Intercultural Competences in Vocational Training. Transnational Strategic Partnership Erasmus Project

Project Title

Intercultural Competences in Vocational Training. Transnational Strategic Partnership

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 2015

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

Intercultural competences are getting more and more important due to the increasing internationalization of the economy, the integration of the European labor market and the resulting mobility of workers also on the level of technical and executive work. Not all vocational training systems in the different European countries are well prepared to this challenge. The focus to train intercultural competences is up to now far closer to academics and management executives.
The objectives of the project were to create a framework for teaching intercultural competences in vocational training based on the results of a former European project of the partnership about mobility, openness and tolerance in the European labour market and to develope and test learning modules and teaching materials that can be used as additional units or lessons either in vocational schools or in companies using the Dual VET System. Through publication and sharing the modules and materials can be made available for other vocational schools and stakeholders in vocational training.
The project partners (10) were vocational schools, training organisations, teacher/trainer associations and Chambers of Commerce from eight countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Turkey. They have a vast experience in creating and designing new teaching approaches, learning units and innovative methods of teaching.
The main activities of the project were:
1. Analysis and evaluation of existing learning modules from the former partnership activities for teaching intercultural competences in vocational training.
2. Regular transnational partner meetings to discuss the project results and to monitor the progresses and achievements of the project.
3. Elaboration of a cultural profile for each participating country as a common knowledge base for using the learning modules.
4. Adaption and change of existing learning modules from the former project and designing new learning modules and teaching materials for teaching intercultural competences.
6. Test of the learning modules and teaching materials by learning, teaching and training activities of teacher/student groups (blended mobility of VET learners) between the partner organizations.
7. Evaluation of the exchange activities and the testing phases during the transnational partner meetings.
8. Development of additional e-learning contents.
9. Design of a certificate to be issued by the organisation carrying out an intercultural training for a successful completion of the applied learning modules.
The results and impacts of the project are:
1. better knowledge and sensitization about the importance and the added value of including intercultural competences in vocational training in the partner organisations and their regional and national networks;
2. enabling the participating organisations to design learning modules and teaching materials concerning the topic of intercultural competences and to exchange and share approaches and experiences;
3. the completion of a set of learning modules and teaching materials to be used in vocational training.

The modules and materials developed by the project have the character of a training and can be used by vocational schools or companies using the Dual VET System as an additional offer in the following fields:
– as part of individual training days,
– for a project week “intercultural competences” also in combination with “social skills”,
– as a preparation for students and apprentices for a stay abroad or for participating in international exchanges or projects,
– for an international exchange which is hosted by the organization itself,
– in regular vocational education, especially in social sciences or humanities,
– in acquiring subject-specific and vocation oriented language skills (English) (CLIL Units).
In the longer term, the project has achieved a network of European vocational schools and partners in the participating countries who share and exchange experiences in intercultural training in the vocational education context. This network is open to other partners and countries. The materials developed are used and further tested and developed in the partner countries and the exchange of results and improved materials will continue.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 249385,25 Eur

Project Coordinator

WEQUA GmbH & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Soukroma podripska stredni odborna skola a stredni odborne uciliste o.p.s.
• GENERAL LYCEUM OF LAVRIO
• FORMAORIENTA
• IHK-Projektgesellschaft mbH
• Colegiul Tehnic Energetic Cluj-Napoca
• AEVA – ASSOCIACAO PARA A EDUCACAO EVALORIZACAO DA REGIAO DE AVEIRO
• Iskilip Mesleki ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi