EVBB

The European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) is the European umbrella organisation for non-profit providers of vocational education and training (VET).

Its main objective is to improve the quality of vocational education and training in Europe and beyond and to increase efforts to promote VET as a first choice. The EVBB has over 65 members from both the private and public sectors and covers all areas of basic, intermediate and higher vocational education and training.

According to its statutes, the duty of the EVBB is to promote equal access for young people and adults in the following areas: to provide advanced education in terms of social, economic and socio-political issues, taking particular account of European policies and policies towards the developing world based on a liberal and socially binding economic and social order; to promote technical, vocational or industrial qualifications, continuing education and advanced training, as well as retraining.

In addition, EVBB promotes scientific education, providing education with regard to personal or family issues, promoting qualification, continuing education and advanced training in the fields of geriatric care, work with the disabled and nursing services, development of the media and their use, all from an environmentally sustainable point of view.

All these objectives are binding for the members of the EVBB, its executive committee and its general secretariat, the EVBB quality committee and the annual international conferences held with its members. In addition, the EVBB has set itself the following tasks:

• - To adopt a common position on fundamental issues in the field of vocational training and to promote the advancement of these positions at European level.
• - To represent the common interests of its members and the European institutes towards the general public, before national and supranational authorities, the European Parliament, the European Commission, European and national institutes.
• - To promote cooperation between its members and to encourage the creation of networks between them, organising vocational training in the Member States and at European level.
• - To establish quality criteria for work in vocational education to which all members are obliged.
• - To organise conferences at national and international level at which future prospects for vocational education and training are elaborated and developed. At these events, positions and views of the group are presented, as well as examples of successful projects and good practice.
• - To design and implement workshops, courses and seminars within the framework of the EVBB's own and its members' European projects.
• - Along with the Adalbert Kitsche Foundation, the EVBB awards at its annual conference the "DIE EUROPA" Prize for innovative projects promoting disadvantaged young people

Some of the key activities that have been addressed in the EVBB projects are:

• - Quality assurance in vocational education and training
• - Promotion of practical guidance in vocational education and training
• - Integration of young people into society
• - Initiatives against long-term unemployment
• - Initiatives against youth unemployment
• - Networks, cooperation and European projects.