Youth and Skills Europe

Build connections, opportunities and understanding across Europe.

ETF is proud to lead the Youth and Skills Europe programme, a three-year European partnership initiative delivered with partners across the UK and Ireland.

The programme supports young people, educators and organisations to engage with European opportunities, explore shared challenges and build meaningful international connections. 

Through workshops, collaborative activities and professional exchange, the programme helps participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

The programme offers:

  • Youth engagement workshops and events
  • European policy and citizenship discussions
  • Professional development opportunities
  • International networking and partnership building
  • Resources and tools for educators
  • Opportunities for learners to influence future activity

Current opportunities


Join one of our upcoming Youth and Skills Europe VET workshops and discover how international collaboration can enrich teaching, learning and learner outcomes.

 

Explore the Youth and Skills Europe - VET Training Workshops 2026-27

 

Youth and Skills Europe is co-funded by the EU, and delivered in partnership with Alliance Scotland, Colleges Wales, National Union of Students, National Youth Agency and North West Regional College.

We'll keep this page updated as plans take shape.

ERASMUS+ : New Opportunities and preparing for the UK's return to Erasmus+

The UK's return to Erasmus+ presents a significant opportunity for colleges, training providers and learners to reconnect with one of the world's most established education and mobility programmes.

Erasmus+ supports:

  • Learner mobility and international placements
  •  Staff exchanges and job shadowing
  • Professional development opportunities 
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Curriculum innovation projects
  • International collaboration and knowledge exchange

 

The British Council as the UK’s National Agency for Erasmus+

ETF welcomes the appointment of the British Council as the UK’s National Agency for Erasmus+. Their website provides a wealth of guidance, resources, case studies and practical information to support learners, staff and providers at every stage of their international journey.

As the professional body for the FE and skills sector, ETF supports the UK's return to Erasmus+. This marks a significant vote of confidence in the value of international collaboration as a driver of skills development, innovation and opportunity. As Government invests in renewed participation, the FE and skills sector has an important role to play in ensuring learners, staff and organisations can fully benefit from mobility, partnership and knowledge-sharing opportunities.

ETF is committed to supporting the sector to make the most of this opportunity, helping providers build partnerships, access funding and deliver high-quality international activity that benefits learners, employers and communities.

Applications are expected to open from November 2026, making now the ideal time for organisations to build partnerships and prepare future project ideas.

 

Not sure where to start? Explore the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform where you'll find hundreds of examples from colleges, training providers and skills organisations that can spark ideas, identify potential partners and help shape future projects.

How do FE providers benefit from Erasmus+?

Benefits for Learners

International experiences can help learners:

  • Build confidence and independence
  • Improve employability skills
  • Develop cultural awareness and communication skills
  • Gain experience in different working environments
  • Raise aspirations and broaden career ambitions

For many young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, mobility opportunities can be genuinely life-changing.

Benefits for staff


International exchanges provide valuable professional development through:

  • Job shadowing and peer learning
  • Exposure to innovative teaching practices
  • Sharing expertise with international counterparts
  • Developing leadership capability
  • Building professional networks

Benefits for Providers

International partnerships help colleges and training providers:

  • Strengthen curriculum development
  • Support staff recruitment and retention through enhanced CPD opportunities
  • Build strategic partnerships
  • Increase innovation and organisational learning
  • Enhance institutional reputation

Benefits for Employers

Mobility programmes can support employers by:

  • Developing globally aware workforces
  • Sharing industry best practice
  • Supporting innovation and productivity
  • Creating international business links

FE Success Stories: What international collaboration can achieve

Previous mobility and partnership projects across vocational education have supported:

  • Apprentices undertaking overseas industry placements.
  • Construction, engineering and digital learners gaining experience of new technologies and working practices.
  • Teaching staff participating in job-shadowing and exchange visits.
  • Colleges developing long-term international partnerships that improve curriculum design and learner outcomes.

Engineering Apprentices in Germany

Engineering apprentices participated in overseas placements with employers in Germany, gaining exposure to different technologies, working practices and approaches to problem-solving. The experience helped learners develop technical skills, confidence and cultural awareness while strengthening links between education and industry.

Staff Exchange and Professional Development in Finland

Teaching staff participated in job-shadowing opportunities with colleges in Finland, exploring approaches to learner support, wellbeing and vocational pedagogy. Participants returned with new ideas that informed teaching practice, curriculum design and quality improvement activity.

 

Jean Monnet Actions: Funding opportunities 

Bringing European perspectives into education and training

For organisations looking to expand their international activity, Jean Monnet Actions offer opportunities to explore and share knowledge about Europe through education, training, research and policy dialogue. The programme supports collaborative projects, staff development and innovative teaching approaches that encourage international understanding and exchange.

For the FE and skills sector, Jean Monnet Actions can provide a valuable platform to explore how different countries are responding to common challenges, from workforce development and skills shortages to sustainability, digital transformation and social inclusion. They also offer an opportunity to build lasting partnerships and contribute to conversations shaping the future of education and training across Europe.

Explore Jean Monnet funding opportunities

ETF's Role: Supporting the sector to engage internationally

ETF is committed to helping the FE and skills sector unlock the full potential of international collaboration. Through funding intelligence, networking opportunities, partnership development support and the sharing of effective practice, we help providers build the knowledge, confidence and connections needed to engage successfully in European and international projects. From learner and staff mobility to strategic partnerships and innovation initiatives, we work with organisations of all sizes to broaden horizons, strengthen capability and create lasting impact for learners, educators and communities.

Start your international journey

Successful international partnerships begin long before funding applications open. Now is the ideal time to:

  • Identify potential partners
  • Explore mobility opportunities
  • Develop project ideas
  • Build staff capability
  • Connect with the wider FE and skills community