The pilot project from the Erasmus + Platform of Vocational Excellence WATER (PoVE WATER) is a transnational project drawing on the existing and emerging needs for professional competences, skills in the water sector and translating them into excellent professional quality. This ensures the upward convergence of vocational education and training with the knowledge triangles (EU) and strong involvement in regional economic and social ecosystems. The aim of the project is to create the infrastructure necessary for the integration of professional excellence into the water management sector in Europe, and thus lay the foundations for the development of professional curricula and subsequently the development of student competencies.

The project involves partners from the Netherlands, Great Britain, Latvia, Malta and the Czech Republic
The CREA Hydro & Energy cluster together with Mendel University in Brno are one of the project partners for the Czech Republic.

The main goals of the project include:

• providing vocational training at the forefront of research and technological development in the water sector
• Ensuring working access, knowledge and skills for current and future professionals in the water sector
• identification of current and emerging labor market needs and increased ability to respond to these needs from the outset
• promoting synergies, cooperation and mutual enrichment

The main outputs of the project are:

• Vocational Excellence Scanning tools, used to identify existing systems of professional quality of participating organizations and to prepare the process of knowledge sharing
• 5 centers of excellence for water, acting as regional “skills ecosystems”
• a platform for professional excellence in water, bringing a European dimension to water management
• strategies for growing and improving the PoVE WATER platform and creating a critical mass and sustainable basis for further development

Project partners:

1.      Friesland college Stichting voor Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs, Netherlands

2.      Stichting Platform Beta en Techniek, Netherlands

3.      VITENS NV, Netherlands

4.      Learning Hub Friesland, foundation, Netherlands

5.      Glasgow Clyde College, United Kingdom

6.      Mechanics and Technology College of Olaine (OMTK), Latvia

7.      Riga Technical University, Latvia

8.      MCAST, Malta

9.      Water Services Corporation, Malta

10.  CREA Hydro & Energy ZS, Czech Republic

11.  Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic

12.  EfVET, Belgium