Talent Matching: Vocational Mentoring for I-VET in Europe’s Creative Industries Erasmus Project

Project Title

Talent Matching: Vocational Mentoring for I-VET in Europe’s Creative Industries

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Creativity and culture; Access for disadvantaged; Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

The overall aim of Talent Matching was to design, test and validate a new training programme and EQF-aligned standards of competency framework for Vocational Mentors that support young disadvantaged people into initial Vocational Education and Training in Europe’s Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs).

The project objectives were to:
(i) Research, map and specify the critical factors across the partner I-VET systems, CCI job entry routes, CCI sub-sector employment trends and the location, occupations and qualifications that impact upon the CCI Vocational Mentor role, in order to assess and outline professional training and learning content needs
(ii) Develop the specifications and standards for the Vocational Mentor in the CCIs to address learners’ individual needs and expectations.
(iii) Develop Vocational Mentor Curriculum, Learning and Tools: providing a blended learning framework for Vocational Mentors to engage in flexible online learning, and participate in joint training events.
(iv) Create an Open Source Learning Environment for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) of Vocational Mentors in the CCIs providing shared learning experiences.
(v) Disseminate the results widely at local, national and EU levels and embed the products and results within the practice of the partner organisations and their networks in sectoral VET.

The TME partners were:
– Collage Arts (London, UK), Lead Partner: manages a Creative Industries Business Centre for over 220 CCI SMEs and employers. Its VET programmes provide entry routes to the CCIs for socially disadvantaged groups and enterprise support for cultural employers.
– Rinova Ltd (London, UK): a social enterprise that specialises in learning programmes at the interface between vocational education, employment, employability, enterprise and cultural learning.
– CEPS Projectes Socials (Barcelona, Spain) manages and implements socio-educational programmes for children, young people and adults, further training for professionals, and innovative research and development in new practices.
– Association Prostor Plus (Rijeka, Croatia) works in performance arts through public events and the education of young people, supplying professional training and performance opportunities as part of Molekula, ten collaborating organizations from four spaces in Rijeka.
– ARTeria Foundation (Zabrze, Poland) is a registered training institution in Poland, providing VET training for unemployed job-seekers, primarily through culture and art activities. ARTeria supports the Private Music School Veno’s Studio in Zabrze.
– Association for Social Action, Education and Prevention EASP (Skopje, FYOM Macedonia) replaced the original partner from Macedonia, CESOR, in the opening months of the project. EASP delivers VET training and programmes supporting social action and inclusion.
– Associazione Culturale MuLab (Rome, Italy) is a not for profit organisation providing consulting, training and education in the CCIs. MuLab organises and delivers professional training courses and activities in the creative and cultural sector, with a focus on disadvantaged people.

The project activities and results were:

IO1: Research Study: Vocational Mentoring in the Creative and Cultural Industries Successful mapping of the situation in each country: identifying the challenges and opportunities for the Vocational Mentor role.

IO2: Occupational Profile and Personal Specification for the Vocational Mentor in the CCIs In depth, and workable, occupational profile of the role

IO3: Competency Standards for the Vocational Mentor in the CCIs
Detailed competency grid developed.

IO4: Vocational Mentor Programme and Syllabus, piloted through Action Learning Sets in each country
Online learning programme trialled by partners with 113 learners, mapped against accredited curriculum framework at EQF Levels 4 and 5.

IO5: Vocational Mentor Diagnostic Skills Check Tool
Detailed DNA tools for each of the four curriculum units

IO6: Mentoring the Mentors – Trainers Pack. “The Fomentor’s Manual”
The Fomentor’s Manual provides guidelines for those who wish to become Vocational Mentors

IO7: Open Source Platform for the Vocational Mentor Programme (in final stages of development)
Accessible learning resource making available the project learning materials online

IO8: CCI Vocational mentors validation and practice license
External evaluation considering next steps for validation of Vocational Mentor role and making recommendations for extending the impact of the project

TME included multiplier events in each partner country to promote and test the project outputs attended by over 300 people. It culminated in an International Conference at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje, Macedonia, which linked the project with CCI and VET projects and policy initiatives in the South East Balkans and across Europe.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 399071,16 Eur

Project Coordinator

COLLAGE ARTS & Country: UK

Project Partners

• RINOVA LIMITED
• ASSOCIACIO PER A LA CREACIO I ESTUDIS DE PROJECTES SOCIALS C.E.P.S.
• Fundacja ARTeria
• ASSOCIAZIONE CULTURALE MULAB
• Udruga za scenske umjetnosti Prostor Plus
• Mladinska organizacija zdruzhenie za socijalna akcija, edukacija i prevencija Skopje