Category: Belgian news

Capacity Building of VET Staff

Post author By enneproject
Post date 10 November 2020
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The thematic discussion on the topic Capacity Building of VET STAFF was moderated by Ms Darina Petrunova and Mrs Vanya Neycheva from European Center for Quality, Bulgaria.
In total 5 good practices -2 from Bulgaria and 3 from Belgium were presented. The good practices were related to the improvement of VET staff skills through participation in international teaching activities and working meetings and structured VET trainings.

Good practice 1 – Vocational High School of Electrical Engineering, Galabovo, Bulgaria
In February 2020 the team of the school held a working meeting with teachers from the Edirne Vocational High School in Turkey. Some specifics of the Turkish educational system were also highlighted and the teachers exchanged different ideas and best practices of teaching methodologies and techniques in the field of Electrical engineering.
Good practice 2 – Diagnose Car – Connectief, Belgium
It is a collaboration between the private sector and the ministry of education. In this project, private companies give access to the schools to a variety of modern cars with network technology, diagnostic equipment and technical data. All participating teachers receive Train the trainer sessions depending on the cars.
Good practice 3 – RTC East-Flanders, Belgium
RTC main objective is to activate and reinforce cooperation between education, companies and other labor market actors by connecting schools and businesses, sharing technology infrastructure and equipment and competence enhancement of teachers and students.
Good practice 4 – CREATE project, Syntra West, Belgium
The project aimed to organize 6 mobilities placement for 20 Belgian teachers in Barcelos, Portugal in the summer of 2019. The focus at CRE-ATE is on ICT-supporting teaching and the train-the-trainer principle. The project goal is not only to provide teachers with ICT skills, but also to give them a practical approach by using coaching methodology.
Good practice 5 – FUTURE FOR US, Bulgaria
The project was implemented by the Vocational high School of Construction and Woodworking ” Nedyo Ranchev “Stara Zagora and the teachers conducted a training placement in Barcelona in 2019. The main aim was to stimulate the use of digital methods by studying and introducing innovative pedagogical approaches and setting up a mediation team at school to reduce aggressive events, conflict situations and the number of dropouts of school children.

The thematic room gathered in total of 33 participants – many VET teachers, project coordinators; 3 management representatives and other stakeholders. Representatives from Belgium, Italy, Bulgaria, Albania, Ukraine joined the discussion. According to the participants the most suitable types of staff, mobilities are structured VET training and job shadowing. Moreover, 22 participants responded and highlighted that the main obstacles they face for participating in VET staff mobility projects are the language barriers and insufficient opportunities.

To conclude it can be stated that the content presented during the event was engaging and beneficial for the participants and space for networking was provided.

Capacity Building VET Staff: Resources available

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Sustainable Development Goals

Post author By enneproject
Post date 9 November 2020
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ENNE Project coordinated an international online conference on November the 9^th named VET4FUTURE.

The conference introduced to the future of vocational education thanks to Mr. Luca Pirozzi Policy Officer for VET at EAECA (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Commission)

The ZOOM event organized into 5 breakout rooms each of these dedicated to a specific thematic:

Recognition/validation of competences in WBL (Work Based Learning – national traineeships/transnational mobility/etc.)
Social Inclusion in VET (Disabilities, migrants, economic disadvantages, etc.)
Digital transformation / Distance Learning
Sustainability and contribution of VET to the achievement of UN Agenda 2030 SDGs
Capacity building of VET Staff

In the ZOOM breakout room dedicated to “Sustainability and contribution of VET to the achievement of UN agenda 2030 SDGs” the VET European schools members of the ENNE Network presented and shared their “best practices” in order to show how it is possible to boost ideas and collect contributions for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nation.

