Fundación Laboral de la Construcción participates in two new European initiatives, in which it will work over the coming years: 'INSIDE CoVE' and 'rePOWER Regions'. Both are co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme.

The first meetings of both projects took place in March and included the participation of technicians from the sector’s bipartite body.

The launch meeting of 'INSIDE CoVE' was held in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 10 and 11 March, where the importance of improving training related to sustainable and innovative digitalisation in construction was discussed. The aim of the 'INSIDE CoVE' project is to improve construction training through Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) aligned with European policies. This initiative, coordinated by the Building Systems Innovation Centre of Greece, involves 26 entities from six European countries who will work over the next four years to create an international network for digital, sustainable, and innovative excellence in construction VET.

Meanwhile, the launch meeting of ‘rePOWER Regions’ took place between 19 and 21 March in Kildare, Ireland, where the numerous opportunities offered by the project to boost clean energy in the sector were highlighted.

‘rePOWER Regions’ is coordinated by Kildare County Council in Ireland, and has a consortium formed by 12 European organisations, including Fundación Laboral de la Construcción. Through this project, they will work together over three years to accelerate the introduction of decarbonised heating and cooling solutions. The partners will develop a training programme and resources to close the skills gap, providing workers with green and digital competences essential to support the decarbonisation of the European construction sector.

These two projects are added to two other new Erasmus+ initiatives in which Fundación Laboral also participates and which started recently: ‘European Ediltrophy’ and ‘ET4Digital’. The first of these began last January with the aim of developing training for dry construction systems, through an active learning methodology based on practical training. This project will involve partners from four European countries, who will work collaboratively over two years.

On the other hand, ‘ET4Digital’ held its first online meeting at the beginning of December 2024, where nine organisations from seven European countries met to work together for two years on training teaching staff in digital innovation in the construction ecosystem.

Besides these new projects, Fundación Laboral de la Construcción is currently working on six other Erasmus+ initiatives:

• ‘Construction Blueprint 2’ seeks to improve training and qualifications in the construction sector to face the challenges of the digital and green transitions in Europe.
• ‘Women Can Build LatAm’ for training and empowerment of women in the construction sector in Latin America and Europe.
• ‘CONCRETO’, which develops a training programme for vocational and higher education students for the ecological rehabilitation of European architectural heritage in concrete.
• ‘Habitable CoVE’, which promotes the habitat ecosystem in Castilla y León through international collaboration networks and centres of excellence, developing tools, studies, monitoring systems, among others, for the green and digital transition of construction.
• ‘Welcome Work’, which seeks the labour inclusion of refugees within the construction sector.
• ‘XR Energy’, which develops Extended Reality training resources for use in energy transition training.

European participation of Fundación Laboral

Fundación Laboral de la Construcción continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving vocational training in the construction sector, aligning with European objectives to promote the digital and green transitions. Thanks to its participation in projects such as those mentioned, the sector is expected to advance significantly in the training and qualification of its workforce, enabling it to address the shortage of qualified professionals and face the challenges arising from the digital and green transitions.

Moreover, the experience of the bipartite entity in coordinating and participating in projects co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme has driven important advances in the sector. Not only have new competences been promoted to meet current challenges, but the attraction of young talent, inclusion, and equality within the construction sector have also been encouraged.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.