Funding is provided for measures designed to help training personnel provide high-quality sustainability-oriented training. It includes the following areas of activity:

• Strengthening skills in the area of vocational education and training for sustainable development (Berufsbildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung – BBNE) among training personnel
• Developing, expanding and establishing courses for training personnel in continuing education institutions
• Creating framework conditions conducive to vocational education and training for sustainable development

The focus is on the spread and advancement of successful approaches and concepts.

New project ideas will not be funded. Pure research projects will also not be funded.

Funding will be provided primarily for measures specific to particular industries and professions. The projects can address dual training occupations under the Vocational Training Act and the Crafts Code, as well as occupations in the health and social services sectors and in the public sector. Funding applications that create opportunities for new or reorganized occupations, as well as those that contribute to the energy, agricultural, construction, or transportation transformation, are especially encouraged.

Funding will be provided for collaborative and individual projects that contribute to the broad implementation of sustainability-oriented vocational training in companies as well as external and cross-company training centers. A prerequisite for funding is that the projects contribute to strengthening the skills of the training personnel.

Eligible to apply are

• legal entities under public law and
• legal entities or associations of individuals under private law

who are active in the field of vocational training, such as chambers, guilds, associations, educational institutions, providers of cross-company vocational training centers, business development agencies, municipalities, universities, research institutions, companies that provide training and companies that are capable of providing training, and similar institutions.

It is not mandatory to apply as a consortium, applicants can also apply individually.

• Contribution of the project to the strengthening of the skills of the training personnel (orientation towards a comprehensive understanding of vocational education and training for sustainable development (incl. didactic aspects, learning location design)
• Consideration of existing concepts of vocational education and training for sustainable development in profession/industry/region
• Involvement of suitable institutions
• Concept for permanent establishment
• Active consideration of the cross-cutting principles of the ESF

The grant is provided as partial funding of a project grant.

The grant is provided as partial funding of a project grant.

The eligible costs and expenses must be between 200,000 EUR and 1,500,000 EUR per applicant. The grant is provided as partial funding up to 100 %.

For grants to companies in the commercial sector and for projects of research institutions that constitute economic activities, the funding rate and, as a result, the amount of aid is based on the general block exemption regulation (GBER) as follows:

• Art. 29 GBER Aid for process and organizational innovation
  • 15 % (large enterprises)
  • 50 % (SMEs)
• Art. 31 GBER Training aid
  • 50 % (large undertakings)
  • 60 % (medium sized enterprises)
  • 70 % (small enterprises)

The grant is provided as partial funding.

Grants for projects at universities, research and science institutions and comparable institutions that do not constitute economic activities are not subject to the GBER.

In this case, the funding rate is up to 100 % (full funding, if applicable).

Expenses and costs must be directly related to the funded project. This applies in particular to:

• Personnel costs of the staff employed in the project
• Non-wage personnel costs (if no lump-sum settlement)
• Operating expenses incurred exclusively as a result of the additional expenses incurred for the project
• Fees for project-related activities
• Expenses for project-related travel expenses

There is a two-stage application process. In the first stage, a project outline must be submitted by April 17^th, 2023 using easy-Online, which for TU Dresden is done via the EPC. Following a positive expert review, the submission of a funding application is recommended.

The earliest expected start of the approved projects is the fourth quarter of 2023.

Website Federal Institute for Vocational Education

Directive (Federal Ministry of Education and Research)

Program page of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research