Sandro Pertini Institute of Afragola (Naples, Italy) presented its motto: “Sustain sustainable school”. The institute established a “free plastic week” and arranged interactive exhibitions where students can experiment the condition of being costumers and citizens passing through production activities. An opportunity to raise awareness on reducing waste through prevention, reduction and recycling;
The Alfonso Casanova Institute of Napoli (Italy) – in order to encourage students in engagement in favor of disadvantaged people – planned the realization of packaging for removable dental prosthesis for prisoners. This allows the development of transversal skills;
The National High school in Finance and Business of Sophia (Bulgaria) dedicates a school area to those students who have ideas in terms of contributing to the achievement of the UN goals arranging drawers to collect the students’ views. Other activities concern the realization of usable objects or art creations using only trash or garbage items.
The Orfini Institute of Foligno (Perugia, Italy) promoted the involvement of VET-schools in the development of sustainable urban centers establishing VET education programs relevant to the development of sustainable urban centers. The activities also concern the enhancement of cooperation and entrepreneurship creative skills among students.

Sustainable Development Goals: Resouces Available

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Recognition and Validation of Competences in WBL

Post author By enneproject
Post date 6 November 2020
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To celebrate the formal establishment of the 5 VET networks, ENNE’s project partners have decided to organise an online Conference, during the European Vocational Skills Week, to foster a first meeting between their VET communities, where they could interact and work towards their common goal – the Enhancement of VET quality and attractiveness.

Arts & Skills was responsible for moderating the thematic session “Recognition and Validation of Competences in Work Based Learning”.

National or international WBL programs are targeted to bridge the gap between the learning environment and real work environment, and different WBL strategies provide career awareness, career exploration opportunities, career planning activities and help students attain competencies such as positive work attitudes and other employable skills.

The recognition and validation of competencies in WBL environments refer to the identification and appreciation of the skills and competencies that an individual acquires through a work-based learning experience.
Although, WBL experiences can have different forms ((apprenticeship, internship, service learning, school-based enterprise, or industry projects) they should be well planned, monitored and assessed properly to become relevant for

The European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) is one of the most relevant EU frameworks developed to help the VET community implementing high-quality WBL programs:

ECVET provides a framework for the assessment, validation and recognition of learning outcomes, alongside a series of common tools and instruments able to support quality in mobility.
ECVET promotes the integration of mobility into existing learning pathways.
ECVET contributes to the development of a common language for use by different VET stakeholders and promotes mutual trust within the wider VET community.
ECVET supports the valorisation of key competences (such as foreign language skills or intercultural competence) alongside those that are more technically – or vocationally – oriented.

The implementation of ECVET was referred during the best practices presented by six of our network members, from Portugal, Italy and Germany, who shared with the audience good practices implemented by their VET organizations and related to WBL experiences.

Ms. Sonia Barani, from the “Italienische Handelskammer für Deutschland”, Germany, presented the MeMeVET project (mechatronics and metallurgical VET for sectors’ industries) and its outcomes. The project, implemented in 5 countries (DE, IT, ES, BG, SK) aimed at tackling some of the main issues impeding free mobility of workers and VET learners of the sector in Europe. One of the main issues is related to the difficulty of having one’s competencies and know-how recognized in another EU country. Another one, concerns the gap between the training and learning offer of VET institutions and the real needs of the labour market.

Ms Joana Soares from EP Felgueiras, Portugal, shared with the participants their experience in VET-Business cooperation at local and regional level concerning Curriculum development; Matching supply and demand of technicians; Development of technological devices (e.g. Robots) for the local industry; Social Inclusion and Monitoring of trainees after the completion of the course.

Ms. Margherita Battaglini, from ITE SCARPELLINI – Foligno, Italy, offered an overview of their experience with the implementation of ECVET not only on Transnational, but also National WBL experiences.

Ms. Alessia Montanucci, from I.O. Salvatorelli Moneta Marsciano, Italy, presented a mobility experience developed in Malta in 2019, that involved 15 students from the 3rd and the 4th year of high school. The internships were held at local businesses: museums, shops, state agencies, cruises for tourists, etc. which she had the opportunity to accompany for the whole training period.

From Portugal, Mr. Edgar Costa, from Vocational School Bento Jesus Caraça, shared how they adapted mandatory WBL experiences that should have been developed in a real working context, to a successful simulated business context due to the confinement imposed by COVID 19.

Mr Ferenc Naacke from “Berufliches Schulzentrum für Wirtschaft in Dresden, Germany, presented the “Healthy Lifestyle” Project and the approach that allowed their organization to implement 70 internships abroad, in 8 different countries, for students from the Social Insurance Course, whose training focuses mainly on administrative work of social insurance clerks, but not on the background knowledge in advising insured people on the prevention of diseases.

