INDIVERSO – Inclusive diverse solutions for VET Erasmus Project

Project Title

INDIVERSO – Inclusive diverse solutions for VET

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 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Disabilities – special needs

Project Summary

Better job opportunities for people with mental impairments and challenging behaviours – this goal was pursued by the European project partnership as part of the “INDIVERSO” project.

Education and vocational training for young people with mental impairments is linked with barriers and risks of exclusion. In vocational training the number of people with mental impairments has increased considerably. This is challenging for instructors and teachers who, to date, have not had any sufficient repertoire of actions or received tailored support. Previous educational and developmental concepts frequently failed to meet the needs of this target group because they were geared towards general disability categories and assumed typical deficits.

Educational, advisory and support offers of vocational training were developed in the project, which satisfied the individual needs of young people with mental impairments and all people involved in this process. In doing so, focus was placed on providing strategies and solutions for the successful, inclusive vocational training of trainees with disabilities and impairments.

Eleven project partners from seven European countries (Estonia, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom/Northern Ireland and Germany) analysed the needs and developed and tested the educational concept. The partnership is composed of a self-help association and institutes for vocational training as well as the University of Kassel for scientific back-up.

In addition to pupils and trainees with mental impairments, the project is geared towards teachers and other specialists that are involved in the educational process and the professional integration of the target group. We look at the individual educational needs and learning conditions of each individual and do not refer to a specific disability or impairment. The educational offers can be used by all pupils and trainees as well as teachers and specialists and training organisations.

The educational concept that was developed includes seven instruments that are subdivided into 17 modules due to their complexity and can be flexibly used:

1. Support Services for trainees with mental impairments
Module 1: Person driven planning
Module 2: Psycho-motor approach
Module 3: Creative situations to develop the communication / social skills
Module 4: Peer support

2. Information and further training opportunities for pedagogical staff
Module 1: Enabling pedagogical staff
Module 2: Guidelines with practical aids for school, training and work
Module 3: Developing the self-evaluation competences of staff

3. Coaching – A coaching approach focused on preparing young people with mental impairments for the labour market

4. Supervision and Intervision
Module 1: Supervision
Module 2: Intervision (peer group case advice in inclusive professional training) – A practical guideline for introduction and implementation
Module 3: Moderator training for intervision

5. Guidelines for prevention and crisis intervention
Module 1: Prevention
Module 2: Recognising the singn of crises
Module 3: Coping strategies

6. Information and training offers for firms
Module 1: Training day for employers
Module 2: Counseling and support for the employers

7. Networking

The manuals on the instruments with guidelines, practices and recommendations are available online free of charge. In doing so, we are providing teachers and specialists of vocational training, self-help associations and people with mental impairments with material on educational guidance or vocational training. However, these offers cannot and are not intended to replace any medical or therapeutic treatments and therapies.

This creates permanent educational, advisory and support structures. The project partners have anchored the educational concept into the information and service structures so that the target groups can use the offers and support in their everyday lives. The concept expands the job-related competences of the individuals with mental impairments. For teachers and other specialists, this helps achieve the sensitisation for an individual orientation towards the needs of the individual trainees as well as the mediation of professional competence. Training organisations receive information and concepts for the successful inclusions of people with mental impairments. The multi-professional collaboration of the different specialists and institutions in a regional network is of great importance for the INDIVERSO concept. It will ensure long-term success.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 440685,5 Eur

Project Coordinator

Josefsheim gGmbH & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Berufsbildungswerk Waldwinkel
• ASTANGU KUTSEREHABILITATSIOONI KESKUS
• Mariaberger Ausbildung und Service gemeinnützige GmbH
• Bundesverband der Angehörigen psychisch Kranker e.V.
• Fundação afid Diferença
• Centro Studi Opera Don Calabria
• FUNDACION INTRAS