First EDU5WB Project Meeting organised in Zagreb

Craft College has organised the first meeting of the Erasmus+ project EDU5WB – Empowering VET Education at Level 5 in the Western Balkans, which took place in Zagreb on 11–12 March 2026. The meeting brought together project partners from Croatia, Italy, the Netherlands, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania.

EDU5WB is an Erasmus+ Capacity Building in VET project coordinated by Craft College. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the development of high-quality and attractive vocational education and training (VET) systems in the Western Balkan countries – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania. A particular focus of the project is on strengthening the understanding and implementation of Level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), with a practical emphasis on the tourism sector and its green and digital transition.

During the meeting, partners presented overviews of the education systems in their respective countries, with special attention given to the current presence and development of EQF Level 5 within national education systems and educational offers. Representatives of the Chain5 network also provided a short overview of how EQF Level 5 is implemented in other EU countries, highlighting examples of good practice.

The second part of the meeting focused on planning the next steps of the project. Particular attention was given to the organisation of focus groups that will be conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania. The aim of these focus groups is to gather insights into the needs and perspectives of VET experts and employers, in order to better understand the opportunities and challenges related to the development and implementation of EQF Level 5 in these countries.

The EDU5WB project focuses both on strengthening the capacities of VET teachers and experts and on developing project results that will support the introduction of EQF Level 5 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its further development in Montenegro and Albania. The process is supported by experience and good practices from Croatia and Italy, as well as by the expertise and experience of the Chain5 network.

In addition to the Crafts Institution as the project coordinator, the project partners include IFOA (Italy) and Chain5 (Netherlands) from the EU. Partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina are the University of Banja Luka and the Foreign Trade Chamber of Bosnia and Herzegovina; from Montenegro the Centre for Vocational Education and the Secondary School of Economics and Hospitality Bar; and from Albania the Barleti University.