Connect2018

Connect 2018 is a project designed to bring together learners and educators from Vocational Education and Training Institutions from Malta and Friesland, in the run-up to the European Capital of Culture celebrations for 2018. With Valletta and Leeuwarden having been designated ECoC's 2018, a number of collaborative projects have been planned to bring together four VET institutions: MCAST (Malta College of Art, Science and Technology), Friesland College, ROC Friese Poort and Nordwin College. The main objective of this project is to promote VET education at a local, regional and European level, while instilling in project participants a deeper sense of European citizenship through a growing awareness of cultural diversity. Project outputs are based on four distinct elements: Sustaining Sustainability; Creative Cultures; Traditional Tastes; Entrepreneurial Endeavours - all revolving around contemporary educational, societal and cultural fores. These outputs will materialise in tangible results from the cooperative efforts between students and staff from these four VET institutions. However, the project aims do not intend to come to a close at the end of 2018. On the contrary, the legacy of this project is essential, and hence the participation of Plovdiv and Matera as partners in this project. As they will carry the torch as ECoC's for 2019, these two cities will pave the way for new connections with other VET institutions in Italy and Bulgaria, once again with the aim of broadening this network of collaboration between VET partners. It is hoped that this will be the start of an ever growing web of connections and collaborations for a more attractive and relevant VET education experience, as well as for increased public awareness of VET and its application in the community.