European Network in Nutritional Education for Acquired DIsabilities Erasmus Project

Project Title

European Network in Nutritional Education for Acquired DIsabilities

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Disabilities – special needs; Health and wellbeing

Project Summary

People with neurological acquired disability due to a traumatic event (after brain or spinal cord injury), live specific conditions and needs during their own “new” life. On the physical point of view, obesity and overweight, type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, are phenomena that are, among others, much more common among people with acquired disability than what is experienced among able-body persons. As a consequence, life expectancy and quality of life are deeply affected. That also happens because of scarce awareness on the importance of healthy behaviours and good life styles related to personal nutrition. Furthermore, a common education on these themes lacks among professionals that with different roles work and assist people with acquired disabilities. Thus, a clear need emerges in developing and testing educational contents on the broad field of wellbeing practices in favor of people with acquired disabilities, first of all in favor of different professionals. Innovative solutions are to be experimented, taking avail of digital technologies, in order to provide for training sessions to be implemented in different learning contexts (i.g. not only traditional class sessions but also on-the-job sessions; on-distance e-learning sessions, etc.). Such solutions are expected to provide for innovative, open, flexible and sustainable ways to offer the transmission of crucial notions (on the quality of life and good dietary practices and their importance on life expectancy of disadvantaged people), in favour of trainees with competences, education and roles that are very different even if, on the other side, commonly tied to the personal assistance to persons with acquired disability.
In terms of specific objectives the project intends:
1) To let involved professionals and stakeholders improve their knowledge on good practices (at European level), related to quality of life, wellbeing and nutritional practices in favour of people with acquired disability;
2) to start up a methodological review of new training paths aimed at teaching in innovative, flexible and open ways, the aforementioned subjects in favour of professionals with very different educational and professional background;
3) to raise awareness among partner’s entities, local stakeholders, institutions and European networks on the importance of practices on quality of life and dietary good standards for assuring well being of disadvantaged people such as persons with acquired disability.
Participants to the project can be distinguished between:

Direct participants
– staff of partners’organisations taking part to transnational meetings and short-term training sessions: 85 participations
– professionals testing the e-learning course: 80
– political decision-makers, institutional referents, local stakeholders taking part to local resonance group and focus group: 82
– organisations’staff, professionals, institutional referents, policy makers, associations, other stakeholders, disabled people, family members and caregivers, taking part to public events: min. 198.

General results:
– a definition of innovative educational methodologies developed in collaboration with experienced partners and validated through a peer review by the project’s network, in particular on the field of good quality-of-life and nutrition practices and services for the target groups;
– a design, experimentation and dissemination of educational tools aimed at providing for professional contents on good nutritional practices, to be used on flexible e-learning platforms and tools.

Tangible results:
– Guidelines on training and educational methodologies and practices in favor of professionals ordinarily working with people with acquired disability, taking stock of most recent scientific research in the field of life sciences, health, life quality, etc.
– Design and development of a course addressed to professionals ordinarily working with people with acquired disability on preventive dietary habits and quality of life.
– E-learning short course addressed to professionals ordinarily working with people with acquired disability on preventive dietary habits and quality of life
– Policy recommendations that contribute to the promotion of structured training modules on healthy and correct eating habits for people with disabilities acquired in the institutions and bodies that offer study courses and refresher courses for professionals.

Project activities:
4 transnational meetings: 2 in Italy, 1 in Spain, 1 in Lithuania
2 short-term joint staff training events: 1 in Italy, 1 in Spain
4 multiplier events connected during European Day of Awakenings 2021 and 2022 involving a large number of relevant stakeholder

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 253255 Eur

Project Coordinator

FUTURA SOC CONS RL & Country: IT

Project Partners

• ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA
• Nueva Opción, Asociación Daño Cerebral Adquirido de Valencia
• VILNIAUS UNIVERSITETAS