The SPARKLE project successfully completed its first mobility programme in Italy from November 18th to 23rd, 2025. Co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme, SPARKLE aims to enhance TVET systems in Uganda and Sierra Leone by fostering effective collaboration between public and private stakeholders and promoting sustainable employment. The mobility brought together ten participants from four Sub-Saharan African Partner institutions, providing them with a comprehensive overview of the Italian VET system.
The programme, organized by IAL FVG, focused intensely on the structure and functioning of the Italian VET system within the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. Capacity-building sessions provided delegates with insights into how vocational education is organized, highlighting the close cooperation between training centres and local companies for internships and work-based learning. Institutional visits included guided tours of IAL FVG’s facilities, such as the Aviano Tourism and Hospitality Training Centre and the Pordenone Viale Grigoletti centre, where delegates observed the integration of practical and theoretical learning. Further exposure to technical education was provided through visits to MITS Malignani and the Bearzi VET Centre in Udine.
A significant objective of the mobility was to expose partners to key productive and technological realities of the FVG territory. The delegation visited the CRO of Aviano, the regional oncological reference centre, gaining insights into the technical infrastructure and highly specialized systems supporting the facility. Delegates also toured the Pordenone Technology Hub, observing makers classrooms and understanding the Hub’s collaborative model that connects education, research, and the local economic ecosystem, focusing on digital fabrication and innovative learning. Demonstrating regional industrial excellence, the group visited the headquarters of Illy Caffè in Trieste, receiving an in-depth presentation on production facilities, quality control, and how the company combines tradition, research, and innovation.
Cultural activities were integrated to foster mutual understanding and group cohesion, including a guided tour of Trieste and Venice. The delegation also visited the Scriptorium Foroiuliense in San Daniele del Friuli to learn about the preservation of traditional craftsmanship and ancient calligraphy.
The mobility programme was highly constructive, fostering meaningful exchanges, strengthening cooperation among partners, and creating valuable opportunities for networking and mutual learning. The comprehensive understanding gained of the VET system and regional excellence in Friuli Venezia Giulia will support future capacity-building actions and inspire ongoing international partnerships.
For more information on the activities and results, visit the SPARKLE Project OER platform: www.sparkledigitalopenspace.eu
