BETTER WORK IN OLD AGE – SUPPORTING OLDER WORKERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN COPING WITH AGE TRANSITIONS AND WORK REQUIREMENTS Erasmus Project

Project Title

BETTER WORK IN OLD AGE – SUPPORTING OLDER WORKERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN COPING WITH AGE TRANSITIONS AND WORK REQUIREMENTS

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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

The impact of demographic ageing (populations aged 65 years and over is estimated to increase in Europe from 16% (2010) to 25.6% by 2040, according to Eurostat) on employment in Europe is widely recognized as one of the main challenges facing the EU. In addition to pension reforms, the European Commission has recommended to the member States to raise participation of older workers, to promote access to training and stimulating lifelong learning to avoid skills obsolescence for older workers, and to improve working conditions to provide an attractive, safe and adaptable work environment throughout working life. Also, an intensive focus should be on policies that reflect actions taken in order to ensure employment of older workers. Despite these recommendations, many Member States do not have implemented support measures to support older workers participation and to foster an enabling work environment for them. Moreover, ageism is a current issue on the labor market, and older workers are facing low self-esteem, low work motivation, reduced training opportunities, unemployment challenges and early retirement options. Active ageing, one of the EC priorities, needs additional measures at national and European levels, from an integrated approach, for offering older people real opportunities to use their huge potential and to become sources of learning for the younger generations.The BeOLD objectives were:-to update skills and to support older workers for a better adaptation at work place and for an enhanced employability and to engage employers in support measures for older workers, resulting an inclusive society and labor market -to propose an integrated approach for enhancing older persons participation at workplace: the elaboration of a vocational counseling methodology for older workers and of a training program for companies management. This provided learning opportunities for older workers, an enhanced work motivation and change organizational climate into an inclusive one. -to promote social inclusion of older persons through their better integration at workplace, their empowerment through counseling and education -to combat ageism at workplace and to foster intergenerational learning and mentorate activities in companies-to develop educators competences in this area -to propose a model of policy for supporting older workers. The participants addressed in the project are: – 77 older workers (55+ years old) from private companies (and 25 in IO1) – 56 HR managers/managers/coordinators of private companies from different sectors (industry, cooperatives, services etc.) (and 20 in IO1) – about 50000 different stakeholders at local/regional/national/European level (public authorities, trade unions, employers’ unions, companies, NGOs, cooperatives etc.) – were involved in dissemination activities. Project partnership included organizations from Romania, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Spain, having an extensive and complementary expertise in adult education and training, research, development of new training methodologies, public policies development. Together we developed 4 Intellectual Outputs: IO1 – EBOOK-TRANSNATIONAL REPORT: GENERATIONS @ WORK – Barriers and resources of different generations at work, regarding the older workers situation analysis (needs, support measures, legislation etc.), IO2 – VOCATIONAL COUNSELLING METHODOLOGY FOR OLDER WORKERS ‘BETTER WORK AT OLD AGE’, using different active and innovative learning methods, to update their skills and face age transitions (Handbook ‘BETTER WORK IN OLD AGE’ was also elaborated, providing guidance to trainers for delivering the five workshops to the end-users), IO3 – TRAINING PROGRAM FOR HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGERS, MANAGERS, COORDINATORS, DIRECTORS OF ORGANIZATIONS / INSTITUTIONS, in order to combat ageism at workplace, promote age management strategies and foster intergenerational learning and mentorate, and IO4 -GUIDE WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICIES REGARDING SUPPORT FOR OLDER WORKERS, as a basis for national and European policies on the issue. This contributed at raising awareness for older workers, companies management and stakeholders at different levels on the relevance of integrated activities and measures for supporting older workers active participation, and informed decision-makers for creating inclusive labor markets and combating age discrimination. BeOLD project created new and innovative practices in adult education field, targeting older workers specific needs, and promoting older workers rights among employers and other stakeholders, at large scale. Impact was an inclusive labor market, improvement of public policies for supporting older workers, better skills for work at older ages, increased intergenerational cooperation and active ageing promotion at wider scale, BeOLD project being considered a best practice example at national level in Romania by the National Council of Older Persons and being included in their publications.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 184087,07 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASOCIATIA HABILITAS – CENTRUL DE RESURSE SI FORMARE PROFESIONALA & Country: RO

Project Partners

• CENTRE FOR ADVANCEMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY LTD-CARDET
• ANZIANI E NON SOLO SOCIETA COOPERATIVA SOCIALE
• ASOCIACION INSTITUTO EUROPEO DE ESTUDIOS PARA LA FORMACION Y EL DESARROLLO
• CONFEDERATIA NATIONALA SINDICALA CARTEL ALFA
• UNIVERSITATEA DIN BUCURESTI
• KENTRO MERIMNAS OIKOGENEIAS KAI PAIDIOU