The objective of the DT4VET project was to strengthen the competences of vocational education and training (VET) teachers in applying Design Thinking as an innovative teaching approach. The project aimed to enable teachers to work with students in a more creative, engaging, and problem-oriented way, focused on real-life challenges. A key goal was to develop practical and easily accessible teaching tools to support teachers in planning and delivering lessons aligned with the stages of the Design Thinking process. An important component of the project was also the creation of an e-learning platform, allowing flexible and remote access to training materials. The project further sought to promote international cooperation, the exchange of good practices, and the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) within the European VET community. Ultimately, DT4VET aimed to enhance the quality of vocational education by supporting modern teaching methods, developing teamwork and project-based skills, and fostering entrepreneurial and innovative attitudes among VET students, while providing teachers with ready-to-use tools for everyday teaching practice.
The DT4VET project was initiated in response to the growing need to support vocational education and training (VET) teachers in developing competencies related to the use of the Design Thinking methodology. Rapid changes in the labour market and the increasing demand for creativity, flexibility, and problem-solving skills highlighted a gap in available educational tools supporting these competencies. The project aimed to develop a practical set of materials – the DT4VET Toolkit – and to launch an e-learning platform that supports teachers in applying Design Thinking in their work with students. It also addressed the need to strengthen VET teachers’ engagement in innovative, collaborative, and user-centred teaching approaches. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the importance of remote learning solutions, reinforcing the relevance of the project. DT4VET contributed to building international cooperation among partners and to the joint development of innovative educational materials made available as OER (Open Educational Resources), ensuring free and open access for educators.