The project deals with the subject "intercultural competence in vocational training" from a transnational perspective. It is based on a partnership of 10 partners from 8 countries that has emerged from a transnational project in Brandenburg about mobility, opennes and tolerance on the European labour market. In this project a framework for teaching intercultural competences in vocational training (in German and English) was developed which is made for additional lessons and training in vocational schools and for companies in the Dual System. The concept is not yet tested in practice and not very well prepared for the use in different countries. Intercultural competences are getting more and more important due to the increasing internationalization of the economy, the integration of the European labor market and the resulting mobility of workers also on the level of technical and executive work. Not all of the vocational training systems in the different European countries are well prepared to this challenge the focus in this area up to now was far closer to academics and management executives. The project partners are vocational schools, training organisations, teacher/trainer associations, Chamber of Commerce from Germany, Austria, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Czech Republik and Romania who have a vast experience in creating and designing new teaching approaches, learning units and innovatiev methods of teaching. The objective of the project is to test existing and newly created learning modules for teaching intercultural competences as additional units in vocational training and to make them available for other vocational schools and stakeholders in vocational training. The following activities are planned: 1. Analysis and evaluation of the existing learning moduls for teaching intercultural competences in vocational training 2. Elaboration of a cultural profile for each participating country as a common knowledge base for using the learning modules 3. Adaption and change of the learning modules 4. Design of new learning moduels were gaps and needs are identified 5. Test of the learning modules by an exchange of a teacher/student group (Blended mobility of VET Learners) between the partner organisations 6. Evaluation of the exchange activities and the testing phases 7.Development of E-Learning contents 8. Monitoring and evaluation of the prject activitie in order to prepare a certificate issued by a Chamber of Commerce for the completion of the learning modules. The core activity and central methodology is an exchange of teachers and students between the partner organisations and partner countries to test the learning modules in an intercutural context. A study group of 1 teacher and 2 students will go for a short time teaching and study period of 7 days to a partner country. So each study group will create an intercultural setting at the hosting organisation which allows to apply and test the learning modules under “real intercultural conditions”. The intercultural encounter in the classroom/laboratory makes the content of teaching illustrative and allows a lot of practical experience and understanding of the teaching mateial. Contents of intercultural teaching like stereotypes, other traditions, food, religion or everyday life can be directly experienced, scrutinized and discussed from both sides. During the stay other teacher of the hosting organisation will hospitate at the teaching units and such participate and learn to apply the teaching materials. One of the results will be the creation of E-Learning contents on a "moodle" platform with free access in connection with the project website where all project materials will be uploaded, including additional pedagogic input . A chamber certification for the course is planned. The general result of the project will be the availability of a set of applicable and tested learning modules to teach intercultural competences in vocational training. It will improve the quality of vocational training and enable teachers at vocational schools and instructors in vocational training to use and firther develop these materials.
Intercultural competences are getting more and more important due to the increasing internationalization of the economy, the integration of the European labor market and the resulting mobility of workers also on the level of technical and executive work. Not all vocational training systems in the different European countries are well prepared to this challenge. The focus to train intercultural competences is up to now far closer to academics and management executives. The objectives of the project were to create a framework for teaching intercultural competences in vocational training based on the results of a former European project of the partnership about mobility, openness and tolerance in the European labour market and to develope and test learning modules and teaching materials that can be used as additional units or lessons either in vocational schools or in companies using the Dual VET System. Through publication and sharing the modules and materials can be made available for other vocational schools and stakeholders in vocational training. The project partners (10) were vocational schools, training organisations, teacher/trainer associations and Chambers of Commerce from eight countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Romania and Turkey. They have a vast experience in creating and designing new teaching approaches, learning units and innovative methods of teaching. The main activities of the project were: 1. Analysis and evaluation of existing learning modules from the former partnership activities for teaching intercultural competences in vocational training. 2. Regular transnational partner meetings to discuss the project results and to monitor the progresses and achievements of the project. 3. Elaboration of a cultural profile for each participating country as a common knowledge base for using the learning modules. 4. Adaption and change of existing learning modules from the former project and designing new learning modules and teaching materials for teaching intercultural competences. 6. Test of the learning modules and teaching materials by learning, teaching and training activities of teacher/student groups (blended mobility of VET learners) between the partner organizations. 7. Evaluation of the exchange activities and the testing phases during the transnational partner meetings. 8. Development of additional e-learning contents. 9. Design of a certificate to be issued by the organisation carrying out an intercultural training for a successful completion of the applied learning modules. The results and impacts of the project are: 1. better knowledge and sensitization about the importance and the added value of including intercultural competences in vocational training in the partner organisations and their regional and national networks; 2. enabling the participating organisations to design learning modules and teaching materials concerning the topic of intercultural competences and to exchange and share approaches and experiences; 3. the completion of a set of learning modules and teaching materials to be used in vocational training. The modules and materials developed by the project have the character of a training and can be used by vocational schools or companies using the Dual VET System as an additional offer in the following fields: - as part of individual training days, - for a project week "intercultural competences" also in combination with "social skills", - as a preparation for students and apprentices for a stay abroad or for participating in international exchanges or projects, - for an international exchange which is hosted by the organization itself, - in regular vocational education, especially in social sciences or humanities, - in acquiring subject-specific and vocation oriented language skills (English) (CLIL Units). In the longer term, the project has achieved a network of European vocational schools and partners in the participating countries who share and exchange experiences in intercultural training in the vocational education context. This network is open to other partners and countries. The materials developed are used and further tested and developed in the partner countries and the exchange of results and improved materials will continue.