On April 9–10, INFODEF hosted the kick-off meeting of the MOBUILDING project in Valladolid, bringing together partners from seven countries for the first in-person meeting of the consortium. The event marked the formal launch of this ambitious initiative, which aims to enhance the mobility of apprentices in the European building sector through innovative tools, strategic partnerships, and policy-driven action.
Prior to the meeting, partners participated in the Castilla y León Skills Forum and visited the Regional VET Skills Championship, gaining valuable insights into regional excellence strategies in vocational education and training.
The meeting was officially opened by Agustín Francisco Sigüenza, General Director for VET at the Regional Government of Castilla y León, who welcomed the consortium and underlined the importance of European collaboration to modernise VET systems and improve apprentices’ employability.
The project coordinator, Jesús Boyano (INFODEF), provided an overview of the project’s objectives and outlined its framework within European Policy Experimentation, emphasising its three guiding dimensions:
- Policy and Advocacy
- Experimentation
- Mainstreaming
During the two-day meeting, all partners presented their institutions, roles and expected contributions. The consortium, composed of nine partners from seven countries, includes VET providers, public authorities, business associations, research centres and policy stakeholders. The meeting also welcomed several associated and guest organisations from North Macedonia and Greece, contributing to the project’s openness and future outreach.
The working sessions covered the structure and objectives of each Work Package, including and each session concluded with action points and deadlines to ensure a smooth and coordinated start to project activities. Key milestones discussed include the launch of the digital platform, the design of the training programme, and the upcoming research on institutional and structural barriers affecting apprenticeship mobility.
The meeting also stressed the importance of visibility, impact, and quality assurance throughout the project’s lifecycle. A dedicated Communication Committee was established to lead outreach efforts, and INFODEF presented the first draft of the visual identity and communication tools.
The Kick-off Meeting set a strong collaborative foundation for the MOBUILDING partnership, reaffirming the consortium’s commitment to building a more inclusive, connected, and future-oriented apprenticeship mobility system in the building sector.
