This week we have received in Bilbao our partners from the Erasmus+ project SIMPLE as occasion of our third transnational meeting. Counting with the assistance of our associated VET schools Centro Formativo Otxarkoaga and Cooperativa Peñascal, the aim of the meeting was to learn from the different actions/methodologies these 2 VET schools use for the integration of migrants. In Otxarkoaga, we had the opportunity to meet with the responsible of the “First Welcome” Programme and two learners from Morocco and Pakistan who participated in it when they arrived to Bilbao. Cooperativa Peñascal shared with us different actions they put in practice in order to encourage migrant students to give the best out of them, giving them an active role in their own education but also through programmes where they themselves can help others in their same situation, making them feel useful and empowered. It was a really nice experience to learn, to share and to include in the good practices we are gathering through our project!

After almost 2 years developing materials for VET teachers and learners of electronics, level 1-3 EQF, this week in Greece we completed the last module, done by our Greek partners, about sensors. During the project we have produced different modules to train electronic skills related with the use of PBP to programme microcontrollers. In total, 6 modules have been produced, focusing on different peripherals such as keyboard, LCD screen, motors or sensors. The complete manual with the materials will be available soon in English, Spanish, Turkish, Italian, Greek, Romanian and Portuguese in the project Website, www.pbpinvet.eu  

The DELTA Project, co-financed by the Erasmus+ Programme and coordinated by Dundee & Angus College, started last October with 2 objectives. On one hand, bring closer to companies what happens in VET colleges (how students learn, how teachers keep updated on companies´ needs, what international experience is offered to both groups…). On the other hand, improve the training and recognition of the role of instructors in company, who hosts our VET students to complement their training to access the job market with guarantees on their professional quality. These days, the project team formed by organizations from Germany, Scotland, Romania, Sweden, Italy and HETEL has met in Durango to share the work done to achieve the first objective. To do so, we have created a very easy to use tool, which guides the student to make an effective presentation to companies not only of his/her professional and personal competences but also of the VET school. During the meeting, two students presented their own portfolio, done together with their teachers. The work done to achieve the second objective has also started during this meeting, where we counted with 2 VET teachers from HETEL´s schools, Mikel García from MGEP and Arkaitz Bernaola from Zulaibar. The next stage will be the creation of a working group with companies in each country to bring their contributions in order to create a tool useful to facilitate their incorporation to the dual system.

The EURspace Project is aimed to develop and test a methodology to compare learning outcomes and attribute ECVET credits in VET programmes along Europe. Along 2 years, we have been working on the national curriculums in cookery for levels EQF 3-4 in different countries: Portugal, Lithuania, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Romania and France, identifying the learning outcomes in each country and conceiving a matching matrix to identify which ones we have in common. This week in Portugal, with our matching matrix ready, we have gone one step forward, attributing ECVET credits to the units of learning in our VET cookery programmes, following the recommendations of the EU Parliament and the ECVET discussion group. The way to achieve a common EU framework for VET is difficult and long, but we are giving our first steps. In the Project Website, the methodology used will be available in short time. ¡Don´t miss it!  www.eurspace.eu

Within the Erasmus+ project DELTA, coordinated by Dundee and Angus College (Scotland), last week three teachers from HETEL (Mikel García from MGEP, Iagoba Bergara from Lea Artibai and Arkaitz Bernaola from Zulaibar) were in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany for a study visit about the VET system in this country, especifically to learn about the type of training tutors in company receive. In Germany, only those with a certificate given by Chambers of Commerce and recognised by the corresponding “Land” (state) can be tutors in company. Thus, if a company wants to host a trainee it needs to have at least one person (the one in charge of training this trainee) with that certificate. This is in many cases a requisite asked by companies in order to hire their staff. During the study visit, the group of teachers visited a VET centre to know how the relation between VET centres and companies is in Germany. They also had the opportunity to visit the training centre of Arcelor Mittal, an in company space where the company trains students in dual VET. In this visit they learnt how the follow up and evaluation is mady by the tutor in company, which kind of training he/she has received and how important this is for companies. Lastly, the teachers also visited IHP Frankfurt Oder before coming back to the Basque Country.

We are having this week the second meeting of the Erasmus+ project Mobiliteach, aimed to train teachers to better prepare students to work in an international environment, being this through a mobility experience or by the integration in international teams. The first summer school to train teachers will take place in Bologna (Italy) during the last week of June and will last for 5 days. During this period, the programme will be focused on 3 main aspects: –          –  Intercultural communication and awareness. –          – Management of mobility projects. –          – International WBL We already have selected some participants to the summer school, one of them the responsible of international relations in Zabalburu Ikastetxea, Rosa Núñez, who has attended the meeting and provided valuable feedback to define our programme. Thank you Rosa!

This week we are having the final meeting of the Inclusive VET project, coordinated by ROC Leijgraaf, in Budapest. After almost 3 years, the partners from Turkey, Finland, Netherlands, Germany and the Basque Country have been able to design, develop and pilot 2 results aimed to facilitate the implementation of inclusion in vocational education. The first tool is a Guide, addressed specially to managers in VET schools but not exclusively, offering a step by step process of those aspects to bear in mind to build inclusion in an educational organization. The Guide is not intended to offer a “suit them all” solution, but to provide a starting point for those who would like to incorporate inclusion in their strategy. The second tool is a “train the trainer” manual, named “All on Board”, aimed to develop the necessary knowledge and skills among the staff in an organization so the implementation of inclusion will be possible. The manual complements the guide and comes together with an example for a 5 days training programme, including theoretical background and resources to deliver the training. In the pilot session celebrated in the Basque Country, HETEL counted with the participation of VET teachers from Centro Formativo Otxarkoaga, Zulaibar Arratiako Lanbide Ikastegia, Centro San Viator de Sopuerta, Egibide, Goierri, Escela de Química y Electrónica de Indautxu and Göteborg Technical College. The final versions of both results will be available in the following weeks in the project Website: http://www.inclusive-vet.eu/ The Basque teachers who attended the pilot session in the Basque Country are also attending the last meeting of the project in Budapest. Because cooperation and co-creation are Abantean values!

HETEL International is this week in Novo Mesto (Slovenia) with the partners of SIMPLE, an Erasmus+ project to exchange good practices in the use of peer learning techniques for a better inclusion of immigrants and refugees in VET systems in Europe. During these days in Slovenia we are having the chance to exchange the methods used in our organizations to make every person feel included, focusing especially on the support offered to migrant students. In this framework, we also got to meet people who work with our partner from Slovenia (Grm Novo Mesto) offering support to immigrant students who need extra help due to language problems or difficulties for social integration. It has been impressive to see how so many agents are involved, many times on a voluntary basis, to work for a better society for all. We find that indeed very Abantean!