Continuous skills development (CSD): research and policy evidence

This tender, launched by Cedefop, seeks to establish a single framework service contract to support research and policy evidence on continuous skills development (CSD). The objective is to inform and advance public policies that foster learning-conducive work environments and enable learning-intensive working lives across Europe. The contract supports Cedefop’s strategic work on vocational education and training (VET), adult learning, upskilling and reskilling, with particular relevance to the European Skills Agenda, the Pact for Skills, and the European Pillar of Social Rights target of 60% adult participation in training by 2030.

Activities

The contractor will provide services under four interconnected workstreams:

• Quantitative data collection and analysis, including use of large EU and national datasets, survey design, and statistical modelling

• Qualitative research and policy analysis, including interviews, case studies, foresight exercises, and comparative analysis

• Stakeholder engagement and partnership building, including workshops, consultations, and governance support

• Project and quality management, including planning, reporting, risk management, and quality assurance

The work will support research on:

• Lifelong learning and participation trends

• Learning-conducive work environments

• Learning-intensive working lives

• Multi-level governance and stakeholder cooperation

Eligibility Criteria

• The proposal may be submitted by a single organisation or by a consortium;

• Each applicant must have an average annual turnover of at least EUR 400,000 over the last three financial years

• Each applicant must have delivered at least three comparable contracts in the last five years, with a combined value of at least EUR 600,000

• Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to provide a multidisciplinary team of 14 key experts covering research, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, project management, and editing

• Applicants must be established in EU Member States, EEA countries, or selected enlargement and neighbourhood countries

Funding

• Maximum funding amount: 800.000 EUR

• 40% interim payments upon submission of deliverables

• 60% final payment upon approval of final deliverables

Timeline

The deadline to submit applications is set to 27 May 2026, 16:00 Athens time.