How could your school become more inclusive, more sustainable, or simply a better place to learn?
This is the central question behind the NEB VET Students Competition, an initiative organised within the NEB VET project and inspired by the values of the New European Bauhaus. The competition invites students in vocational education and training to share practical, creative and forward-looking ideas for improving their schools, learning environments and wider communities.
Open to VET learners across participating contexts, the competition encourages students to think critically about the spaces where they learn every day. From classrooms and workshops to outdoor areas, digital learning tools, wellbeing initiatives and community projects, participants are invited to propose ideas that could make vocational education more sustainable, inclusive and inspiring.
Students may take part individually or in teams of up to 10 participants. Each team should appoint one contact person for communication with the organisers.
Ideas can be small and realistic, such as improving recycling practices, creating greener common areas, making classrooms more accessible, or developing peer-support initiatives. They can also be more visionary, imagining long-term changes to the way schools are designed, experienced and connected with their communities.
Submitted proposals should reflect one or more of the three key principles of the New European Bauhaus:
Sustainability – ideas that promote environmental responsibility, circular thinking, energy efficiency, greener spaces or more sustainable everyday practices.
Inclusion – ideas that improve accessibility, participation, equality, wellbeing and a stronger sense of belonging for all learners.
Quality of experience and learning environments – ideas that make schools more attractive, creative, welcoming, practical and enjoyable places to learn.
To apply, participants must submit a completed application form, including the title of their idea or project and a short written description of around 300–500 words. Additional supporting materials are welcome and encouraged. These may include sketches, visual concepts, photos, posters, short presentations, videos or other creative materials that help explain the idea.
Applications will be evaluated according to their relevance to the New European Bauhaus principles, creativity and originality, clarity, feasibility, and potential positive impact on the school or local community.
Selected participants will have the opportunity to present their ideas during the final NEB VET conference in Rijeka, Croatia. Presentations may take place either in person or online, depending on organisational possibilities and participant availability. Selected ideas may also receive further visibility through project communication channels, partner networks, publications, presentations and other dissemination activities.
The deadline for applications is 30 June 2026. The organisers reserve the right to extend the deadline if necessary, with any updates communicated through the project website and partner channels.
Participation in the competition also means that submitted ideas, project titles, names of institutions, photos, presentation materials or short excerpts may be used for communication and visibility activities related to the NEB VET project.
The organisers and project partners are committed to ensuring respectful, safe and inclusive participation for all. Personal data collected through the application process will be used only for the organisation, management, evaluation and promotion of the competition, in line with applicable data protection regulations. For participants under the age of 18, parental or legal guardian consent may be required, and the publication of photos, videos or materials involving minors will only take place with the appropriate permissions.
All submitted materials must respect copyright, intellectual property rights, privacy and the rights of others, and must not contain discriminatory, offensive or inappropriate content.
Applications should be submitted through the official form:
https://forms.gle/N7azpXvPHkb1NwQz9
For further information, participants may contact Ivana from the Adult Education Institution Dante at:
ivana@dante-ri.hr
The NEB VET Students Competition is an opportunity for learners to show that meaningful change can begin inside the school itself – with the ideas, creativity and imagination of students.
