Women Empowered in Construction

Start date: 01.01.2025. -- End date: 31.12.2026.

Project reference: 101183416

EU Grant: 345.693 EUR

Program: Capacity Building in the field of VET

Key Action: Partnerships for Cooperation and Exchange of Practices

Partner countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland, Lithuania, Croatia, Germany, Montenegro, Albania

Spin is official project partner.

The construction industry is increasingly reporting labor shortages in most of the EU Member States. This trend was confirmed after the COVID-19 pandemic, which increased the tightness on the labor market and led to a high demand for workers. According to the Employment and Social Developments in Europe Report, in 2023, labor shortages in construction are now nearly three times the level observed 10 years ago.

The Women Empowered in Construction (WEC) project aims to empower women in the construction industry across the Western Balkans and the European Union through innovative vocational education and training (VET) programs. By addressing gender disparities and aligning with the priorities of the Torino Process—adapting VET to labor market needs and increasing flexibility in vocational education—WEC seeks to enhance women’s participation in construction, promote gender equality, and contribute to the sustainable development of the industry in the region. A more diverse workforce and an inclusive organizational culture provide access to different perspectives on improving processes and driving business growth.

Through the implementation of the WEC project, we aim to:

Conduct research on labor shortages and gender imbalance in the construction industry by analyzing data from participating countries and assessing existing policies and realities at the EU and Western Balkans levels.
Develop an online educational WEC platform to support learning and resource-sharing.
Design 4 VET curriculum models tailored to the needs of women in the construction industry.
Create 4 online courses to enhance skills and knowledge in the sector.
Organize an international training activity for representatives and staff members of partner organizations.
Develop a toolkit with practical workshops for VET educators.
Produce animated video guides for educators to facilitate inclusive learning.
Host awareness-raising events in all local communities, involving VET providers and construction companies.
Disseminate project results to a wider audience through a final online project conference.

This structured approach ensures a comprehensive and impactful implementation of the WEC project, fostering gender equality and professional opportunities for women in construction.

Project objectives:

To conduct comprehensive research to understand workforce challenges and gender disparities in the construction industry, and map existing VET programs, identifying gaps in gender equality and inclusion; covering 7 research reports – 1 per each involved country, mapping of at least 21 existing VET programs and resources, and needs assessment report based on the collected data.
Explore current VET curriculums for construction industry in participating countries, develop
at least 4 innovative VET curriculum modules that are tailored to the needs of women in the construction industry, and educate 24 VET educators from participating countries for application of the VET curriculum modules.

Project map

To create educational platform for presenting project activities and results incorporating interactive learning materials (in format of 40 educational articles on the relevant topics, and 4 online learning modules based on the VET curriculum topics), and best practices to promote gender equality and inclusion (presenting 16 stories of best practices from participating countries).
To develop a comprehensive toolkit with interactive digital training materials, followed by 8 local workshops and webinars engaging 160 VET institutions and construction companies representatives to raise awareness, build capacity, and promote the inclusion of women in the industry.
To widely disseminate the project outcomes to VET institutions, construction companies, and policy stakeholders, through comprehensive dissemination strategy and online presence, by organising 8 local events for sharing resources, and establishing 24 partnerships to ensure the project’s impact and sustainability beyond its duration.

SPIN IN SHORT

Our goal is to contribute to the development of a society with positive values, a society that is recognising the importance of critical thinking, healthy lifestyles and providing equal opportunities for all. Spin is dedicated to creating and providing equal opportunities for all.

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