VOCO Strengthens International Partnerships in Graz and Frankfurt
Tartu Vocational College (VOCO) recently participated in two major international events: the Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) Forum 2026 in Graz, Austria, and the leading automotive trade fair Automechanika Frankfurt 2026 in Germany. Both meetings focused on a key challenge in modern education – keeping vocational training aligned with rapid technological progress and changing workplace needs.
In Graz, the VOCO team presented the AutoCoVE 2.0 and H2CoVE projects alongside their international partners. The forum brought together vocational excellence networks, schools, businesses, and regional leaders from across Europe. Discussions centered on how to design studies that offer strong practical experience while teaching the exact skills employers need today and in the coming years.
International events like these give schools a valuable opportunity to explore successful approaches used in other countries. Participants shared real-world experience in teaching methods, curriculum design, and industry cooperation. These proven solutions can then be adapted to fit the specific needs of VOCO, its students, and the local region.
During the second half of the week, VOCO attended Automechanika Frankfurt to showcase the AutoCoVE 2.0 project, reconnect with existing partners, and build new relationships with international business and education leaders. The fair offered a clear view of the latest developments in the automotive sector, where vehicle technology and repair techniques are advancing quickly. To keep pace, schools must maintain strong ties with industry experts to understand which skills are becoming essential and how to build them into practical training.
The meetings in both Graz and Frankfurt reaffirmed that preparing students for the future requires active, continuous cooperation between education and industry. International projects help share knowledge, support professional growth for teachers, and bring modern working methods directly into the classroom. For VOCO, these experiences provide a clear benchmark for success and set the stage for ongoing collaboration with partners across Europe.