THEPS Newsletter #24: Euro Children, Children of the World
Hello,
First marked in 1925, after diplomats at the World Conference on Child Welfare realised that children deserved more than polite speeches and vaccines, the day slowly spread across continents. In Europe, it became especially prominent after 1950, when many countries adopted June 1 as a moment to honour children’s rights, well‑being, and the simple joy of childhood. Even if you are not in one of those countries, it’s a wonderful day to share some love with the little ones around you.
This is why we’re sharing THEPS with you. We want a bright present and an even brighter future for the children of Europe and the children of the world, of course.
Get yourselves a glass of water and read this issue:
- Euro-Office
- Centres of Vocational Excellence
- What the Future Holds
Euro-Office
What if Europe had its own productivity suite? Built in Europe, hosted in Europe, governed by European rules? Buh-bye, yankees.
EuroOffice is designed to:
- run entirely on EU‑based servers,
- comply fully with GDPR,
- offer a familiar Office‑style interface,
- integrate with EU digital identity systems,
- reduce reliance on US cloud giants,
- support public administrations, schools, NGOs, and research institutions.
We want digital sovereignty, and this is one of the first big, visible steps toward it. Finally!
Why would this be important for you as someone working at a university, a small NGO, or a VET centre? Well, because
Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, and even Erasmus+ are increasingly pushing for:
- open‑source solutions,
- EU‑based digital infrastructure,
- privacy‑respecting tools,
- alternatives to dominant global platforms.
EuroOffice is a perfect example of the direction the EU wants to go. Also, we all know that the evaluators love to see:
- GDPR‑compliant platforms
- EU‑hosted data
- open‑source tools
- and tools that strengthen the EU-added value.
So, use this: The project will prioritise EU‑based, open‑source productivity tools such as EuroOffice to ensure long‑term sustainability, GDPR compliance, and alignment with EU digital sovereignty goals. Or something in that style. Add your flavour!
But not before 9 June, when the tools will be available for public use. We’ll keep you posted!
Centres of Vocational Excellence (ERASMUS‑EDU‑2026‑PEX‑COVE)
A major opportunity for organisations to shape the future of skills, innovation, and employment in Europe!
The EU has opened a new Erasmus+ call for Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE). It’s one of the programme’s flagship initiatives for transforming how Europe develops skills, supports innovation, and prepares people for quality jobs in a fast‑changing economy.
CoVEs are designed to build high‑quality skills ecosystems that connect education, industry, regional authorities, and innovation actors. The idea is simple but ambitious: bring the right players together, align training with real labour‑market needs, and create long‑term pathways to employment, inclusion, and competitiveness.
The initiative also supports several major EU priorities, including the European Green Deal, the Digital Strategy, the Skills and Talent agenda, and the Industrial and SME Strategies.
The Commission expects CoVEs to operate on two levels:
National level
Build strong local and regional skills ecosystems by bringing together VET providers, employers, innovation actors, and public authorities. These ecosystems should support:
- local innovation
- regional development
- social inclusion
International level
Create cross‑border networks of CoVEs that share expertise, test innovative approaches, and raise the overall quality and relevance of vocational education across Europe.
The call is open to legal entities (public or private) established in:
- EU Member States
- Third countries associated with Erasmus+
You must be active in vocational education and training or in the world of work.
Organisations from non‑associated third countries may join as partners, beneficiaries, or affiliated entities, but cannot coordinate. Attention! Organisations from Belarus are not eligible.
A valid consortium must include:
- At least 8 organisations
- From at least 4 Erasmus+ Programme countries
Each participating country must contribute:
- 1 enterprise / employer / industry or sector organisation, and
- 1 VET provider (secondary or tertiary level)
This ensures a strong link between training and real labour‑market needs.
Project duration & activities
Duration: 48 months
Activities: Applicants must cover all three clusters:
- Cluster 1 – Teaching & Learning: at least 4 activities
- Cluster 2 – Cooperation & Partnership: at least 3 activities
- Cluster 3 – Governance & Funding: at least 2 activities
Maximum EU grant: €4 million per project
Funding model: Single lump sum
EU co‑funding rate: 80%
EACEA sets the final lump sum based on the project’s estimated budget and evaluation results.
Deadline: 3 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Apply here.
What the Future Holds
The Big Survey will be shared soon. In the meantime, call your children and tell them you love them. If you don’t have any, that’s totally fine. Look in the mirror and tell yourself, “I’m a good European citizen. I deserve a good drink.” (We know it's probably 8 in the morning, coffee's a drink...)
Also, we love your feedback!!!
