Work Inclusion 2021 - Innovative Validation of Acquired Experience Methodology for Immigrants

Adult education institutions often work with migrants. Their presence in Europe is steadily increasing, making it a priority to adopt measures aimed at their inclusion. However, these institutions and their staff face challenges due to the limited operational tools available to meet the needs of this population. In this context, VAE (Validation of Acquired Experience) is one of the strategies identified at the continental level to promote socio-professional inclusion. Nevertheless, its fragmentation, the lack of specific tools, the difficulties faced by practitioners in engaging and including migrants, and the specific needs of this group make it challenging to implement a validation process effectively. Yet, recognizing migrants' experiences is crucial to supporting their inclusion and facilitating their access to adult education. Based on these premises, WINC21 has aimed to address the need for certification professionals to have tools (both methodologies and instruments) that create the conditions for migrants' inclusion in the validation system, enhancing operational conditions and fostering their socio-professional integration.

At European level, VAE has been identified as a tool capable of fostering socio-professional inclusion, the project aimed to pursue the general objective of providing those working in the adult education sector with useful and functional tools to validate migrants’ experiences. This would be achieved through tools and methodologies tailored to the needs of this target group, facilitating their access to the system. At the same time, the goal was to create better conditions for the inclusion of migrants as a result of easier access to the validation system. Specifically, the objectives were: - To develop a VAE methodology dedicated to migrants, structured around their needs and applicable remotely, thus overcoming spatial barriers; - To create support tools for the implementation of the new VAE methodology, capable of breaking down linguistic and geographical barriers and facilitating interaction and communication between operators and beneficiaries; - To design a training program to equip operators with the skills needed to adopt the new VAE methodology while also training new professionals capable of validating migrants’ experiences.

The project was implemented through the development of: 3 project results, project management actions organized in WPs, 5 TPMs (one in each partner country), 1 LTTA, and a series of multiplier events. At a general level, the activities were structured based on 3 project results: -R1 - Creation of WIN-VAE: a new methodology for migrants (developed through 7 activities) -R2 - WIN-Training: an e-learning course for the training of VAE operators (developed through 6 activities) -R3 - WIN-App (developed through 17 activities) At the management level, activities werev and actions: -Preparation -WP1 - Planning and promotion -WP2 - Project management -WP3 - Monitoring and evaluation -WP4 - Kick-off meeting and work organization -WP5 - Implementation -WP6 - Evaluation and dissemination of results -WP7 - Follow-up -Coordination activities organization -Promotion of project activities -Promotion and dissemination of project outputs -User recruitment for product testing A total of 5 TPMs were carried out (one at each project partner's location). A 1 LTTA was conducted to test the training program and train the first operators. A total of 4 multiplier events were organized in Spain, Greece, Germany, and Italy, along with dissemination events

A total of 4 main outputs were developed: -WIN-VAE Manual. The main PR1 output, this manual describes the new WIN-VAE methodology, designed based on the needs of operators and migrants. It explains the phases, objectives, stakeholders, tools and techniques, while also providing instruments and templates for applying the methodology. Available in 6 languages. -WIN-Training and the e-learning platform. WIN-Training is the course designed to train and certify operators in using the WIN-VAE methodology. It is available as distance learning (FAD) on the e-learning platform https://elearning.workinclusion2021.eu/, which is itself a concrete project outcome. Developed in 6 languages. WIN-App. Available for Android and iOS, this multilingual technological tool was developed within PR3 to support the WIN-VAE validation process. It enables all validation operations to be carried out remotely and directly from a mobile device. Additionally, several intermediate outputs were developed, including: VAE Interview Report VAE Best Practices Collection VAE Transnational Report - Study Analysis WIN-Training Package Report on Product Testing Activities As well as a series of other intermediate outputs used in the development of the main products.