The project addressed three strategic issues encouraged by the “Erasmus 2021-2027 Enriching Lives, Opening Minds” booklet: Digital content, technologies and practices; Initial and continuous training for teachers, trainers and other education staff; New learning and teaching methods and approaches. The main objective was to facilitate innovative, digital and inter-European collaboration to encourage Wellness and Cosmetology VET course providers, teachers and staff to learn from each other and to create new digital materials for distance learning in VET. By connecting international teachers to the European community, the project aimed to improve the digital learning process of VET students through the upskilling of key competencies while reinforcing strong, European identity and values. The project partners worked around the entire European Area, both at local, national and international levels and with Communities of Practices to maximise the relevance of the project’s result while improving the learning and opportunities of the target group. Overall, the project aimed to tackle COVID-19 consequences and create more innovative, inclusive, digital and open-access education in VET.
The project was conceived to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, which was triggering unprecedented social and economic consequences. Readjusting established practices and day-to-day activities was fundamental to adapting to the “new normal”. The VET educational system was negatively affected too, not having enough tools and methodology to properly transition to distance learning. This caused disproportionate effects on professional courses such as Wellness and Cosmetology in which, to avoid interruption in their education and training, teachers were requested to promptly switch to digital, interactive and user-friendly materials. However, most of them did not have experience and know-how in online teaching and distance learning, facing challenges such as lack of attention and motivation from students, lack of methodology and strategy, as well as lack of experience with European platforms of portals needed to facilitate this process. These challenges as well as the need to tackle the rise of nationalist sentiments in EU countries (resulting from the pandemic outbreak), represented an opportunity to develop innovative and digital solutions for the VET system that could support education while contributing to a stronger European identity.