woRksitE COMMunIcaTion

<< Background >>The RECOMMIT project was developed to address the significant challenges pre-release detainees face in reintegrating into the workforce and society. Many detainees struggle to secure and maintain employment due to stigma, limited formal education, and conflict-driven communication styles that hinder workplace adaptation. Social reintegration is a key European priority, as reoffending carries both high financial costs and negative societal impacts. The project focused on equipping detainees with essential interpersonal communication skills (ICS) within workplace settings, fostering prosocial values, and reinforcing civic engagement. To overcome traditional educational barriers, RECOMMIT utilized an innovative blended learning approach, integrating classroom-based instruction with immersive virtual reality (VR) training. This method enables detainees to practice workplace interactions in a safe and controlled environment, improving their ability to navigate professional relationships and support their long-term reintegration into society.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to develop a comprehensive blended learning curriculum that combines classroom and VR-based training to enhance detainees’ ICS skills and civic values in a workplace context. The curriculum focused on 3 key types of workplace interactions: communication with clients, collaboration with colleagues, and interactions with managers. The methodology is designed to be practical, emotional, and relational, emphasizing real-life work-related scenarios that detainees are likely to encounter. By improving detainees’ listening skills, prosocial responding, conflict resolution, and problem-solving abilities, the project seeks to increase their post-release confidence, occupational well-being, and overall ability to engage in productive employment. Additionally, the project aimed to empower prison staff by training them in effective communication strategies to foster a more supportive learning environment. Through these efforts, RECOMMIT sets the foundation for detainees, prisons, and communities to utilize workplace relationships as a tool for successful reintegration and crime prevention.<< Implementation >>The project designed and delivered a high-quality ICS curriculum that integrates traditional learning methods with VR-enhanced experiential training. The curriculum was developed based on research into work-related interpersonal challenges that pre-release detainees commonly face. The VR platform served as an immersive training ground, allowing detainees to engage in realistic workplace scenarios where they can practice communication skills such as active and empathic listening, managing conflicts, and establishing healthy interpersonal boundaries. To ensure effective implementation, a train-the-trainer event was conducted, equipping partner organizations with the skills needed to integrate VR technology into instructional methods. Additionally, a specialized prison staff training program introduced key personnel to digital learning environments, helping them support detainees in applying their newly acquired communication skills. A pilot phase was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the blended curriculum, in which prerelease prison inmates across all participating countries completed a 10-module, 20-session instructional program. << Results >>The project successfully developed a VR-enhanced ICS curriculum consisting of 10 modules (20 sessions), complemented by a facilitator manual and handouts, specifically designed to support detainees in their workplace reintegration.The VR platform provided an engaging, self-paced learning environment where participants could practice their communication skills. The piloting of the curriculum demonstrated an increase in detainees’ confidence, knowledge, and competence in handling workplace interactions, fostering prosocial behavior and reducing the risk of reoffending. Prison staff training contributed to a more supportive rehabilitation process by enhancing their understanding of effective communication strategies. Additionally, the project’s dissemination activities played a crucial role in reducing stigma around former detainees, engaging policymakers, community stakeholders, and employers in discussions on how to support ex-detainees in securing employment and reintegrating into society. The project’s impact is expected to extend beyond its initial implementation, providing a sustainable educational framework for detainees’ rehabilitation and long-term success.