UpGrad_Me 2.0

Background The UpGrad_Me 2.0 project arose as a result of the findings of the UpGrad_Me project (ID:2018-2-MT01-KA205-038523), which focused on fostering the personal brand of young migrants through the use of new information and communication technologies. UpGrad_Me 2.0 wanted to go further by converting the results of this project into tools that will allow for the labour orientation in an autonomous way through gamification. Employment rates of migrant youth are generally low, more so during recession, so applying for UpGrad_ME 2.0 was a priority, migrant youth could learn while playing a game. With CARDET joining the consortium, the idea of creating Escape Rooms came out easily to introduce the Information and Communication Technologies and Gamification methodologies. It was also important to make use of a tool already available at EU level, the NACE system, the categorization of the professional skills, that is a good identification of what a person can market to access employment. In a nutshell, the needs addressed were reduction of unemployment, easy career guidance, Learning through game, Diffusion of the NACE system of Categorisation of available professions, Labour orientation, Access to e-learning platforms by MNARs. Objectives UpGrad_Me2.0 aimed to improve the employability of migrant youth, newcomers, asylum seekers, and refugees (young MNAR) in the European Union by promoting career counselling and labour orientation through the use of video games and gamification techniques. We achieved: 1.A comprehensive study of the various professional families, along with the associated and relevant competencies and skills; 2.The creation of a career and employment guidance book for youth workers dealing with young MNAR 3.The Increase of youth self-awareness of their own abilities and competences, and encourage professionals working with them. 4.The Promotion of youth empowerment, participation and exchange of experiences of young MNAR and professionals. In order to promote social inclusion of young MNAR and promote quality and innovation of youth work, the project has socialised with relevant stakeholders and professionals at local/national level through dissemination and exploitation activities, multiplier events, and other communication means. Implementation During this project, each partner led the different activities at local level while a partner was leading the coordination at EU level. Intellectual Outputs: the main n.3 IOs, were led from SSF, CARDET, Arciragazzi and AMAM. Those IOs have been built with different aims but easily to be incorporated and targeted to the job oriented path of migrant youth, newcomers, asylum seekers, and refugees ( MNAR). Transnational Project Meetings: due to the Covid19 pandemic, the consortium couldn’t arrange all the first two TPMs (including KoM) in a physical way but they were run by online format. The consortium managed to be present only at the final conference in Malta. Piloting Sessions (Innovation Labs): The Piloting sessions were run in each country to test the E-learning platform and the Escape Room as well. The first set of PS was attended by professionals while the second one was run by young MNAR. Achievements During this project, each partner led the different activities at local level while a partner was leading the coordination at EU level. Intellectual Outputs: Three were developed. They were built to be incorporated to the job oriented path of migrant youth, newcomers, asylum seekers, and refugees ( MNAR). Transnational Project Meetings: due to the Covid19 pandemic, the consortium run the first three TPMs in online format. The consortium managed to be present only at the final conference in Malta. Piloting Sessions (Innovation Labs): The Piloting sessions were run in each country to test the E-learning platform and the Escape Room as well. All objectives were achieved. LTTA: it took place in April in Nicosia, Cyprus. The meeting allowed n.8 professionals to review the Escape Rooms and to test the technical aspect of the E-Learning platform. ME: The Multipliers events organised at the closure of the projects were led by all partner countries. In addition, a final closure conference was held in Malta by the lead partner AMAN Communication & Dissemination Plan: The project was widely diffused on Facebook page gathered over 500 likes, on the website, with the career guidance book. four newsletters, two press releases, one video.