Health and Care - Pan-European Partner-Finding Webinar - VET

This pan-European partner-finding webinar will bring together UK vocational education and training (VET) organisations and European counterparts to explore opportunities for collaboration across the health and care sectors. The event will support the development of a skilled, compassionate and resilient workforce, aligned with the UK Industrial Strategy and the growing demand for high-quality health, social care and community-based services.

The health and care sectors are undergoing significant transformation, driven by demographic change, workforce shortages, advances in technology, changing models of care and the increasing need to support healthy ageing and independent living. High-quality vocational education and training is essential to preparing learners, apprentices and the existing workforce for these changing demands and ensuring they have the practical, digital and interpersonal skills required by modern health and care services.

The webinar will provide a platform for UK colleges, training providers, awarding bodies, health and care organisations, sector skills organisations and other stakeholders to connect with potential European partners, share expertise and identify opportunities for transnational cooperation.

Key themes may include health and social care, nursing and healthcare support, adult and community care, childcare and early years, mental health and wellbeing, healthy ageing, disability support, digital health and care technologies, assistive technology and person-centred care. Other areas may include care workforce development, apprenticeships, work-based learning, employer engagement, safeguarding, inclusion, innovative teaching approaches and the development of practical and digital skills.

With the UK set to join the Erasmus+ programme in January 2027, the webinar offers an opportunity to establish European partnerships, explore learner and staff mobility, and develop collaborative education and training projects. Participants will be encouraged to identify shared priorities and prepare for relevant KA1 mobility and KA2 cooperation opportunities and application deadlines in 2027.

Partner Matchmaking: How to Prepare

We will facilitate partner matchmaking through breakout rooms and Padlet. Please come prepared to share the following information:

• Organisation profile: A brief introduction to your organisation, key contact details and a link to your website.
• Project interests: Are you interested in a KA1 learner or staff mobility project, or a KA2 cooperation partnership?
• Sector specialisms: Which areas are you interested in exploring? For example, health and social care, nursing, healthcare support, adult care, childcare, mental health, disability support, healthy ageing, digital health, assistive technologies or community care.
• Partnership opportunities: What expertise, facilities, training programmes, employer or healthcare links, and project ideas could your organisation contribute to a European partnership?

The webinar aims to build lasting UK-European partnerships that connect vocational education and training with health and care workforce priorities, support future Erasmus+ opportunities and contribute to a skilled, inclusive, compassionate and resilient health and care workforce.