Tartu Vocational College

01/06/2026

🎉🚢 VOCO Project Office Celebrates the End of Its 15th Season! 🌿✨

What a memorable journey! We marked the conclusion of our 15th season with a beautiful voyage along the scenic Emajõgi River and an inspiring seminar together with project team members, partners, and enthusiasts aboard the historic Jõmmu barge. 🌊⛵

🌟 Highlights from 2011–2026

📚 210 international projects implemented

🌍 2,741 mobility experiences

* 👩‍🎓 1,876 for students
* 👨‍🏫 865 for education professionals

🤝 2,008 international guests welcomed

* 🎓 1,168 international students on internships in Tartu
* 🏫 840 education professionals visiting VOCO

🏆 Erasmus+ Mobility Management Accreditation Excellence Label (2023)

🌐 75+ partner organisations in 25+ countries

🍏 Golden Apple Award 2024 for excellence in virtual mobility

🥇 EITA 2025 and Grundtvig Award 2026 for the Volugram project

✅ Erasmus+ Accreditation

🚀 Active participation in COVE projects

🤝 Proud member of international networks including XarxaFP, Ex-N-Vesd, GreenSkills4H2Alliance, AEHT, and many more.

💙 Thank You!

The greatest achievement of these 15 years is not the numbers, awards, or projects—it is the people behind them.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to our journey: colleagues, students, teachers, partners, alumni, and friends. Your energy, dedication, trust, and collaboration have made all of this possible. Together, we have built opportunities, connections, and lasting impact across Europe and beyond.

Here’s to the next chapter of international cooperation, innovation, and learning! 🌍✨

01/06/2026

We are glad to introduce the PUMP-UP online course to Estonian VET educators, principals, and policy makers during the VET seminar right here in Tartu!

Sometimes, people ask the tough questions: What are the real results and tangible impacts of international projects?

We have a direct answer for that. We aren't just talking about the results. We are already actively integrating these cutting-edge PUMP-UP course materials directly into our current HVAC technician studies!

The best part? You can do the exact same for your students or team.

Equip the next generation of technicians with up-to-date, professional skills, explore the teaching resources and find the app here: https://heatpumpskills.eu/results
-UP

28/05/2026

20/05/2026

We are incredibly proud to host the final meeting of the "Inclusive Mobility VET" project and partners from CINOP B.V. (NL), Suomen Diakoniaopisto (FI), Koning Willem 1 College (NL), CESUR (ES) and Directorate of Secondary Education of Achaia Prefecture (GR) right here at Tartu VOCO.
This final gathering is all about summarizing our hard work and presenting the final results:
* Insightful research on inclusive mobilities.
* Guidelines & self-assessment tools to empower VET school staff.
* Student info-materials to support inclusive journeys.

Here’s to making VET education more inclusive for everyone! See more: https://imvet.eu/
❤️

15/05/2026

Sel nädalal külastas Washingtoni osariigi Edmonds Kolledž Edmonds College Tartu Kutsekooli VOCO-t VOCO Tartu Rakenduslik Kolledž, osaledes noorte meistrite oskuste festivalil ja sõlmides partnerluskokkuleppeid - esimesed aktiivsed partnerlused Eesti kutsekoolide ja USA kolledžite vahel.

VOCO on loonud partnerlussuhted nii Edmonds Kolledži kui ka Northampton Kolledžiga (mida VOCO külastas selle aasta kevadel); õpetajate vahetus ja õpilasprogrammid käivituvad 2027. aastal.

See on oluline järg saatkonna toetatud Eesti kutsekoolide esindajate delegatsiooni visiidile, kes USA Kongressi juhtide koolitusprogrammi raames reisis aprillis Baltimore'i, et tutvuda USA parimate kogemustega karjääri- ja tehnilise hariduse valdkonnas.

Tutvumisest rakendamiseni: VOCO on nüüd üks mitmest Eesti kutsekoolist, mis loovad partnerlussuhteid USA kogukonnakolledžitega, avades õpilastele ja õpetajatele enneolematuid võimalusi.

***
This week, Edmonds College from Washington State visited Tartu Vocational College VOCO, participating in the Young Masters Skills Festival and finalizing partnership agreements—the first active partnerships between Estonian vocational schools and U.S. institutions.

VOCO has established partnerships with both Edmonds College and Northampton Community College (which VOCO visited earlier this spring), with teacher exchanges and student programs launching in 2027.

This milestone follows an Embassy-supported delegation of Estonian vocational school leaders who traveled to Baltimore in April through the Congressional Leadership Training Program to explore U.S. best practices in career and technical education.

From exploration to implementation –VOCO joins several other Estonian vocational schools now developing partnerships with U.S. community colleges, opening unprecedented opportunities for students and educators.

