Go for VET in Erasmus+

<< Background >>The project was implemented to address the challenges posed by the new Erasmus+ 2021-2027 program, which expanded opportunities for the implementation of vocational mobility while introducing new requirements, such as updated templates of learning agreement. Many VET sector organizations lacked sufficient support in preparing for these new standards. Additionally, the pandemic and geopolitical factors forced them to focus on other priorities, limiting their ability to fully leverage the program’s potential.The project aimed to change this situation by preparing specific materials, procedures, and best practices to support organizations in the proper implementation of vocational mobility, particularly in the context of including people with disabilities. It addressed the needs of students with sensory impairments, who often require additional support to participate in such projects. The project partners focused on collecting best practices and developing universal tools to facilitate the effective implementation of vocational mobility projects for as wide an audience as possible in Greece, Finland, Cyprus, and Poland.<< Objectives >>The project enabled the collaboration of five partners to strengthen the capacity of VET sector organizations (particularly partnership members) in implementing international vocational traineeships under the Erasmus+ program (2021-2027). The partnership achieved this by developing and implementing new traineeship programs for four professions, as well as by preparing recommendations and best practices for including students with disability in international vocational mobility projects under the Erasmus+ program.The undertaken activities significantly improved the quality of vocational traineeship organization and enabled better adaptation to the needs of both students and VET sector institutions. The project partners also focused on fostering international collaboration and building sustainable networks among VET organizations. This not only fulfilled the project’s objectives but also laid a solid foundation for further joint initiatives.For the lead organization, this was their first collaboration project under Key Action 2, which helped develop procedures and better prepare the project team for future initiatives.<< Implementation >>As part of the project, we conducted four in-person international meetings in Poland, Finland, Greece, and Cyprus. During these meetings, we carried out 17 study visits and two workshop sessions with external trainers. We visited both employers hosting students from other countries and vocational schools that shared their experiences in implementing international mobility projects. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying best practices for including individuals with disability in mobility activities.The meetings also served to strengthen collaboration within the partnership and plan further activities. Additionally, partners met online in working groups. We successfully organized an international online conference, attended by 95 participants from various EU countries. Each partner also held consultations on the project’s outputs with external experts, who supported us in achieving even higher quality results.As part of the project, we developed tangible outputs (traineeship programs and a report with recommendations), which are detailed in the section below.<< Results >>As part of the project, detailed programs were developed for four professions, taking into account both the specific nature of each profession and the requirements of the European labor market. Each program was created based on the experiences of employers and mobility participants. The programs incorporated sector-specific details as well as cultural differences. Efforts were made to include a greater number of learning outcomes and tasks, allowing organizations to select those most suitable for implementation during one-month traineeships. This resulted in tools that can be widely used by other organizations and institutions involved in vocational mobility.One of the key achievements of the project was the development of guidelines and best practices for including students with disabilities in mobility programs. Project partners conducted a comprehensive analysis of the barriers students with disability may encounter during international vocational traineeships. Based on this analysis, a set of recommendations was developed, focusing on openness to the needs of individuals with disability and fostering awareness and competencies among supervisors and mentors involved in mobility projects.