An Interconnected Ecosystem for
Advanced Welding,Joining & NDT
COVE-EXSEE strengthens vocational excellence across South-East Europe by building on existing cooperation among Centres of Vocational Excellence and supporting innovation, collaboration and skills development for future workforce needs.
Building on a Proven Network of CoVEs
COVE-EXSEE stems from the strategic need to strengthen and expand vocational excellence in the South-East European region. Building on the ongoing collaboration of ISIM Timișoara and its partners, already actively involved in at least three Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) projects, the initiative leverages those experiences, results and networks to foster a more robust, supportive and synergistic environment for VET excellence.
Regional Need: Responding directly to the priorities of the Erasmus+ Forward-Looking Projects call for vocational excellence, innovation and systemic impact.
Shared Experience: Leveraging the results and networks of existing CoVE projects coordinated by ISIM Timișoara and partners.
Four
Core Objectives
By addressing these four objectives, COVE-EXSEE contributes directly to the priorities of the Erasmus+ Forward-Looking Projects call, promoting vocational excellence, innovation and systemic impact at both policy and practice levels across South-East Europe.
1. Strengthen Collaboration Among Existing CoVEs:
Establish a formal
network of at least three ongoing CoVE projects to facilitate peer learning, exchange
of best practices, and collective problem-solving.
2. Enhance Innovation & Transferability:
Adapt and pilot at least
three best-practice models - training modules, digital tools or stakeholder-engagement
strategies - from existing CoVE projects in new VET provider contexts across the SEE
region.
3. Develop Supportive Governance & Policy Frameworks:
Engage
national and regional authorities and stakeholders in designing policy recommendations,
frameworks and incentive mechanisms that support CoVE sustainability beyond EU funding.
4. Foster Sustainable Capacity-Building & Dissemination:
Provide capacity-building for VET professionals and raise awareness of CoVE outcomes through
conferences, policy roundtables and strategic online visibility campaigns.
Expected Impact
COVE-EXSEE tracks its impact across three horizons, from early stakeholder engagement to long-term regional convergence in vocational excellence.
A 36-Month
Coordinated Programme
COVE-EXSEE is implemented through a coordinated 36-month programme bringing together VET providers, research organisations, industry representatives, public authorities and European networks - developing, testing and deploying the COVE-WENDT, AILEEN and WELDNET support structures.
Mapping & Diagnosis:
Mapping existing initiatives, collecting regional baseline data, and consulting learners, trainers, companies and policymakers to identify skills needs and functional requirements.
Development & Deployment:
Developing, testing and progressively deploying the COVE-WENDT, AILEEN and WELDNET support structures, accompanied by training, quality assurance and stakeholder engagement.
Transnational Cooperation:
Regional pilot actions and continuous monitoring ensure results stay practical, adaptable and aligned with labour-market needs and European VET priorities.
COVE-EXSEE introduces a forward-looking, integrated approach to excellence in welding ,advanced manufacturing and NDT education by connecting skills development, digital solutions, industry cooperation and regional innovation ecosystems. Rather than creating isolated training products, the project combines the complementary COVE-WENDT, AILEEN and WELDNET outputs within a shared European cooperation framework that supports learners, trainers, VET organisations and companies.
“Evidence-based programme design, cross-border knowledge exchange, and adaptable tools that respond to technological change and evolving skills requirements.”