This session showed us how diverse work-based learning strategies can be and how multiple approaches can be addressed by VET organizations to improve and enhance VET quality and attractiveness.

We hope we have brought some inspiration to our audience for further projects and cooperation among our VET Community.

Recognition and Validation of Competences in Work-Based Learning: Resources available

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Digital transformation and distance learning

Post author By enneproject
Post date 5 November 2020
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Digital transformation and distance learning have been a hot topic since the Covid-19 outbreak.
This was also clear during the inscriptions for this theme at VET4FUTURE.
We give you a brief overview of the good practices that were shared.

BLEFT is an EU project for the development of e-learning modules in forestry. In Saxony (Germany) the official LernSax was put into service during the lockdown. Students and teachers worked online and found each other on this well-equipped platform for lessons, meetings, etc.
In Portugal, the Escola profissional C.J. de Campanha should find a new way to publish student work in graphic media. For this they used a virtual exhibition. Italian Fondazione Lepido Rocco bundled a lot of good practices on the website from which we discovered a CLIL training and the Sherwood project.
Finally, we have introduced to google classroom thanks to the tourist vocational school Aleko Konstantinov from Bulgaria.

Digital transformation and distance learning: Resources available

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Social Inclusion in VET

The first out of 20 principals of the European Pillar of Social Rights is devoted to education, training and life-long learning:

“Everyone has the right to quality and inclusive education, training and life-long learning in order to maintain and acquire skills that enable them to participate fully in society and manage successfully transitions in the labour market.”

(Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/deeper-and-fairer-economic-and-monetary-union/european-pillar-social-rights/european-pillar-social-rights-20-principles_en)

All around Europe, we can find numerous initiatives, projects and programmes supporting the inclusion of disadvantaged people in education and by this into work. They also show that the implementation of social inclusion in education and specifically in VET also depends on the structure of the educational system and relevant national policies in each country.
Following, we are going to introduce three good practices presented during the VET4FUTURE conference.

Individualised Education Plan
The Istituto Omnicomprensivo Giano dell’Umbria – Bastardo from Italy started working with Individualised Educational Plans (IEP) in 2019. It is a holistic approach to education enhancing the capabilities of the students, which do not only include academic, but also social competencies and life skills. The approach is carried throughout the whole cycle of education starting from primary school until secondary school including vocational education and training. Moreover, IEPs can be applied not only to disadvantaged but all students. Each student is assessed, individual goals are set and appropriate didactical measures and methods are chosen to achieve them. Based on the IEP Life Projects are developed for disadvantaged students encouraged by their achievements. In order for this approach to work, the social background and community around a student needs to be involved – the school, the family, relevant associations, social services as well as companies – with the goal to support each student in finding a suitable workplace.
Inclusive Internships
The keys to successful inclusion of people with disabilities at the workplace were presented by DomSpain Consulting from Spain. It is important to be aware of myths and preconceived ideas, involve the whole company, raise awareness among the staff and implement an effective communication strategy. Especially conscious and unconscious biases can be a challenge for inclusion. It needs to be taken into account that students taking part in an internship at a company have different special needs, which need to be addressed and solutions to be found. For persons with reduced mobility architectural barriers might need to be overcome. Different communication methods and technology can be used for persons with hearing or visual impairments. Companies should also think about the accessibility of their documents and their website. Persons with dyslexia or other learning disabilities will be grateful for easy-reading instructions. Therefore, a careful evaluation of the specific situation should take place in advance in order to meet the needs of the intern and guarantee a successful start of the internship.
SEN Students in Mobilities
An empowering step further can be the participation of students with special educational needs (SEN) in Erasmus+ projects and mobilities, like in the case of the Istituto d’istruzione superiore Ciuffelli-Einaudi, Todi in Italy. Throughout the project “Linking Business, Enterprise & Entrepreneurial Skills Internationally”, the students involved in the project activities also included SEN students in order to foster peer communication and cooperation. The students were able to take part in mobilities in the partner countries of the project.
The partnership focused on what the students can do and not what they cannot. Learning was facilitated through creative activities, which promote responsibility, teamwork, risk taking and problem solving. Furthermore, the activities were designed to correspond to the different learning styles of the students. Due to these activities and the possibility to take part in mobility among many other things the confidence of the SEN students increased and their communication skills improved.

