCompass project was created with a clear mission: to support VET (Vocational Education and Training) teachers, trainers, and staff in strengthening their transversal competences—the essential skills that complement technical knowledge and help educators succeed in today’s complex learning environments.
VETCompass is funded under the Erasmus+ Programme and brings together a consortium of expert organisations from Germany, Italy, Greece, and Ireland, coordinated by the European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB). Over 30 months, the project will develop practical, innovative tools to help VET educators assess, develop, and continuously improve their transversal skills.
These tools will include:
A Transversal Skills Assessment Framework co-designed with teachers and trainers;
A game-based digital tool that transforms skill assessment into an interactive experience;
A Toolbox Library offering resources and practical activities for educators;
A Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Roadmap guiding educators on how to grow their competences over time.
But what exactly are transversal skills—and why are they so important?
Transversal skills are competences that are not specific to a single job, sector, or profession, but are crucial across all fields of work and life. They allow individuals to adapt to change, work collaboratively, solve problems creatively, and communicate effectively. In education, transversal skills help teachers not only deliver technical content, but also support students’ broader personal and professional development.
For VET educators, transversal skills are especially critical. They operate in an environment that demands both technical expertise and the ability to guide learners through diverse challenges—from new technologies to evolving labour markets. Effective communication, adaptability, critical thinking, digital competences, teamwork, and learner-centred approaches are now indispensable parts of the VET teaching profession.
Recognising this, VETCompass aims to equip VET teachers and trainers with the tools to reflect on, assess, and strengthen these essential competences. By doing so, the project contributes to improving the overall quality of vocational education and ensures that learners across Europe are better prepared for their future careers.
As the project moves forward, VETCompass will involve educators directly in co-creating the frameworks and tools, ensuring that everything we produce is practical, user-friendly, and grounded in real classroom needs.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue building the pathways for stronger transversal competences in VET education!
