As part of the NEB VET Label Project and its ongoing commitment to innovation in Vocational Education and Training (VET), a Co-Design Event was held on May 8, 2025, in Foligno, Italy. Hosted by project partner EGINA as part of the larger Crea Cultura festival, the event brought together project partners and representatives from VET centers, including participants from the Netherlands and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This collaborative session provided a vital platform for educators and partners to offer feedback, share insights, and co-create solutions aligned with the principles and values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). The focus was particularly on the development of the digital tool, one of the key outcomes of WP 3, ensuring it is practical, user-centered, and responsive to the evolving needs of VET professionals across Europe.
Why a Co-Design Event?
The purpose of this event was to ensure that the digital tool the consortium of the Neb-Vet Label project is developing is truly user-centered, meeting the real needs of VET educators and professionals. Involving key stakeholders early in the process allows the consortium to create a solution that is not only functional but also intuitive, engaging, and relevant to its users.
Methodology: The NEB-VET World Café
A central highlight of the event was the application of the NEB-VET World Café, a participatory method applied to foster open dialogue and diverse exchange of ideas.
Participants were divided into two groups, each seated at a dedicated table for focused discussions:
- Table 1: Moderated by ODYSSEA, this session presented the first version of the digital tool. VET school representatives provided reflections and suggestions aimed at improving the tool’s design and usability.
- Table 2: Facilitated by HVL, this group explored how NEB principles and values can be better integrated into VET practices.
There was one round of rotation, each group spent 30 minutes at their initial table, then switched roles, allowing all participants to contribute to both topics. This dynamic format promoted creative thinking and cross-pollination of ideas, ensuring that a wide range of perspectives were captured. The insights gathered during the Co-Design Event will directly inform the next phases of development for the digital tool of the NEB VET Label Project.
Purpose of the Digital Tool
The Digital Toolsare central components of the NEB VET Label Project’s effort to make the NEB values and principles more accessible and actionable in vocational training. These user-friendly online tools are designed to:
- Facilitate the implementation of the NEB VET assessment framework developed during the WP2.
- Provide a self-assessment tool to help VET institutions acquire the NEB VET Label.
- Guide VET providers through a personalized path to align their practices with the NEB ideals of sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics.
The digital tools will not only support VET institutions in improving their practices but will also help them join the NEB VET network, becoming ambassadors for NEB in their communities. The tool also promotes open dialogue between VET centers and the broader NEB community, fostering an inclusive, forward-looking learning environment that reflects the goals of the European Union’s New European Bauhaus initiative.
What’s Next?
With valuable input collected during the Co-Design Event, the technical team at ODYSSEA will now incorporate the feedback into the next version of the digital tools.
