An EU Erasmus+ project fostering synergies in Vocational Education and Training across Europe
3
Partner countries
1,200+
Member companies
28,000
Employees reached
4
Key objectives
Our Mission & Objectives
Synergies4VET — Bridging the Gaps is an EU-funded Erasmus+ project that brings together three partners from Germany, Italy and Greece. Our mission is to strengthen vocational education and training (VET) in the hospitality sector by fostering cross-border collaboration, sharing best practices, and developing innovative training approaches.
The project addresses the growing skills gap in the European hospitality industry by creating synergies between VET providers, industry stakeholders and learners. Through joint development of curricula, teacher exchanges and e-learning resources, we aim to improve the quality and relevance of VET programmes across partner countries.
Establish sustainable partnerships between VET institutions in DE, IT and GR for joint programme development and teacher mobility.
Develop and deploy an open e-learning platform with multilingual courses on food waste reduction, climate-smart cooking and digital hotel management.
Bridge the gap between industry needs and VET curricula through regular stakeholder consultations and competence-framework mapping.
Integrate sustainability and green skills into VET programmes to prepare learners for the ecological transition in tourism and hospitality.
2023–2027
Centre of Vocational Excellence in Tourism — a pan-European network advancing VET quality in tourism and hospitality.
Visit project2018–2022
Training, education and communication to reduce food waste in the hospitality sector.
2022–2026
Empowering chefs and food professionals to adopt climate-smart practices throughout the food value chain.
Our European Consortium
The Synergies4VET consortium brings together three experienced organisations from Germany, Italy and Greece, each contributing unique expertise in vocational education and the hospitality sector.
DEHOGA Brandenburg is the leading association for the hotel and restaurant industry in the German federal state of Brandenburg. With decades of experience in vocational training, workforce development and industry representation, DEHOGA Brandenburg serves as the coordinating partner for Synergies4VET.
The association operates training centres, runs apprenticeship programmes and advises hospitality businesses on quality standards and professional development.
Responsibilities
ENAIP Veneto is one of Italy's leading vocational education and training providers, with a strong focus on the hospitality and food service sectors. Based in the Veneto region, ENAIP operates multiple training centres and has extensive experience in EU-funded projects related to sustainability, food waste reduction and digital skills.
Responsibilities
GICC Thessaloniki is a renowned culinary arts and hospitality training centre in northern Greece. Specialising in professional chef training, food & beverage management and gastronomy tourism, GICC brings deep expertise in practical hospitality education and a strong network of industry contacts in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Responsibilities
Digital Training Courses
Our e-learning platform offers free, multilingual courses developed by experts from across our partnership. Designed for VET trainers and learners in the hospitality sector, these courses combine theoretical knowledge with practical application.
This course equips VET trainers and hospitality professionals with strategies and practical tools to significantly reduce food waste across all stages of food preparation and service. Developed by ENAIP Veneto based on LIFE FOSTER research.
Learn how to integrate climate-smart practices into professional cooking, from sourcing to plating. This course covers energy-efficient cooking methods, seasonal menu planning and carbon footprint awareness for the hospitality sector.
A comprehensive introduction to digital tools and systems for modern hotel management. From property management systems to online distribution and guest experience technology — designed for VET learners entering the hospitality industry.
Explore all courses on our e-learning platform
Visit E-Learning PlatformLatest Updates
Stay informed about project milestones, upcoming events, publications and partner activities.
The consortium met in Potsdam for the official project launch, defining the roadmap for the first year of activities.
Read more →A comprehensive survey targeting VET trainers and hospitality employers is now live in Germany, Italy and Greece.
Read more →VET trainers from all partner countries will gather in Thessaloniki for a week of workshops and job shadowing.
Read more →