Social inclusion in VET: Resources available

Belgian news

Erasmus Duaal

Erasmus Duaal is a rather atypical Erasmus+ KA1 project. It attracts participants from various training programmes (such as hospitality and catering, care or construction) and from all over the country. Most of them do not know each other until they find themselves abroad together: their schools are not official project partners themselves, but they have an agreement with project promoter SYNTRA Vlaanderen.

In the spring of 2018 and 2019, 96 Flemish dual learners from 14 Flemish schools did a two-week work placement in 9 different countries. In the same period, 32 pupils from abroad were welcomed in Flanders.

For the Spring of 2020, for 84 candidates had been found work placements abroad, but COVID-19 made the mobilities impossible. Hopefully, part of them will be able to go abroad in October 2020.

Boosting professional and personal skills

During their stay abroad, participants have an opportunity to develop specific professional and technical skills and generic work skills at the placement company, to improve their knowledge of a foreign language and to follow a sociocultural programme developed by SYNTRA Vlaanderen’s foreign partners. Learning often goes both ways: ‘The greatest experience was when I was able to teach the Estonians to make fries. When they were ready, a dozen people immediately gathered around the bowl of fries’ (Nick, Cook, Estonia). Back in Belgium, participants take on an ambassador role in their classroom, school or training centre, where they help promote the importance of the international dimension and international mobility in their own organisation and region.

An empowering experience

The feedback is very positive:

the large majority of participants are (very) satisfied with their experience, and would participate in another work placement abroad in the future. They would also recommend participation to their peers;
many find that the project has boosted their personal development: ‘I’ve learned how to stay organised in a foreign country where they speak a foreign language. Usually, around strangers, I’m a shy person, afraid to take up a leadership role. But now I was very willing to take the lead and guide my fellow Erasmus students. […]’ (Joyce, sales person, Scotland, UK);
they also point out the opportunity to meet new people and to experience/explore other cultures and habits, while also working on team spirit within their own group. ‘I’ve tasted a bit of another culture. […] It’s an adventure I’ll never forget!’ (Lien, Care, Netherlands)

Almost all participants received an – often (very) positive – Europass mobility document, signed by the placement company: ‘This is an empowering experience for these young people, who really come into their own. And the Europass mobility document will be a great reference later in their careers.’ (Maarten, Flemish supervisor, Italy).

More info: Erasmus Duaal (in Dutch)

SYNTRA Vlaanderen is the Flemish Agency for Entrepreneurial Training and is responsible, among other things, for the recognition of the Flemish placement companies. SYNTRA Vlaanderen is a member of CONNECTIEF vzw, the Flemish ENNE-partner.

Belgian news

Yambol, a city in the south-eastern region of Bulgaria

Post author By enneproject
Post date 3 August 2020
No Comments on Yambol, a city in the south-eastern region of Bulgaria

Yambol is a city in the south-eastern region of Bulgaria and is the capital of the Yambol Province, a region bordering with Turkey. With roots dating back to ancient Thrace, Yambol has a rich history but is a thoroughly modern town.

One of the symbols of the city of Yambol is the ancient Tracian site of Kabile.

Kabyle was established four thousand years ago and is a major archaeological attraction today. People consider the archaeological reserve as one of Bulgaria’s top 100 attractions.

Parts of the site are beautifully restored and give you a feel of what it looked like in the different periods – pre-historic, Thracian, Hellenistic, Roman. The Kabyle Archaeological Reserve is located about 10 km from the city of Yambol.

Yambol is also famous with the spectacular kukeri festival.

Every year in February, Kukeri mummer groups from all over Bulgaria, gather in Yambol to participate in a pageant and competition. The event is called ‘Kukerlandia’ and is most commonly known as the Yambol Kukeri Festival. In the Bulgarian tradition, the masked dancers both imitate and repel demons and other evil influences. They purify village homes and welcome the spring. The date varies from year to year.

Medieval Yambol Fortress

It is assumed that the Yambol fortress was built in X-XI century, after the fall of Bulgaria under Byzantine rule.

