Cultural Mediators in the Postal Sector Erasmus Project

Project Title

Cultural Mediators in the Postal Sector

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Migrants’ issues; Inclusion – equity; Integration of refugees

Project Summary

The EU postal sector accounts for €91 billion or 0.72% of EU GDP (letter post alone accounts for €44 billion or 0.34 percent of the GDP, and the number of letters was 82 billion). Postal services play a key role in an effective and dynamic EU Single Market and they are of crucial importance to businesses and EU citizens alike. The European Commission works on improving the quality of delivery and access to postal services, and aims to complete a well-functioning Single Market for postal services.

In this context the project ‘Cultural mediators in the Postal Sector” (CULMED) has achieved in piloting activities that have benefit and merit for both post organizations and third country nationals interacting with post organizations. CULMED aimed principally in matching the rising demands of post sector organizations to adapt to the rapid socio-economic and technological changes, together with the societal needs of accommodating and facilitating social inclusion of a large number of immigrants and refugees through better informed and designed public services. In this framework, all project Intellectual Outputs and outcomes have conduced in the establishment of a coherent body of knowledge and skills for post employees, immigrants and key stakeholders from both public and private sector that may support both the active social inclusion of third country nationals and increase the capacity of post organizations for informed interventions on the application of their services.

The adaptation of skills and competences can be considered as an essential answer to manage the organizational changes and challenges coming from the external environment for the postal sector and in this field an essential effort has been made in the midst of the pandemic to deliver quality training to participant post employees in all program countries. Cultural Mediators as professionals has been trained so as to facilitate relations between local and foreign citizens and to promote reciprocal knowledge and comprehension, favoring a positive relationship between persons of different cultural backgrounds. The project training programs has included soft skills and language skills and targeted both post professionals and indirectly immigrants that will be able to get informed about the post services within a new culture and environment within post organizations and from better informed services.

Among the main achieved project objectives are:
1) The promotion of social inclusion by facilitating active participation of third country nationals in host societies, through improved access to post services and interaction with post organizations;
2) The provision of specialised training to post employees, so at to be able to deliver quality services in a multicultural social environment;
3) Improvement of the quality of services provided to immigrants;
4) Enhancement of the transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications related to the postal sector;
5) The identification of new skills and the development of key competences for post employees, when providing services to third country nationals.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 226706 Eur

Project Coordinator

ETHNIKO KENTRO KOINONIKON EREVNON & Country: EL

Project Partners

• KEK ELTA
• COMPANIA NATIONALA POSTA ROMANA SA
• ASOCIATIA PENTRU FORMARE EDUCATIE SI DEZVOLTARE EUROFED
• ASSOCIATION DES OPERATEURS POSTAUXPUBLICS EUROPEENS
• INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE IN INFORMATICA ICI BUCURESTI RA
• EEO GROUP SA
• ELLINIKA TACHYDROMEIA