We applied for this project because we wanted to offer VET students more opportunities to learn through practical activities, teamwork, and international cooperation. In our schools, we noticed that many students have good practical abilities, but they do not always have the confidence or the opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a motivating environment. Most professional competitions are designed mainly for top-performing students, while many other learners are left outside these experiences. At the same time, we saw the need for closer cooperation between schools and the labour market, so that students can develop skills that are truly useful for their future jobs. Another important need was to support teachers in improving their training methods and in working together with colleagues from other countries to exchange ideas and good practices. The project also responded to the realities of our schools, where many students come from disadvantaged backgrounds or face social and educational difficulties. We wanted to create an inclusive environment where every student could feel encouraged, valued, and motivated to participate.
We applied for this project because we identified the need for a more inclusive, innovative, and practice-oriented approach to vocational education and training (VET). Traditional VET systems often focus on formal teaching methods and competitions dedicated only to top-performing students, while many learners with potential lack opportunities to develop and validate their professional skills in an international context. The project addressed several important needs shared by the partner organisations from Romania, Italy, and Serbia. First, there was a need to improve the pedagogical, methodological, and digital competences of VET teachers through transnational cooperation and the exchange of good practices. Second, the partners wanted to create a common framework for organizing professional competitions that would encourage participation, collaboration, and professional development for a wider category of students, not only for elite performers. Another important need was strengthening cooperation between VET schools and the economic sector in order to better connect education with labour market requirements.The project also responded to the need for inclusion and diversity, as many students involved come from disadvantaged.