IRENE – Increase the empoweRment of adults and migrants with spEcific learNing disordErs Erasmus Project

Project Title

IRENE – Increase the empoweRment of adults and migrants with spEcific learNing disordErs

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Teaching and learning of foreign languages; Disabilities – special needs; Open and distance learning

Project Summary

The IRENE Project aims at structuring and testing a methodology, in order to facilitate self-learning of a foreign language and culture of LD adults, migrants too, through carrying out and implementation of an e-learning multilingual interactive platform at a transnational level.
The main target of the project consists of adults (18-35 years) with specific learning disabilities, also migrants, often non-diagnosed, discouraged in learning a foreign language and L2 and with few opportunities and little support to develop a “second and positive chance” to learn outside the traditional school paths.
The constant exposition of LD individuals to anxious situations has the consequence of a stronger refusal emotional barrier towards studying languages, which represent a key competence for any European citizen and for their insertion in a more and more globalised and multicultural labour market.
From the point of view of applied research to didactics and of the implementation of support tools to language training of LD adults, little has been done so far, not only in each single country, but also at a transnational level.
For these reasons, the objectives of the project are as follows:
– mapping and comparing the studies in the different European countries in the area of LD adults and identifying the specific needs
– make LD adults able to approach a foreign language learning with the use of virtual technologies and realities, and automatic speech and recognition
– enhance the achievement of key citizenship competences (language and digital), the inclination to mobility and “guidance towards Europe”
– improve the teachers’ skills from a didactic and methodological point of view and of the use of e-learning tools.
The IRENE project intends to fill the knowledge and methodological gap through the production of 3 main outputs:
1. Comparative research on the LD adults’ needs and on the existing teaching methodologies in the partner countries of the project
2. Didactic project (Curriculum design) containing the model to develop learning contents and guidelines
3. E-learning platform structured in four separate and interdependent sections (Pronounce; Study; Explore; Learn together).
The project has a length of 36 months. 105 LD adults and 14 teachers will be involved in the platform testing phase.
The partnership consists of 7 organisations from 7 EU countries: a multidimension network which can cover the whole process bringing diversified skills and experiences. This partnership guarantees the transnational dimension of the project.
The methodology used to carry out the project refers to shared and participated project design in which all parties share their experiences and competences and contribute to define a transnational tool to facilitate LD adults’ foreign language learning. The participative approach envisages the active involvement of all partners in all phases of the project, from analysis to strategic decision and implementation.
The expected results are:
– for participants: achievement of citizenship key competences (language and digital) of LD individuals, increase of the sense of belonging to the European society, better social inclusion.
– for partner organisations: methodological innovation and improvement of the teaching quality; reinforcement of the relationships
– for stakeholders: improvement of the dialogue and communication in the single areas and at a transnational level among training providers, schools and social operators who work in the field of adults’ specific learning disabilities.

Project Website

http://www.irenelearning.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 432755 Eur

Project Coordinator

ENTE ACLI ISTRUZIONE PROFESSIONALE PIEMONTE & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Videnscenter for Integration
• DIE BERATER UNTERNEHMENSBERATUNGS GESELLSCHAFT MBH
• TRADIGENIA SL
• Cooperatieve vereniging Pressure Line U.A.
• INSTITUTE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT
• LudusXR I/S
• Munster Technological University