Objective of the EU-Education-Programmes is to qualify young people for a Europe growing closer by means of vocational training and the learning of foreign languages.

The National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) is the national office in charge of the EU-Programmes in the field of vocational education. The programmes' main target groups are:

young people in their first vocational training,

young employees who have completed their vocational training (special trainee courses),

employed persons (further vocational training) and

vocational instructors (lecturers, teaching staff in the field of vocational education).

The EU-Programme for Lifelong Learning supports the EU-wide exchange of persons during vocational training, of vocational instructors as well as lecturers of all ages.

LEONARDO DA VINCI is the EU sectoral-programme on vocational education and continued vocational education. The programme addresses itself to young people doing their first vocational education and young employees. The following activities are eligible for funding:

Mobility certificate

Preparatory visits

Initial vocational training

People in the labour market

Professionals in vocational education and training

Partnerships

Transfer of innovation

Development of innovation

Thematic networks

Accompanying measures

For further information on application modalities please consult the website Leonardo da Vinci - How to participate? or directly contact the National Agency of your home country.

Individual learning visits abroad for continued vocational training are eligible for funding in line with the so-called Pool-Projects. The Pool-Projects address themselves likewise to apprentices, trainees and young vocational entrants.

The EU-Programmes GRUNDTVIG and Study Visits for Experts of Vocational Education (Website in German) address themselves to this target group. The programmes' objectives are to encourage flexibility in vocational training schemes, and to attract trainees and young professionals for further training abroad.

GRUNDTVIG is the EU-Programme in the field of adult education. The Programme addresses itself to public and non-public education institutions and organisations of the EU-Member States as well as to individuals. Older people as well as adults who have broken off their vocational education without attaining a basic qualification count among the programme’s main target groups.

GRUNDTVIG comprises nine sorts of activities that are designed to enhance the quality of educational offers and to meet new educational challenges emerging from demographic developments in many European societies:

preparatory visits,

visits and exchanges,

assistantships,

in-service-training for adult education staff,

workshops,

learning partnerships,

multilateral projects,

networks,

accompanying measures.

Qualified for application are employees of public and non-public institutions in the field of adult education as teaching staff, multipliers, academics and professionals of adult education and youth work.

The office in charge of the implementation of the GRUNDTVIG-Programme in Germany is the National Agency Education for Europe at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training.

The study visits programme CEDEFOP supports stays of three to five days in a host country for a group of 10 to 15 European education and vocational training specialists and decision-makers in the field of education policy. The programme addresses itself to stakeholders who want to examine a particular aspect of lifelong learning in another participating country. A study visit usually includes presentations and on location visits to educational and training institutions, ministries and training sites.

The Pedagogical Exchange Service (PAD) is the National Agency in charge of the programme and thus the institution responsible for applications in Germany.

For further information please also consult the CEDEFOP homepage.