Bridging education and industry: VET MARKETPLACE launches pilot program for companies and students

VET MARKETPLACE is an Erasmus+ KA220-VET project which establishes an innovative online platform designed to enhance the professional development of Vocational Education and Training (VET) students and align it with industry demands in the fields of web and graphic design. By integrating specialized communication and entrepreneurship courses with real-world industry assignments, the project creates a unique ecosystem where education meets practical application. The project is realized through a strategic partnership among six European organisations: Delta Partner (Poland), IFOA (Italy), Mitropolitiko College (Greece), UC Leuven (Belgium), Europaischer Verband Beruflicher Bildungstrager (EVBB) and BK Consult GmbH (Germany).

An opportunity for companies

For companies across Europe, this is an invitation to tap into a fresh pool of creative talent. By participating as mentors, businesses can obtain high-quality outputs, such as logos, marketing materials, packaging concepts, and social media content, while meeting potential employees and gaining significant visibility within a European network of schools and partners.

The engagement is designed to be efficient and highly structured. Companies interested in participating should follow these few simple steps:

· Select a mentor who will provide guidance during three key milestones: the take-in, a follow-up session, and the final closing

· Complete an initial questionnaire

· Define a small practical task based on their current business needs

Empowering the next generation of designers

The program targets students enrolled in web development or graphic design studies (at least in their 2nd semester), who gain access to online training in essential soft skills like entrepreneurship and professional communication. Participants then browse the platform to choose an assignment that matches their interests, working directly with a company mentor to solve a real design challenge. Upon successful completion, students are awarded an Open Badge, a digital credential that validates their technical proficiency and their ability to collaborate effectively with industry professionals.

Assignments may include practical tasks in areas such as:

· Logo design

· Social media content

· Marketing materials

· Packaging concepts

· Visual communication materials

· Simple website content or web-related design/development tasks

Get involved

This collaboration model shapes the skills truly required by today’s employers while offering companies a "sneak peek" at future employees. Interested companies and students can register on the VET Marketplace platform or contact the team at monari@ifoa.it for more information.