BackgroundIn all participating regions, connection with (Higher Education) universities and research centres are made with the intention to create solid and sustainable partnerships. All partners work on strengthening Vocational education in the Water sector in their region. Due to the nature of this project, the work in all work packages required input from the water related labour market.ObjectivesAfter a year of cooperating in the project, this core-objective of our PoVE Water project is already being met. Not only have we been working intensively together on EU level (in dept knowledge sharing sessions and monthly meetings), all partners made steps towards vocational excellence by connecting to regional water sector innovation ecosystems. On regional level, strong links are made with the industry and other stakeholders.ImplementationWe recognize to a full extend that the high-level ambitions we have with our (pilot) PoVE Water (project) is reliant on synergies, cooperation and cross-fertilisation. We also know that this can only be obtained when partnerships are created that are long-term, based on trust & mutual understanding. Partners have to recognize the common goal they pursue in order to align activities and strengthen each other.ResultsThe project activities and results are in coherence with the aims of the Sector Skills Alliances as it focusses on tackling skills gaps, by identifying sector specific labour market needs and demand for new skills with regard to one or more occupational profiles (demand side). At the same time, by involving VET in triple helix innovation ecosystems, the responsiveness of initial and continuing VET systems in enhanced. These are core aims of Sector Skills Alliance projects.

Water is life. It is a precondition for human, animal, and plant life as well as an indispensable resource for the economy and fundamental in climate regulation.PoVE Water Scale-up is a joint initiative of 8 VET schools, 7 Water industry professionals, 4 academic partners and 3 support partners in Europe (NL,DE,MT,CZ,LV,EE,BE) and beyond (SA) to educate our VET students to become agile, digitally skilled and sustainable oriented water sector professionals that our future desperately needs.The aim of the project is to integrate Vocational Excellence in the Water sector, thus ensuring high quality skills and competences that lead to quality jobs and careers, meeting the needs of an innovative, inclusive and sustainable economy.Objectives and activities are:• Expand the holistic approach to Vocational Excellence in the EU Water sector by securing a central role of VET in the regional Innovation Ecosystems and further developing strong and enduring relationships between VET, research & the water industry.• To expand PoVE Water geographically in a sustainable way (environmentally and economically) in line with the EU Green deal by setting up and interlinking CoVE Water networks that operate on interregional level.• Drive innovation in water related VET on a regional and EU level by developing contemporary (Digital, VR) learning materials.• Ensure that current and future water sector professionals have the key skills & competences demanded by developing blended training programmes.• Increasing student’s, teacher’s and professional’s competence for international mobilities by organising international mobilities as common practise in Water related VET.• Building EU and global recognition for PoVE Water as a worldwide point of reference for VET in the water sector.• Future proof the workforce for the Water sector and avoid a brain- & skillsdrain by securing current and increasing future students in water related studies.