CVET and accreditation framework to up-skill interpreters to support the social inclusion of refugees Erasmus Project

Project Title

CVET and accreditation framework to up-skill interpreters to support the social inclusion of refugees

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: Integration of refugees; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

CONTEXT & BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

The dramatic rise in the number of refugees arriving in Europe produced a soaring demand for humanitarian professionals, including interpreters, needed to respond to the emerging needs. Interpreters play a crucial role that exceeds their usual job profile; they are called to work in fragile environments, refugee camps, and urban refugee settings.

Due to the huge demand for interpreters speaking the beneficiaries’ languages, the role of the humanitarian interpreter is often delivered by refugees without adequate training & accreditation. Furthermore, their growing professional community is not institutionalized, there is no occupational profile, targeted VET, and established code of professional ethics for interpreters working in humanitarian settings.

In this context, there is a need a) to redefine their role in a way that will help them pursue the missions of humanitarian organizations, and b) to develop up-to-date VET to up-skill them on emerging skills requirements as regards: a) inter-cultural communication, b) vulnerable groups e.g. unaccompanied minors, victims of violance, traumatised individuals, c) ethics & the interpreter’s role, d) interpreting in specific settings such as reception & law, health & psychological care, and e) selfcare & dealling with emotional challenges.

OBJECTIVES
1. Develop up-to-date VET curricula for interpreters & for their trainers, grounded on original learning outcomes, to respond to work challenges related to the provision of humanitarian aid for refugees in Europe today.
2. Support interpreters & their trainers to address their self-training requirements as regards their flexible respond to their humanitarian work, enhancing access to original OERs.
3. Facilitate recognition of the occupational profile of the humanitarian interpreter within the EU.

THE INTER4REF PARTNERSHIP
The National Center for Social Research – EKKE (EL), the National Organisation for Qualification & Vocational Guidance – EOPPEP (EL), the University of Modena – UNIMORE (IT), the University of Almeria – UAL (ES), and the University of Glasgow – UGLA (UK) formed a Strategic Partnership comprising academic, research & accreditation expertise from 4 EU countries.

ACTIVITIES, METHODOLOGY & INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS
1. Identification of emerging skills needs in humanitarian interpretation, in the context of in-depth interviews with professionals, trainers & experts representing 48 national stakeholders/organisations in the 4 partnership countries.
2. Development of up-to-date learning outcomes based on the abovementioned skills’ needs analysis.
3. Development of OERs in humanitarian interpretation.
4. Development of a VOOC openly available to a wide international audience of more than 5.500 interpretation professionals to gather course evaluation feedback and achieve the highest impact possible.
5. Sharing & evaluation of the course with multiplier events, inviting more than 350 trainers, experts and professionals in humanitarian interpretation to try and uptake Inter4Ref results acting as impact multipliers.
6. Development of a “pool” of 134 trained & accredited trainers based on the projects learning outcomes and materials.
7. Involvement of more than 20 social partners, accreditation bodies and field experts to support the certification & accreditation process in humanitarian interpreting, through a pubic consultation process, a support statement & a strategic plan.

RESULTS, IMPACT ATTAINED
1. Up-to-date (based on needs analysisi) original learning outcomes in humanitarian interpretation.
2. An open modular VET course consisted of six (6) learning units, each completed by a full set of OERs including slides, case studies, exercises, and audiovisual material, translated in the four (4) partnership languages, as well as in Arabic.
3. A Trainer’s Handook in English.
4. A Vocational Open Online Course (VOOC) based on the Inter4Ref learning outcomes, attended for free by 5.639 international learners in the context of three (3) pilot runs.
5. Four national workshops to promote results and evaluate learning materials attended by 353 professionals, trainers and experts.
6. One virtual 5 days Trainers’ Seminar (LTT) attended by 134 learners who received certification by EOPPEP developing an EU “yeast” of trainers in Humanitarian Interpretation.
7. Course evaluation by the VOOC, LTT & Multiplier Events participants, as well as by an External Expert.
7. A Strategic Plan & a Support Statement for the valorisation of the Inter4Ref course on an EU level signed by more than 20 national stakeholders.

LONG TERM IMPACT
– Development of a European “yeast” of humanitarian interpreters’ trainers trained & accredited by EOPPEP.
– Establishment of the Inter4Ref Trainers’ Seminar as one of the main educational “paths” leading to future official recognition as described in the Occupational Profile of the “Intercultural Mediator” developed by EOPPEP.

Project Website

http://inter4ref.eu/gr/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 260147 Eur

Project Coordinator

ETHNIKO KENTRO KOINONIKON EREVNON & Country: EL

Project Partners

• ETHNIKOS ORGANISMOS PISTOPIISIS PROSONTON & EPAGGELMATIKOU PROSANATOLISMOU
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MODENA E REGGIO EMILIA
• UNIVERSIDAD DE ALMERIA
• UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW