A powerful shift is underway in higher education across Europe, one that directly responds to the evolving needs of students, educators, and employers. Launched in September 2024 under the Erasmus+ Programme, Work-Based Learning Champion (WBL Champion) is an EU-funded project uniting institutions from Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Ireland in a shared effort to strengthen the connection between academic learning and real-world work experience.
At the core of the project is a simple but urgent mission: to embed high-quality Work-Based Learning (WBL) into higher education systems across Europe through a unified, sustainable framework. The project targets higher education institutions, students, educators, and industry stakeholders seeking to close the gap between academic learning and professional readiness. The project is driven by the recognition that traditional academic pathways often fall short in preparing students for the realities of today’s labour market. By integrating academic study with professional application, WBL provides learners with the practical skills, industry insight, and transversal competencies essential for long-term employability.
Coordinated by VITECO in Italy, with key partners including Central Mediterranean Business School (Malta), INOVA+ (Portugal), and Technological University Dublin (Ireland), the project brings together a wealth of experience across education, innovation, and industry engagement. While some European countries have already implemented structured WBL frameworks, others, including the WBL Champion partner countries, operate within emerging or partial systems. This disparity in quality and consistency is one of the critical challenges the project seeks to address.
In order to understand the implementation of Work-Based Learning in each partner country, a national report was drawn up to identify the issues to be addressed and the areas for improvement.
Currently, an online platform is being developed for the project’s target groups and will serve as a hub for sharing resources, connecting stakeholders, and supporting implementation.
Then, a set of practical tools and outputs, including a Quality Assurance Toolkit, redesigned curricula for HEIs, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses will be prepared. These tools will be pilot-tested in the Universities that are partners in the project, CMBS in Malta and TU Dublin in Ireland.
As employability, innovation, and lifelong learning remain key priorities for Europe, WBL Champion is positioned at the forefront of a broader educational transformation. Its aim is not only to equip students with the tools they need to succeed but also to foster stronger collaboration between academia and industry. By championing a model of learning that extends beyond the classroom and into the workplace, the project is helping to shape a future where education is more aligned, inclusive, and impactful.
