"""Creating new story"": Narrative approach for inclusive lifelong learning"

<< Background >>There is a challenge faced by VET educators, employers and adults from diverse backgrounds concerning increasing inequalities and discrimination in labour market. Adult education has yet to be tailored to accommodate the diverse life experiences and backgrounds of adults. Without adaptation and skill enhancement, many run the risk of marginalisation, hindering their ability to achieve their professional aspirations - creating new life stories at any stage of life. Needs addressed1. Emotional and social needs of adults of different backgrounds, encompassing the sense of belonging, social interaction, emotional support. Addressing these needs falls within the domain of Narrative approach, encouraging individuals in self-reflection and deconstruction of negative narratives that often become the barrier to self/- professional growth. 2. Improving educators' professional skills to meet the evolving demands of the education sector and adults engaging in learning. This involved fostering the ability for self-reflection and ensuring access to up-to-date educational tools and resources.3. Raising awareness/equipping employers with diversity and inclusion tools to create an inclusive work environment to support employee upskilling. << Objectives >>1. Enhance skills and adaptability of educators and employers. Acknowledging the urgent necessity of adapting and enhancing educators’ and employers’ skills to equip them with up-to-date tools and practices. 2. Encourage self-reflection skills among adults of different backgrounds. Emphasising the importance of self-reflection in challenging personal dominant narratives, fostering the creation of new narratives aligned with individual needs and current life circumstances.3. Introduce an innovative Narrative approach to promote inclusive learning and employment. Through the integration of the Narrative Approach, digital tools, and adult education strategies, develop a scalable and accessible training program for educational organisations and companies.<< Implementation >>1. Conducted a comprehensive field study in partner countries to gather target audience needs, insights and assess the current implementation of the Narrative approach in adult education field and companies. The study aimed to identify the diverse needs of adults, educators and companies. As a result, the study sought to uncover dominant narratives, barriers to growth and inclusion which were addressed in the project materials and further content development and dissemination activities.2. Development of five video tutorials and a Workbook. Three of the educational tutorials delved into distinct perspectives, experiences, and practices shared by educational professionals. Fourth tutorial featured insights and practices from a Narrative approach expert. Fifth tutorial delved into the firsthand experiences of an adult learner, highlighting his learning journey and the obstacles he encountered throughout this learning process. 3. Dissemination activities of 5 educational video tutorials and the Workbook via MIR Akademien online platform, partner daily work activities, social media channels and partner network at EU scale and EPALE.<< Results >>1. Data, insights and practices gathered from field study (desk research, 15 interviews). These findings highlight dominant narratives and good practices/tools which were included in masterclasses. 2.Five educational video masterclasses and the accompanying Workbook offering practical guidance to adult educators and employers (public and private) catering to individuals from diverse backgrounds. Based on the feedback we've gathered from educational organisations and companies via interviews, it's evident that the combination of Narrative approach with interactive online learning proves to be an effective toolset for awareness rising and as a support in the classroom. These tutorials are free and available on YouTube and included into partners´and their networks´ training portfolio (10 NGOs in each country, Uppsala municipality, Region Uppsala, Association of psychologists in Italy). 3. Three workshops (totally 50 participants) and additional sessions with education professionals and company representatvies in 3 countries, where we tested the Narrative approach as a practice of self-reflection. Participants underwent in-depth re-evaluation of their attitudes about inclusive classrooms/workplaces and own narratives.