How can universities, VET schools, and companies jointly create transformative learning environments for a sustainable future?

This question guided the 2nd Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), held from 14–17 September 2025 in Dresden. Our partner TU Dresden / TUDFaCE welcomed 23 partners from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, and Spain to the beautiful city on the river Elbe.

The TPM’s mission was clear: to strengthen international cooperation within the ProVEST project and to advance concrete results across several Work Packages (WPs), with a focus on three work streams

• WP2: Building a cooperative framework and working with the Edusynergy platform
• WP5: Developing an evaluation protocol for impact measurement
• WP6: Running a communication workshop on blog posts and dissemination

Alongside these sessions, partners had the chance to introduce their institutions and welcome new delegates. A round of Human Bingo added a fun twist, helping participants get to know each other better. This dynamic exchange not only highlighted the consortium’s rich diversity of expertise but also strengthened cross-country collaboration between universities, vocational education and training providers, and industry.

Sharing transformative practices

A central activity was the analysis of Powerful Transformative Learning Environments (PTLEs) from different partner countries. It was both insightful and inspiring to exchange knowledge on the diverse experiences shared by our partners — from innovative approaches to sustainable cuisine using plant proteins, to student-managed bakeries and cosmetics made with locally sourced organic farm products.

A common thread across all initiatives was the strong connection between education and professional practice, which empowered students to deliver real-life solutions for real clients. A particular highlight of the TPM was the visit to the automotive training facility,  the Haus des Kfz-Gewerbes Dresden where participants experienced “boundary-crossing” in action – the transfer of knowledge and skills between schools and the workplace.

Building partnerships beyond the workshops

The meeting was not only about work. Participants also had the chance to explore Dresden together. An organ concert at the Frauenkirche, a city tour, and shared dinners created opportunities for informal exchange. These moments proved essential for building trust and strengthen the cohesion of the consortium for lasting collaboration.

Key takeaway

One of the strongest lessons from this TPM was the importance of bridging scientific concepts with practical implementation.

Connecting to the wider community

On the final day, partners joined the GeNeMe 2025 Pre-Conference, held under the theme “Communities in New Media: AI & Humanity – Technology with Social Responsibility”. This connection to the wider international community highlighted ProVEST’s contribution to ongoing debates on education, technology, and responsibility.

What’s next?

Curious to see more from Dresden? Watch the video with highlights and snippets of partner interviews!