European Partnership for Service Speacialists

International cooperation between the initial vocational education and training (VET) is very often focused on the mobilities of students, teachers and trainers, on the development of the joint new training and/or study programmes and other issues. All these fields of cooperation are very important for improvement of quality and attractiveness of initial VET in the different countries. However, the potential benefits of such cooperation can remain very limited, if this cooperation does not entail methodical and holistic exchanges in the field of curriculum design by considering the comparative strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of curriculum design in the partners. Therefore, the main objectives of the project “European Partnership for Service Specialists” were to establish and develop long-term partnership and network of the initial VET institutions focused on the curriculum design in the different occupational fields, to improve the contents of VET curricula and make them more oriented to the international labour market needs, enhancing effective and beneficial international movement of students and graduates in the European Union. The project was implemented by seven initial VET institutions from 4 EU countries: Karaliaus Mindaugo profesinio mokymo centras (Lithuania), Wisamar Bildungsgesellschaft gemeinnuetzige GmbH (Germany), Johanniter Akademie Bildungsinstitut Mitteldeutschland (Germany), Sächsische Bildungsgesellschaft für Umweltschutz und Chemieberufe Dresden mbH (Germany), Euroform RFS (Italy), FEDERAZIONE CNOS FAP VENETO (Italy) and ESPROMINHO - ESCOLA PROFISSIONAL DO MINHO, LDA (Portugal). The partnership took the following steps to achieve foreseen objectives:-Developed the methodology for update and development of training modules in accordance to EQF level V requirements and labour market needs;-Analysed and compared the work processes of 4 occupations: Florist manager, Administrator of Hospitality Services, Paramedic and Fashion Shop Designer;-Analysed and compared competences and learning outcomes of selected occupational fields outlined in the curricula of partner countries;-Developed a catalogue of work processes, related competences and learning outcomes typical for partner countries in the field of selected occupations;-Developed 4 training modules for the selected occupational fields which corresponds EQF level V requirements;-Tested designed training modules through mobility of the learners;-Developed methodological guidelines for the selection, usage and adaptation of training modules in designing VET Curricula. The project has developed 5 intellectual outputs which include the main results of the activity steps described above. Notwithstanding initially planned results and impact for VET stakeholders, the project had a great impact for EQF level V qualification development in partner countries: two complete training programmes providing EQF level V qualification were produced and released for implementation in the EU countries where EQF level V qualification is only taking the first steps: Germany (Paramedic) and Lithuania (Administrator of Hospitality Services).