Vocational training of young people and adults is at the centre of issues such as employability, competitiveness, growth, unemployment, inclusion etc. The majority of European countries recognise the benefits of such programmes with regards to both the motivation of learners and the needs of employers. Many work based learning models exist across Europe, including dual systems, ‘alternance’ systems, work experience placements, professional integration contracts, companies offering work based learning, social integration projects…each country has developed its own initiatives, which are often very similar and complementary. Although on the ground it may appear that these systems work well, they entail more than just a simple link between training and the labour market. Developing training programmes in direct connection with the world of work requires a robust and tailored programme. It involves transferring knowledge, technical skills, professional attitudes, motivating a trainee to follow through to the end of the programme, ensuring long term employment prospects, helping them to overcome barriers to work and inclusion. On this basis, our intention is to improve the competences and skills of trainers in work based learning by offering a space in which to share knowledge, know-how and tools in work based learning. This exchange should enrich existing good practices in each context, whilst promoting equality, inclusivity and participation of priority groups. It will also contribute to developing new resources where a need has been identified though the tools have not yet been available. Specific objectives of the NewT4S project include: - A better understanding and knowledge of existing training tools in work based learning programmes - Development of training activities and new tools for trainers in work based learning - Raising the profile and awareness of work based learning models to decision makers, in particular to countries that are working towards EU objectives These objectives will further contribute to a wider policy debate by: - Improving training models in work based learning, by promoting cooperation between the public and private sectors - Providing training to trainers in work based learning on how to use new training tools - Raising awareness of work based learning – with particular attention to fostering innovation at local, regional and national levels and the inclusivity and accessibility of training The project will be carried out by the following partners: - Actions Intégrées de Développement (Belgium) - Scuola Centrale Formazione (Italy) - Aspire-I Limited (UK) - Sociedade portuguesa de Inovacao-Consultadoria empresarial e fomento da inovacao S.A. (Portugal) - Convergence Emploi Cergy (France) - CSC – diversity (Belgium) These organisations are all active in the field of work based learning and social inclusion through training/employment. The partnership represents the private and social sectors as well key actors at policy level. Throughout its lifetime, NewT4S will directly engage with at least 20-30 trainers in work based learning and coordinators in partner organisations. Indirectly the project aims to reach almost 5000 beneficiaries: social enterprises, training organisations, public institutions (local, regional, national and European), private sector, academics, educational institutions etc. who will be reached through a series of dissemination activities (national workshops, websites and newsletter, final event) The NewT4S partnership will firstly carry out a needs analysis related to existing training tools, particularly focussing on those which are considered particularly popular and innovative in partner countries, and in particular within partner organisations. These common training tools will be provided by the trainers in partner organisation and wider stakeholders engaged through the dissemination and promotion of the project. At the end of the project the partners will publish recommendations, contributing to current debate and offering further ideas for future activities in the field of work based learning and social inclusion. The recommendations will be translated into 4 languages (english, french, italian, portuguese) and will be available from the end of the project on the NewT4S website, as well as through each partner’s website. The long term expected impact is improved services for trainers in work based learning, socio-educational development and the improvement of resources/methodologies in work based learning.
Work Based Learning ("WBL") enables vulnerable people to overcome a series of failures and exclusions by acquiring various key skills thanks the development of learning situations based on concrete action. The model stays acclaimed at European level because of its ability to enhance the employability of trainees and thus promote their reintegration both socially and professionally. Highly specialised technical skills are therefore necessary for the trainers, but are not sufficient, since the process of training requires simultaneous hard pedagogical skills. The objective of the 6 project partners was therefore to identify the needs in this area in order to develop new tools to support the training programmes. The aim was also to add an additional transversal dimension of promoting diversity in employment and to conclude this experience with a series of recommendations advocating the cause of "WBL", including an institutional dimension. Then the twenty and more trainers involved in the front line of the project have proceeded concretely on this way: > identify and exchange some training materials, > test them with trainees selected by each partner, > develop new materials based on the experiments carried out and informed opinions gathered during the organisation of workshops in the combined presence of more than one hundred WBL experts from 5 different countries, > develop common tools at the European level at the end of a week of training conducted in action, according to the major principle of "WBL", > develop some tools adapted to different more specific contexts, then potentially transposable into new ones on the basis of sheets evaluating and commenting on the process at each of its stages. The main themes revolved around : > evaluation of the trainees, > preparation for work placements, > fight against discrimination. On this basis, the partners propose a series of recommendations and working ideas intended for people working in the field and for people responsible for training administration and policy, emphasising the advantages and the innovative side of the teaching materials (grouped together in a toolbox) in order to continue the reflection on the different ways of organising the "WBL" and its challenges with a view to a wider dissemination of the model. All the results stay freely available on the project website (http://www.nt4s.eu/) and via the partners' portal.