CONTEXT/BACKGROUND A conclusion of the EQAVET Secretariat report on 2013 is that there seems to be room for improvement in supporting VET providers: a) identify areas for improvement to quality assurance and implement quality assurance systems in line with the EQAVET Recommendation; and b) introduce or develop self-evaluation systems. Quality is a requirement to generate confidence in the qualifications. In order to establish and implement quality systems in the area of sustainable development, under the EQAVET framework, VET providers need to have an updated and innovative framework and practice set consisting in detailed documentation like: guides, self-diagnostic tools, good practices, strategies for implementation, etc. Also they need to determine the Return of Investment in VET programs, which means efficiency of the program as a quality indicator of the VET provider. OBJECTIVES • to conduct a comparative analysis between QUALECO model and EQAVET reference framework; • to develop the innovative EQVET-US framework and practice set under the EQAVET framework; • to develop the innovative four levels extensive evaluation model for scalable Eco skills and sustainable training evaluation of trainees participating in VET programs as a tool to assess and validate the Return of Investment in VET programs; • to implement EQVET-US products in partner organisations; • to train: (i) partners in QUALECO methodology; (ii) VET providers in the new developed EQVET-US framework, practice set and evaluation methodology in each partner country; • National and European dissemination on EQVET-US products. PARTNERSHIP The EQAET-US project consortium includes UPM (RO) plus 6 VET partners, ISQ (PT), BEST (AT), CET (RO), EVBB (DE), ECQ (BG) and IDEProjet (FR), all of whom have worked on previous European projects. Each partner has specific expertise in Quality Assurance and VET systems areas and strategic networks. Moreover, under this partnership, EVBB as an influential European network will actively involve own members from 22 EU countries. ACTIVITIES EQVET-US project is scheduled to run for 36 months, with the the following groups of activities: - Comparative Analysis: EQAVET vs. QUALECO; - Mediation Capacity Building on QUALECO; - Development of the EQVET-US framework and practice set; - Development of EQVET-US recommendation guide for framework and practice set; - Development of the methodology for scalable Eco skills and sustainable training evaluation; - Development of the EQVET-US recommendation guide for scalable Eco skills and sustainable training evaluation ; - EQVET-US framework and practice set implementation, testing and dissemination; - EQVET-US methodology for scalable Eco skills and sustainable training evaluation implementation, testing and dissemination - Project management and implementation comprising quality assurance and evaluation, exploitation and sustainability, marketing and dissemination. METHODOLOGY The definition of each activity group has been designed to ensure a balanced distribution between the objectives and activities of the project and to guarantee that each partner would be leading at least one group of activity. All activities have one lead partner and each partner will lead or participate at least one activity. All partners will participate actively in all activities, intellectual outputs and responsibilities of all activities have been agreed with all partners prior to submission of this bid. RESULTS Main results developed under the project EQVET-US are: • Report on comparative analysis between EQAVET and QUALECO models; • Strategy, working methodology and action plan for capacity building; • EQVET-US framework, practice set and recommendation guide on sustainable development; • EQVET-US methodology and recommendation guide for scalable Eco skills and sustainable training evaluation; • EQVET-US recommendation guide to boost the transferability; • Several marketing/dissemination and exploitation/valorisation initiatives and outcomes. IMPACT ENVISAGED Main criteria for EQVET-US project are: • VET providers in the capacity building session and cascade pilot (target: 264); • Number of implemented EQVET-US frameworks and practice set (target: 31); • Number of employments of EQVET-US methodology for scalable Eco skills and sustainable training in VET courses delivery (target: 59); • Stakeholders involved in dissemination (target: 3500); • VET providers, decision makers and policy makers involved in final event (target: 110). POTENTIAL LONGER TERM BENEFITS Other VET providers from partners’ organisations networks can be future multiplier of EQVET-US framework and practice set through the establishment of cooperation protocols with EQVET-US partners. We envisaged the following indirect impact, during and after the end of the EQVET-US project: VET providers benefiting from project outcomes (target: 3000).