Train Intercultural Mediators for a Multicultural Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Train Intercultural Mediators for a Multicultural Europe

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; Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

The project Train Intercultural Mediators for a Multicultural Europe (TIME) explores practices of training and employing intercultural mediators for immigrants (IMfI) throughout EU. It promotes the exchange of good practices in the field of intercultural mediation by proposing model training programs for both intercultural mediators and their trainers. TIME also analyses existing structures in the partner countries and proposes recommendations for the validation of IMfI training.

Context/background of project: During the last years many interventions have been implemented in EU promoting interculturalism, i.e. the cohesive interaction within multicultural societies. Training and employing IMfI has been among the measures taken to promote migrant integration. In many cases such interventions have been short-lived, disconnected to other related projects or fragmented. As a result no clear picture existed at project start of the current state of intercultural mediation for immigrants at European level, nor did transfer of practices exist between the partnership countries.

Objectives:
-To depict a European panorama/overview of IMfI training and employing practices
-To transfer good practices by embedding them into the project products
-To create comprehensive IMfI training programs that correspond both to the established needs of the partnership countries and to academic standards
-To suggest assessment and evaluation tools for IMfI training and practice
-To promote the standardisation, validation and recognition of IMfI training and employment
-To raise awareness among policy makers, stakeholders and all those involved in immigration issues of the necessity for the systematic employment of well-trained IMfI
-To provide the groundwork for enhanced sustainability of future interventions for migrant integration
-To contribute to a more cohesive migrant integration policy in the EU

Number and profile of participants: The partnership consists of 8 partners from 7 different countries. 2 HEIs are involved (the Hellenic Open University, Greece, and the University Pope John-Paul II, Poland), 2 VET providers (Olympic Training, Greece, and BEST, Austria), 1 social cooperative (Programma Integra, Italy), 1 public service organization (the Intercultural Mediation Unit of the Federal Public Service for Public Health, Belgium), 1 organization for international cooperation, (BGZ Berlin International Cooperation Agency, Germany), and 1 local authority organization (Lisbon Municipal Police, Portugal). Olympic Training is the coordinator of the project.
Activities: Research was conducted in all partner countries on IMfI training and employment practices. A report has been published with research results and good practices are highlighted. Based on research an outline of the desired IMfI and their trainers profile was created, and subsequently comprehensive training programs for IMfI and their trainers were designed. These programs have been aligned with NQFs, EQF, ECVET. Validation, certification and accreditation procedures in the partnership countries were explored, and a report provides recommendations for each country. Extensive dissemination activities were carried out to reach all potential beneficiaries, such as a project webpage, workshops, conferences, leaflets, publications in media, Open Educational Resources.

Methodology: Throughout the project, project management methodology was employed, for proper time and budget control, risk handling, effective communication and coordination. For the design and implementation of the project activities, academic research along with adult training methodology and networking tools were used. A targeted communication strategy was employed for the submission of recommendations for policy formulation. A comprehensive monitoring and evaluation methodology ensured quality and achievement of objectives and results.

Results and impact: The project products provide ready-to-use tools for training IMfI and mediator trainers, establishing high quality standards and corresponding to actual needs. Best practices from all over Europe have been integrated into the products and transferred through them. Standardisation, validation and certification of IMfI training have been actively promoted through close cooperation with policy-makers and stakeholders. Large numbers of institutions, professionals and individuals concerned with migrant integration issues were reached through dissemination activities. TIME has an important contribution to the systematization of knowledge in the field of intercultural mediation for immigrants.

Longer term benefits: ΤΙΜΕ provides a milestone to research of intercultural mediation for immigrants in EU. The overview and training programs created will facilitate systematic European, national, regional and local interventions in migrant integration practices and policy.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 253445 Eur

Project Coordinator

OLYMPIAKI EPAIDEFTIKI KAI SYMVOULEFTIKI EPE & Country: EL

Project Partners

• Programma integra scs
• HELLENIC OPEN UNIVERSITY
• BEST INSTITUT FUR BERUFSBEZOGENE WEITERBILDUNG UND PERSONALTRAINING GMBH
• Uniwersytet Papieski Jana Pawla II w Krakowie
• BGZ Berliner Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit mbH
• CAMARA MUNICIPAL DE LISBOA
• Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezondheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu