The TOBP project connects strategic partners to set new standards for skills recognition of prior learning for migrants in the field of Transcultural Early Life Family Care (TELFC). It offers an answer to the lack of social cohesion and strengthens the integration possibilities of migrants. The main impacts are a) on young families with small children (from pregnancy up to the age of 6) in transition phases (double-layered transitions from pregnancy to young parenthood – from home to host country) to provide better services b) in relation to skills shortage because of a lack of professionalization in the field of Early Life Family Care (ELFC) towards transcultural competences. The innovative job profile “transition mentor” is created to support the integration process of migrants and to professionalize the field of ELFC. Currently we face skill gaps and skills- shortage of well-trained professionals in TELFC that arises due to the growing number of migrant families. Furthermore we are using new digital technologies (Open Badges) that are currently an expanding informal recognition tool within IT and the Business sector. These badges are integrated in an open badge platform with an added virtual learning environment, that a) enables migrants to validate their foreign qualifications (informal, non-formal and formal) to have more chances to find a job in the European Union and b) provides open access to gaining new skills and qualifications as transition mentor. Methodically we are using Participatory Action Research (PAR), an innovative approach which represents a paradigm shift, giving members of marginalized groups a voice; thus offering a new perspective: their experiences, their everyday knowledge, and their cultural concepts can feed into the development process of TOBP. The main outcome is the TOBPlatform, an open virtual validation and educational space that helps to educate much needed staff in ELFC and validates prior learning of migrants aspiring to become transition mentors in the field of ELFC. The main activities relate to the development and production of 5 Intellectual Outputs, 4 Learning Teaching Training Activities, that are occurring in transition phases and 3 Multiplier Events will be used to disseminate project’s outcomes. Around 900 individuals are involved in the project as a primary target group, but our outputs have the potential and relevance to affect the whole ELFC sector. Especially with our interactive Inventory of Transcultural Transition Cases we provide the opportunity for HEI and VET professionals to use and store developed teaching cases. The establishment of a European Social Network on Transition Mentoring completes the actions and guarantees sustainability. The project’s innovative approach coupled with newly developed open technology will result in long term benefits for marginalized groups in Europe and helps to strengthen social cohesion through transnational validation of migrant’s knowledge, competences and transition skills.
The TOBP project connected higher education partners, working life partners, and IT solutions and dissemination experts in order to set new standards for transition mentoring and show possible pathways for skills recognition of prior learning for migrants in the field of Transcultural Early Life Family Care. It offers an answer to the lack of social cohesion and strengthens the integration possibilities of migrants. The main impacts are a) on young families with small children (from pregnancy up to the age of 6) in transition phases (double-layered transitions from pregnancy to young parenthood – from home to host country in five transition phases – administrative, interface, relationship, participation, and boundary) to provide better services b) in relation to skills shortage because of a lack of professionalization in the field of Early Life Family Care (ELFC) towards transcultural competences c) on HE students from European universities of applied sciences, especially in the health and social care study subjects. The profile of “transition mentor” was developed based on interviews, literature review, action labs, and transition case studies in order to support the integration process of migrants and to professionalize the field of ELFC. It responds to the skill gaps and skills- shortage of well-trained professionals in TELFC that arises due to the growing number of migrant families. Therefore, the set of action competencies needed is completed by assessment criteria of each set of action competencies. The competence profile and user manuals were published and translated. Based on the Transition competence profile, we developed a complex learning platform that consists of 20 learning scenarios structured into 6 learning sessions (1 “teaser” session that consists of one learning scenario from each transition phase, 5 learning sessions on each transition phase). We developed complex learning alignment templates, that ensure the interlinkage between the Transition competence profile and the self-assessed learning scenarios. In order to accomplish our goal, we used new digital technologies, Open Badges. These badges are integrated in an open badge platform with an added virtual learning environment, that a) enables migrants to validate their foreign qualifications (informal, non-formal, and formal) to have more chances to find a job in the European Union and b) provides open access to gaining new skills and qualifications as transition mentor. After several rounds of internal discussion, we used the Moodle learning and badge issue platform. Our methodological approach was built upon the Participatory Action Research proceedings, emphasis on co-creative practices and interdisciplinary cooperation. The main outcome of our efforts is the Transition competence profile and the TOBP learning platform, an open virtual validation and educational space that helps to educate much-needed staff in ELFC and validates prior learning of migrants aspiring to become transition mentors in the field of ELFC. The platform was successfully piloted in ME2 in Kosovo and launched in ME3 in Brussels. Based on the Annex VI of the project contract due to the budget cuts, the activities were organized in 4 Intellectual Outputs, 3 Multiplier Events were organized in order to disseminate the project’s outcomes with the total visit of 85 participants, plus the consortium members. Around 800 were involved in the project as a primary target group, but our outputs have the potential and relevance to affect the whole ELFC sector. The project’s innovative approach coupled with newly developed open technology will result in long-term benefits for marginalized groups in Europe and help to strengthen social cohesion through transnational validation of migrants’ knowledge, competencies, and transition skills. We succeeded to deliver a sustainability plan in each of the consortium institutions, proving the need for transcultural competencies in the migrant family assistance field. The ongoing dissemination activities of the ENSIS that are planned also after the lifetime of the project ensures that the TOBP project result will be further implemented. ENSIS was in charge of dissemination strategy throughout the project development and proved to be the best partner for the upcoming dissemination efforts. The TOBP project brought also some difficulties and learning experiences that suggest future development in the field. The transition mentor competencies proved to be needed and appreciated by both ELFC and migrant work clients as well as professionals and volunteers. The local languages variants of the TOBP materials were often required by project events participants. Nevertheless, the quality translations could not in all times be delivered voluntarily and it limited the outreach of the project results. The IT solutions appeared a time-consuming part of the process.