INTERCULTURALITY – MOBILITY: development and validation of inter-cultural competences amongst VET professionals to improve the delivery of VET mobility programmes in the EU Erasmus Project

Project Title

INTERCULTURALITY – MOBILITY: development and validation of inter-cultural competences amongst VET professionals to improve the delivery of VET mobility programmes in the EU

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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Inclusion – equity; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Context of the project
Intercultural skills are becoming increasingly important as EU citizens become more mobile. Intercultural competence is not acquired automatically, but must be learned, practiced and maintained throughout life. The current economic situation, characterized by high unemployment and persistent job opportunities in some sectors, highlights the main skills challenges Europe faces in terms of labor mobility, both geographical and professional. Eurofound research has revealed that a number of barriers to learner and worker mobility need to be addressed by governments, social partners and VET organizations in the EU.

Objectives:
To promote the inclusion of young adults / ethnic communities / migrants / marginalized groups through mobility programs. Strengthen the development of intercultural competences of VET professionals responsible for organizing mobility programs.
To develop and test a cultural competence program to have qualified intercultural vocational training providers.
To increase the quality of mobility by integrating intercultural competences and recognition tools into VET programs.

Participating organizations
UK partners: Rinova as a leader was involved in a previous LdV “MC” partnership project, where he developed and shared information and training practices on the development of intercultural competences in the field of vocational training system. The project builds on the results of the “Multicultural Consultant” http://multiculturalconsultant.eu/, a LdV small scale project coordinated by Rinova in the UK from 2011 to 2013. The project focused on occupational competences and skills of the Multicultural Consultant figure to support and improve minority ethnic students’ educational retention and attainment. The “MC” project explored the emerging professional profile providing training and vocational contents to reinforce the relationship between education/training system and labor market.
For EAL Academy, this strategic partnership is the first experience of an EU project as a partner and thus allows a rise in skills to develop or participate in new EU projects in the future. EAL was also invited for its strong track record of trainers for vocational training in the field of intercultural competences.
MMC (Cyprus) because of its experience working with vocational education and training programs and intercultural competence, and therefore his strong work with vocational training practitioners. For MMC this project produces innovative tools for its very different context in terms of vocational education and training and the labor market.
In Italy, ERIFO is an accredited VET provider. It is also an organization providing career guidance, professional advice and information services to help young people and adults find jobs. The CESAT (first participation in an Erasmus+ project) was invited for its particular mission as a VET organization providing programs to workers and SME employers. The CESAT represents the employers ‘organization and maintains close relations with social partners, employers’ organizations, employment agencies, local authorities and VET regulatory bodies.
Eurocircle (first experience as project coordinator in KA2) has extensive experience in the development of EU mobility programs in different sectors: VET, Youth, Voluntary Service. Leader in terms of mobility and interculturality and non-formal methods at regional level, we offer a very strong interface position at the European level and powerful networks in the field.

Description of the main activities implemented
4 intellectual outputs: comparative research, innovative training, a manual for the recognition and transparency of non-formal education in a mobility path, a toolbox around the use of intercultural competences. 60 learners (VET trainers, youth profesionnal) were trained in local pilot testing steps to become qualified intercultural VET providers. Several communication tools around the project and promotion and valorisation of activities and results. Frameworks for coordination, dissemination, quality control and exploitation of results. An international closing event, local closing events.

Results and impacts achieved
All activities were carried out to achieve the expected results. (See following questions for details). Impacts on target audiences: VET structures, teachers, VET trainers, youth professionals (guidance, counseling, coaching) were visible during the test phases and final events. The participants were all impacted by the role of qualified intercultural VET providers.

Long-term benefits.
Upgrading skills for Eurocircle in EU project coordination.
The innovative training is available in ebook and in an additional language because the partners have had many requests, via their European networks, of transferability and replicability of this training. A possible second edition to apply for March 2019 with some different partners.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 239940 Eur

Project Coordinator

EUROCIRCLE ASSOCIATION & Country: FR

Project Partners

• M.M.C MANAGEMENT CENTER LIMITED
• RINOVA LIMITED
• The EAL Academy Ltd
• E.RI.FO.-ENTE DI RICERCA E FORMAZIONE
• CESAT SOC COOP