The project aimed to strengthen the inclusive role of dual vocational education and training by improving access to internships and apprenticeships for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. It focused on helping VET systems and employers in Greece, Bulgaria, and Germany become better prepared to include disadvantaged learners in real work environments. Its objectives included analysing VET qualifications in the three countries to identify those suitable for inclusive practical training, developing a practical guide for companies explaining why and how to offer internships to people with disabilities, and providing guidance on preparing workplace mentors. The project also aimed to create a digital platform to share resources and good practices, and to establish a transnational network, “Inclusive voice of dual VET”, connecting schools, companies, training organisations, and institutions. Overall, the project sought to reduce inequalities in access to work-based learning, improve employability, support the transition to the labour market for vulnerable learners, and promote social inclusion through high-quality, inclusive dual VET systems.
We applied this project to address a concrete and unmet need in vocational education and training: the limited inclusion of learners with disabilities in dual VET and workplace-based learning. While inclusion and employability are core European priorities, companies often lack the knowledge, tools, and confidence to offer internships to disadvantaged learners, resulting in unequal access to real work experience. As a special education VET provider, we face these challenges daily. Our learners encounter barriers when moving from education to employment, including scarce internship placements, insufficiently prepared mentors, and weak links between schools and employers. At the same time, labour market needs and skills shortages highlight the untapped potential of inclusive dual VET. The project responds to these needs by developing practical, transferable tools for companies, strengthening mentor preparation, and fostering cooperation between VET providers and employers across three countries. By combining complementary expertise and good practices, we support equal access to training, improves employability outcomes for learners with disabilities, and contributes to more flexible, innovative, and inclusive VET systems.