The RLEF has won support for its Technical Strategy through the European Commission’s Leonardo da Vinci programme, which specialises in vocational education projects. The Technical Foundation Project will further coach and match official education development, resulting in more qualified technical tutors being deployed throughout Europe.

The partner countries are the UK (through the project leader, the RLEF), Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic and Norway. The Leonardo da Vinci agency will contribute a grant totalling 75,000 euros among the partners.

“This is a tremendous boost to our strategic objectives,” said RLEF General Manager Danny Kazandjian. “For some of our partners this is the biggest financial injection they have received and their grants will enable them to plan ahead and map out their own national coach and match official education. Our concrete objective of qualified and highly trained tutors will be achieved and vital RLEF funds can now be used in other areas as a result.”

“This is the first time the RLEF has received significant investment from the EC and it is a dimension of our business that we must continue to evolve to include our other participant nations,” Kazandjian continued.

The European Commission office in the UK contributed 5000 euros to the Technical Strategy earlier this year. The Technical Foundation Project / Leonardo da Vinci partnership runs until July 2013.

Pictured: Dutch, Italian and German coaches in Phase 1 of the RLEF's coaching strategy.