The project operates in the field of vocational and educational training (VET) with a focus on phlebology, a specific discipline of the medical profession. Until today, implementation of the EU VET tools and recommendation has not been carried out in this area and therefore no harmonized training standards, qualifications and VET accreditation are available. This depends on the fact that the discipline, which deals mostly with the treatments of venous and lymphatic disorders, although fully recognized does not have specific specialization courses in most of the Member States; on the contrary, education and training in topics connected to phlebology are often included in courses having a wider scope. The current practice is instead to have other specialists (such as dermatologists, vascular surgeons, etc.) who also treat persons affected by venous and lymphatic diseases. The incidence of these diseases in EU is increasing. It is estimated that in 2050 roughly 35% of population will be affected compared to the current 25%. This is the effect of increased life expectancy and obesity of the population. Such a widespread pathology is a heavy burden for society in terms of costs of health care services and hours of work lost. It is considered that the treatment of these diseases will affect more than 1% of the national health budgets in Europe. It is evident that doctors specialized in other areas can not fully ensure a correct treatment of patients, with all the related risks. While a general understanding of the problem exists in the scientific society a clear solution has not yet been proposed. Our project will therefore define a training system for practitioners/experts in phlebology and the related professional qualifications of the phlebologist at EU level, also to pave the way for the creation of a new ESCO profile in the field. Main objectives: - Introduce a standard European terminology for skills and qualifications necessary to operate as a phlebologist, also within the ESCO classification; - Create a European VET curriculum with learning outcomes that will enrich the professional profile of the doctors practicing in the sector; - Introduce ECVET credits in for the training in phlebology and include the acquired competence and qualifications in the National Qualification Frameworks; - Foster digital integration in learning through the design and implementation of one e-learning platform. The consortium is composed of 8 partners from 4 EU countries. Their work will produce four intellectual outputs: -O1: European VET curriculum for phlebologists; -O2: E-learning platform; - O3: Training handbook; - O4: Online hub for career and training guidance. Expected impact: a) On target groups: - Boost the careers of phlebologists thanks to the EU-wide recognition of the ‘expert in phlebology’ with integration of the awarded qualification within the National Qualification Frameworks; a periodical career guidance and counselling activated through the online hub; - ECVET accreditation of professional skills acquired in VET courses in the field, also in non-formal and informal environments; - Recognition of acquired titles at EU level, that will also create more opportunities to move from a country to another during their job career, thus stimulating intra-European mobility of workers; - Enhanced language and ICT skills; b) Other stakeholders Trainers will enhance their teaching competence and professional profile, through the acquisition of new ICT knowledge and teaching methodologies, also non-formal. They will receive a positive benefit from the exchange of practices and working moments with trainers and professors from other countries, which will allow them to widen their teaching perspectives and opening up to a better cooperation with foreign professors. Policy-makers will receive new findings, evidence-base and recommendation that could be used to feed policy reforms in the educational and lifelong learning sector, mainstreaming the new methodologies in future policy strategies and introducing the profile of phlebologist inside the medical jobs. Hospitals managers will increase the number of competent doctors that are expert in phlebology who shall ensure a better treatment to the clients of the hospitals and contribute to increase the number of patients affected by sicknesses connected to phlebology that will use the services of the hospitals.
The TRAPP project operated in the field of vocational education and training (VET), with a focus on phlebology, a specific discipline of the medical profession. The project started from the need of developing an EU level VET curriculum with harmonized training standards, qualifications, and accreditations. This depends on the fact that phlebology which deals with the treatment of venous and lymphatic disorders, although it is fully recognised in practice, does not have specific specialization courses in most of the Member States. On the contrary, education and training in topics connected to phlebology are often included in courses that have a wider scope. On the other hand, doctors specialized in various disciplines (such as dermatology, angiology, vascular, surgery, etc.) treat also patients affected by venous and lymphatic disorders. The need is becoming more urgent if we take into consideration that the incidence of these diseases in the EU is increasing dramatically. It is in fact estimated that in 2050 roughly 35% if the population will be affected, compared to the current incidence of 25%. This is the effect of the increased life expectancy and of obesity. Such widespread pathology is a heavy burden for society in terms of health care costs and of working hours lost. It must be considered that the treatment of venous and lymphatic disorders will affect more than 1% if the national health budgets in Europe. It is, therefore, evident that doctors specialised in other fields can not fully ensure the correct treatment of the patients, with all the related risks. While a general understanding of the problem exists in the scientific and medical community, a clear solution has not yet been proposed. The TRAPP project has proposed to fill the existing gaps by delivering a VET model for practitioners in phlebology and a professional qualification framework to be adopted at the EU level, also in order to pave the way for the creation of a new ESCO profile in the field. This result led to a first agreement with the International Union of Angiology (UIA) for the recognition and certification of the skills and learning outcomes acquired by the doctors who participate in the TRAPP VET course. The project achieved the following objectives: - Definition of a common list of skills and qualifications to operate as a phlebologist, also in relation to the ESCO classification and the National Qualification Frameworks; - Creation of the first European VET course in phlebology, which is composed of 13 modules; - Increased digitalisation in education through the launch of an e-learning platform; - First recognition and certification of the TRAPP course granted by the International Union of Angiology (IUA). Three intellectual outputs were produced and delivered: - O1: European VET curriculum in phlebology; - O2: E-learning platform; - O3: Training handbook. In addition to that, a pilot VET course in phlebology was implemented in the e-learning platform. A total of 73 professional doctors from 4 countries (Italy, Greece, Portugal and Romania) completed the course. The main impact attained in trained doctors s is their increased professional profile thanks to the acquisition and/or update of skills in 13 medical disciplines linked to phlebology. This will allow primarily to treat their patients more effectively. Additionally, thanks to the use of the e-learning platform, they have increased their digital skills that are now a necessary knowledge in a digital economy and society. The partners' staff and trainers have enhanced their teaching competencies and professional profile, through the acquisition of new teaching skills in a digital environment. They have also received positive benefits from the exchange of practices and working moments in a multinational environment, which allowed them to enrich their teaching perspectives and to open up to better cooperation with doctors and professionals from other countries. Policy-makers have received new findings and recommendations to be sued to feed policy reforms in the educational field by mainstreaming the new methodologies in future policy strategies and by introducing the phlebologist among the medical professions. Hospitals can benefit from a higher number of skilled phlebologists. This shall ensure better treatment for their patients and contribute to increasing the number of patients who will use their services and facilities.