Artefacts from two other settlements, dating between the periods of the IV-VI century, were found after several archaeological studies of the region.

More information about trips and attractions in this amazing city you can find at the following link: www.touristsecrets.com/destinations/get-the-most-out-of-your-stay-in-yambol-bulgaria/

Belgian news

Belgium, the great country in the north of Europe

Post author By enneproject
Post date 28 July 2020
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Located between France, the Netherlands and Germany, Belgium seems small but it is big in its versatility and therefore worth a visit.

From the coast on the North Sea to the wooded south you will encounter a lot of nature, history, culture and good food.

On visitflanders.com is the best way to find all information but some absolute headlines deserve the spotlight.

Visit the Han caves or a walk in the Ardennes forests and combine with the citadel of Dianant.

Drink the best coffee in the coziest setting.
Dive into the expirience of music and festivals like Tomorrowland, Rock Werchter or choose smaller for otter trotter or campo solar.

Dine in style with typical Flemish products such as Brussels sprouts or asparagus in one of the many restaurants.

Enjoy a Ghent waterzooi!
Inhale the peace of the the ruin of the Abbey of Villers La Ville.

Belgian news

COVID19: How we deal with you

Post author By enneproject
Post date 30 March 2020
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For the past few days Belgium has been living in containment. We are not (yet) in complete containment, but we have been recommended to stay home as much as possible. The government has therefore taken the decision to close establishments and provide telework to certain sectors. As far as education is concerned, primary and secondary schools are open, but teachers do not give lessons. Schools remain open for children who have no choice but to come to school because the parents work in the medical sector, in supermarkets, police, education etc. Regarding the courses, in schools where there is an online platform, teachers and students continue their courses online.

But this is only in schools where students and parents come from a social middle class. The children all have internet and a computer at home. For many public schools, this is not the case, teachers send lessons by email, for those who have one, and others send it by mail. A much more critical situation in terms of equal opportunities.

Fortunately for the students, teachers are not allowed to give new subjects but mostly revision, so students will not be stuck on it. At least that is the case so far. Parents, students and faculty remain very concerned by this situation which is very close to the end of the year exams.

For Erasmus+ students abroad, they have all been repatriated. At the moment there is no more news on the situation. This is also the case for students doing their internship in Belgium. Students do not know if the exams and internships will be postponed, validated or cancelled.

We are therefore more in fear of the future than the present regarding the continuity of learning and teaching. Those measures put in place don’t really reassure and convince parents and students.

www.rtbf.be

Belgian news

L’animation “Ta voix, ton choix, à toi de voter!”

Post author By enneproject
Post date 4 March 2020
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L’Athénée Royal Bruxelles 2 est une école de la Communauté française de Belgique. Ce pouvoir organisateur a défini des missions prioritaires pour tous les élèves qui suivent son enseignement.
L’une d’elles consiste à préparer les élèves à devenir des “citoyens responsables, capables de contribuer au développement d’une société démocratique, solidaire, pluraliste et ouverte aux autres cultures”.
(Décret du 27 juillet 1997).

C’est dans ce cadre que tous les élèves suivent une heure de cours obligatoire de philosophie et citoyenneté, quelle que soit l’option suivie. C’est grâce au professeur de cette discipline qu’une sortie a été organisée pour les élèves de 5e technique assistant(e)-pharmacien(ne) au Parlement Bruxellois.

Organisée au sein de l’hémicycle du Parlement Bruxellois, l’animation “Ta voix, ton choix, à toi de voter !” a permis aux élèves de siéger à la place des députés. Après une présentation des institutions politiques belges, des partis politiques, de leurs couleurs et des compétences régionales, les élèves ont été pris en charge en petits groupes afin de créer leur propre parti et établir leur programme. Ils ont ensuite défendu leurs trois priorités pour leur région, devant l’ensemble des jeunes. Un scrutin a ensuite été organisé, les faisant passer du rôle d’élu à celui d’électeur.
Il s’agit d’une expérience participative très enrichissante qui permet à nos jeunes élèves, bientôt en âge de voter, de comprendre et de s’approprier les enjeux des élections dans leur pays.

Pour plus d’informations, consultez ici.