ALLVIEW concludes: Four years of advancements for the wood & furniture sector and Vocational Education in Europe

After four years of dedicated work, the ALLVIEW project has reached its conclusion, making significant contributions to the European wood and furniture industry and bringing excellence and innovation in Vocational Education and Training (VET). CETEM, as coordinator of this project, has collaborated with 21 partners from eight countries to tackle the pressing challenges faced by the industry, including a shortage of skilled labor and the need for sustainable practices.  

Addressing challenges with a strategic approach 

ALLVIEW’s journey began with an in-depth analysis of the wood and furniture industry’s main challenges. By bridging perspectives from VET providers, industry stakeholders, public administration and higher education institutions, the project assumed a comprehensive approach. Universities contributed crucial technological innovations, which were further complemented by VET initiatives and mobility programs designed to equip individuals with relevant skills. Events and regional stakeholders’ groups fostered a holistic vision, ensuring that outcomes were sustainable and scalable across the EU while addressing the needs of target groups.  

Key results of ALLVIEW 

Digital job-matching platform: The all-in-one platform that connects people and enterprises from the European wood and furniture Industry using the language of ESCO, the multilingual classification of European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations. Explore the platform: https://platform.allview.eu/ 

E-learning platform: Offering courses on Circular Economy, Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) like 3D printing and Extended Reality (XR), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) resources, this platform provides tailored training to students, teachers and industry professionals to solve skills gaps. Access the platform: https://allview.learning-platform.eu/ 

Pathway to Higher Education Guide: A valuable resource that facilitates the transition from vocational training programs to specialized and higher education pathways. Find it here: https://website.infoproject.eu/?sdm_process_download=1&download_id=3926 

The project also launched an initiative to map the European wood education community, aiming to create connections with the New European Bauhaus Academy Alliance. These alliances will foster ongoing synergies that align with the European skills agenda. https://allview.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/D.2.7-Mapping-the-European-wood-education-community.pdf 

33 international study weeks: A total of 67 teachers and 63 students participated in 33 study weeks in Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Slovenia, Poland or Holland focused on skill enhancement and knowledge exchange. You can hear about their experiences and learning directly from their words: https://www.youtube.com/@allviewerasmusplusplatform/videos 

EDUWOOD, a digital community on LinkedIn: With 273 registered members and nearly 10,000 active participants, this LinkedIn page has become a hub for networking and knowledge-sharing among different stakeholders in the industry. You can still join this group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7439326/ 

As a testimony to the collaboration achieved, ALLVIEW’s partners formalized their commitment through Memorandums of Understanding with external stakeholders. Moreover, the ALLVIEW Blueprint Strategy has been prepared for providing a detailed and structured plan or framework for “building” better and more labour market-oriented VET systems in the Wood & Furniture sector: https://allview.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/D6.6-v3.1-Comprehensive-EU-Guide-Rev-EXECUTIVE.pdf 

Fostering recognition and innovation: Through a collaboration with VET authorities and policymakers, ALLVIEW established frameworks to ensure the official recognition and validation of new curricula. This effort led to three courses being validated and recognized in Spain and one the Netherlands, with additional countries in the process of recognition.

EU VET policy application guide: ALLVIEW developed a guide that outlines best practices and useful instruments for implementing EU VET policies in the wood and furniture sector such as European Qualification Framework (EQF), European Credit system for Vocational Education and Training (EVET), European Credit System (ECTS), micro credentials, etc. More information here: https://allview.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ALLVIEW_D8.4_Guide_EU_policies_V2.0_FV.pdf 

Summing up, the ALLVIEW project’s completion marks a significant milestone for the wood and furniture sector, as well as for VET across Europe. The resources, platforms, and networks developed through ALLVIEW will continue to drive innovation, ensuring that the workforce of tomorrow is equipped to meet evolving challenges.