15/05/2026

🌍✈️ VOCO teachers on Erasmus+ mobility in Spain! 🇪🇸🇪🇪
Two VOCO teachers Lili Kängsepp-Puun and Sille Lillestik – from Tourism and Estonian as a Second Language – recently carried out job-shadowing visit at Escola del Treball in Lleida, Spain.
During this inspiring mobility, the main focus was on understanding how Spain supports the linguistic and educational integration of immigrant learners. Our teachers:
🔹 observed Spanish-as-a-second-language lessons tailored for newly arrived learners
🔹 met dedicated teachers working daily with immigrant students
🔹 engaged with support staff and coordinators to learn about services provided to newcomers
🔹 explored the learner journey from having no Spanish skills to entering vocational studies or work placement
🔹 gained valuable insights into curricula, teaching methods, assessment practices, and learning materials used in multilingual classrooms
🤝 This experience provided an excellent opportunity to compare educational approaches in Spain and Estonia, gather fresh ideas, and bring back innovative methods to better support learners with limited language proficiency at VOCO.
💡 We are confident that this mobility will strengthen the quality of language teaching and inclusive education at our college!
🙏 A big thank you to Escola del Treball for their warm welcome and openness!

15/05/2026

🌍🤝 VOCO hosted guests from the USA for the very first time! 🇺🇸🇪🇪
From May 12–15, VOCO had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from Edmonds College (Seattle, USA): Amanda Fletcher, Executive Director for International Programs, and Dr. Travis Nelson, Associate Dean for International Education.
During their visit, our guests explored the VOCO Kopli and Põllu campuses, met with the school leadership, as well as representatives of the Engineering Academy and IT Academy, and gained insight into VOCO’s international cooperation and projects, while also discussing future partnership opportunities.
The visit program also included participation in the Erasmus+ VET experts’ thematic seminar “Internationalisation in Vocational Education” held on May 13 in Tartu, as well as a visit to the Estonian Vocational Skills Festival, where guests could experience vocational skills competitions and learn more about the wide range of opportunities offered by Estonian vocational education. 🚤 In addition, the guests enjoyed a memorable barge ride along the Emajõgi River at the Tartu Lodjakoda, experiencing a unique part of local culture and heritage.
🙏 This collaboration with Edmonds College was made possible thanks to the support of the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn U.S. Embassy Tallinn, Estonia, to whom VOCO extends its sincere gratitude!
🚀 We look forward to developing exciting future cooperation together!

12/05/2026

🤖 VOCO – Tartu Vocational College welcomes the first AgiBot X2 Ultra humanoid robot in the Baltics!
The new robot will soon support vocational learners in their studies, offering hands-on opportunities to practise programming, maintenance, and modern robotics skills.
During the testing phase, we did encounter a small technical mishap and the robot was damaged. The good news? A new AgiBot is already on its way and will arrive in time for the Skills Festival starting on 14 May.
The collaboration between VOCO and AgiBot aims to bring cutting-edge robotics closer to learners and open new opportunities for international cooperation in this rapidly developing technology field.
🔗 Read more: https://voco.ee/humanoidrobot-agibot-x2-ultra-on-kohal/

08/05/2026

🌍🇪🇪🤝🇺🇸 VOCO at the Open World Vocational Education Program in Baltimore
In April, VOCO was represented by Anu Tintera at the Open World Program in the United States, focused on technical and vocational education and workforce development.
Open World is an international exchange program funded by the U.S. Congress and administered by the Congressional Office for International Leadership, bringing together professionals and leaders from different countries to exchange experience and build lasting professional connections.
From Estonia, participants included Järvamaa Vocational College, Pärnumaa Vocational Education Center, Kuressaare Regional Training Centre, Võrumaa Education and Technology Centre, Tartu Vocational College, and VOCO. The program was coordinated on the Estonian side by the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn and American Councils Estonia.
📍 The Estonian delegation visited Baltimore, Maryland from April 17–25, 2026, hosted by the World Trade Center Institute. The program included meetings and site visits to organizations such as Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, Baltimore County Department of Economic and Workforce Development, Howard Community College, Community College of Baltimore County, Harford Community College, and Open Works.
Key topics included:
🔹 Cooperation between vocational education and the labor market
🔹 Workforce development
🔹 Employer engagement
🔹 Technical curricula
🔹 Connecting hands-on learning with community needs
In addition to the professional program, participants experienced American culture firsthand by staying with local host families 🇺🇸🏡, gaining insight into everyday life, community values, local food, and the city of Baltimore.
✨ This experience provided valuable opportunities to compare Estonian and U.S. vocational education systems, collect ideas for strengthening school–industry cooperation, and bring new inspiration back to VOCO for developing practical training, career pathways, and international collaboration.
🙏 Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn 🇺🇸🇪🇪 for the excellent organization and for their continuous support in building and strengthening cooperation and relations with the United States. Your commitment makes meaningful international exchanges like this possible! U.S. Embassy Tallinn, Estonia

06/05/2026

We are glad to welcome guests from OZCS schools 🇧🇪 in Tartu!