Project Overview

 

Mobility indicators, especially in the field of vocational education and training are low in Europe.  In 2015, Eurostat calculated that, on average 3.1% IVET learners (at ISCED level 3) travel as part of their learning experience. By 2020, the aim of the European Council is for at least 6% of all 18-34 year-olds, with a VET background, to be granted a learning experience abroad. According to the Cedefop Mobility Scoreboard that monitors VET mobility based on 14 key action areas, the average EU performance for 2017, in terms of ensuring quality for mobility, is considered unsatisfactory.

The adoption of the European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) draws attention to the capacity of individual countries to facilitate a system to support and monitor progress in ECVET implementation. It is being increasingly recognised, that apart from system capacity, it is crucial that teachers have the knowledge and skills to promote learner mobility. This raises the issue of initial and continuing professional development for teachers. 

In order to promote successful learner mobility and greater progress in the adoptation of ECVET across Europe, we also have to address the professional development needs of VET teachers.  It is increasingly recognised that teachers are an important key to unlocking the potential of ECVET and that they need special competences in order to support the mobility of learners.  Special attention will be paid to learners with educational difficulties in order to support inclusive education in VET programs and in VET teacher education.

The overall aim of the project is to make students and teachers better equipped to work in international environments, both at home and abroad. International mobility indicators in the European Union in the area of vocational education and training,  are low. The project partners (University of Tartu (EE), Tartu Vocational Education Centre (EE), University of Applied Sciences in Jyvaskyla (FI), Vocational College Lappia, Tornio (FI), West Nottinghamshire College (UK), CESIE (IT) and Acta Center (RO) recognise the need to enhance international mobility in VET training programmes in their institutions. Within this context, we understand that the barriers to mobility are often related to VET institutions` teachers, who have limited experience and readiness to work with international partners.  The Project provides a practical tool  for VET institutions, which supports and encourages international cooperation and staff/student mobility.

The two main objectives for the project are:

Firstly, to create a functional and sustainable strategic partnership to facilitate the internationalisation of VET programmes. The strategic partnership is the main body that will work to implement the project successfully and generate real value for institutions, countries and the wider European community.

The second objective is to create a specific  tool for internationalisation, which is not currently available. We aim to generate a digital environment (hereinafter named Platform), which will provide support and practical help to VET institutions (as an Intellectual Output).  This will be a multidimensional environment, designed to assist VET programmme teachers, trainers and students to develop their intercultural competences and reflection skills before, during and after a period of mobility. The platform will support international mobility,  preparing and helping teachers and students through practical advice and the sharing of valuable learning experiences.   

The training module methodology will be based on a new approach to learning. This approach emphasises the significance of the learner’s own contributions to their learning process through initiative-taking and active involvement. This is the primary reason why we will be developing a flexible, interactive and engaging training module to enhance international mobility. We are going to apply the methodology of experiential and hands on learning.

Project impact and longer term benefits: The MOBVET project will result in increased numbers of mobile VET teachers and learners in Erasmus+ Programme countries and will provide a high quality mobility experience through all stages of study abroad. By attracting, monitoring and evaluating mobility, the project will enhance the internationalisation process of VET programs and VET teacher education.

MOBVET results in implementing COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION (2020) on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience

The MOBVET project  results are fulfilling the objective of the European Education Area to develop a European learning space where high quality and inclusive education and training, not hampered by borders and which aims at removing obstacles for recognition of learning periods abroad, and work towards the smoother cross-border validation of training and lifelong learning outcomes.

According to EU Council Recommendation (2020) on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience, all member states will promote vocational education and training systems in an international context so that they are recognised as a worldwide reference for vocational learners and at least 8 % of learners in VET benefit from a learning mobility abroad (p. 5).