Results of Sensnet Project at Enviter Conference in Düren

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1535358898071{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Sensnet is a two-year project in the framework of the Erasmus+ Programme. Composed by 7 partners from Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, France, United Kingdom and The Netherlands.

The largest cause of sensory impairments is the ageing process with over 60s. Rising life expectancy and increasing numbers of older people in the population in Europe means a growing number of individuals are affected by visual and hearing impairments. A key challenge related to the quality of life of older people with impairments is the training and skills of the professionals working in care services addressed for this specific target group.

The organizations participating in Sensnet belong to any of the European networks Enviter and Hipen and have collected information about the concrete learning needs of the professionals working with ageing people with sensory impairments.

On September 29th the Sensnet project group presented the intellectual outcomes so far, to Enviter in Düren, Germany. Sensnet has made a methodological guide which describes how the modules are assembled. In addition to the methodological guide to online courses, there is also a how-to guide for writing a guide for the modules.

In the project, Sensnet is building a platform on the internet, where the modules will come. During the presentation of Sensnet in Düren they’ve showed a part of the platform. Hopefully, in the future, the modules originate from Sensnet will be on the EASI platform, The European Academy for Sensory Impairments.

Author: Ruben Koman / Source: ENVITER[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

ENVITER Network 2017 Annual Conference in Düren, Germany

ECTE as a member of the SENSNET consortium is participating in ENVITER network 2017 Annual Conference in Düren, Germany. The purpose of the Annual Conference is to create an intellectual platform for professionals to share their theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of vision impairment, focusing especially on innovative methodologies, practices and tools.

Members of ENVITER are aware of growing European Unification and of the necessity for co-operation on a permanent basis within the EU; in order to implement this aim, the network will provide the vehicle for achieving the following objectives:

  • To provide a network for service providers working in the field of lifelong learning with and on behalf of people with visual impairments.
  • To provide a European forum for the exchange of knowledge, expertise and experience of the members of this network.
  • To promote and influence good practice in the field of services for people with vision impairment.
  • Jointly to conduct and support research, training and dissemination of evidence-based learning directed towards improving access to lifelong learning and other services for people with visual impairments.

To share expertise and experience in a peer-reviewed setting in order to promote the development of services and the accompanying best practices, thereby minimizing duplication of resource expenditure on service development.

Language course – Teaching and Learning during mobility actions

Learning basic Greek during mobility programmes is not only stimulating learning experiences, but it is also essential for the participants to easily adapt to the new cultural environment, giving a chance for form a solid group, making friends and feel spontaneous.

The German ‘IdA – Integration through Exchange’ programme, entitled “CHANCE EUROPA”, promoted by “Kreisagentur für Beschäftigung Darmstadt-Dieburg”, having as an international partner the European Center inTraining fro Employment – ECTE, provides support for people with difficulties in entering or re-entering the labour market to enhance their professional competencies through a work stay abroad.

Young people from Germany have the chance to get working experience in Rethymnon for two months, until the end of October 2016. The participants receive linguistic, technical, practical and intercultural preparation prior to departure. After completing the placement in Rethymnon, they will take part in a wrap-up and integration phase in their home region. This ensures that new competencies are recognised and that participants are supported adequately in taking new occupational or training pathways. The executing agencies use this debriefing phase to take preparations for job placements, training, (secondary) school or ex-post school-leaving qualification etc. This is realised in close consultation and cooperation with job centres and/or employment agencies (integration chain).

Sensnet Project – European Academy for training professionals working with ageing people

The largest cause of sensory impairments is the aging process with over 60s. Rising life expectancy and increasing numbers of older people in the population in Europe means a growing number of individuals are affected by visual and hearing impairments. Thus, raising general awareness of problems and potential solutions is essential to maximising the individual quality of life and minimising social isolation.

A key challenge related to the quality of life of older people with impairments is the training and skills of the professionals working in care services addressed for this specific target group. Many of the organisations participating in SENSNET are members of any of the European networks ENVITER and HIPEN that are supporting the project and that represent organisations of professionals and experts in sensory impairments in 21 EU countries. Through surveys, events, workshops and their daily work both European networks and the partners in SENSNET have collected information about the concrete learning needs of the professionals working with ageing people with sensory impairments.

The European Center in Training for Employment – ECTE, as a partner and main contributor in SENSNET project is participating in the implementation of the following activities:

  • Design of the Methodological guide for the learning programme- Development of the training materials for professionals working with ageing people with hearing and/or visual impairments will be created in such area as, lighting and ergonomics and accessibility in society and in the daily life (access to culture and access to information and communication media)
  • Creation of online learning platform for professionals working with ageing people with hearing and visual impairments.- Training courses for professionals.

The most important results of the project are:

  1. Creation of the European Academy that provides training for professionals working with ageing people with visual and/or hearing impairments,
  2. Creation of a European learning community of professionals working with ageing people with visual and/or hearing impairments,
  3. Increased the knowledge base of the partners to have a more accurate awareness of professionals’ learning needs and priorities,
    Improved skills of professionals involved in the trainings,
  4. Creation a comprehensive training strategy for professionals working with ageing people with hearing and visual impairments, etc.

The project involves seven partners from seven different European countries: Spain, Greece, France, The Netherlands, Italy, Bulgaria and United Kingdom. Members of the consortium have vast experience and expertise in visual and hearing impairments area and work daily with ageing people.The main target group of the project are workers at day care centres for older people, geriatric social workers, care workers for seniors, therapists for seniors, GPs, nurses, home-visiting care workers and other professionals that provide services to support ageing people with sensory impairments. The expected impact on the target groups is to improve their occupational qualification and professional skills in sensory impairments area, especially related to hearing and visual problems. All of them will be a part of European learning community of professionals working with ageing people with visual and/or hearing impairments.

The final beneficiaries are ageing people over 60 with visual and/or hearing impairments. SENSNET will focus not only on older people with severe impairments, but it will address all the ageing population, whatever the severity of sensory impairment, but for whom the sensory impairment is becoming a problem in daily life, for the autonomy and the quality of life. Due to the SENSNET project, ageing people with sensory impairments will be able to use better quality services provided by professionals mentioned above. As long-term benefits can be mentioned, among others, the creation of the European Academy that provide training for professionals working with ageing people with visual and/or hearing impairments and creation of the European learning community of these professionals.

Curriculum Management competencies for vocational training specialists

The improvement of the skills of the vocational training instructors and the upgrading of the curricula were the main objectives of training for training specialists from three Lithuanian vocational training schools. The program is being implemented by the “European Center In Training for Employment – ECTE”, in cooperation with the the “Rokiskis Technological, Business and Agricultural School”. Training lasted one week and was organized European Center In Training for Employment – ECTE. Within the framework of their training, the trainers, apart from the ECTE and the 2nd EPAL of Rethymnon, visited the Regional Training Center for secondary education of Crete at Heraklion, PEK Crete) and the Life Long Training Department of the Region of Crete (KEKAPPER).

The topics covered were the vocational training in Greece as it was formed following the latest legislation of the Ministry of Education, the use of electronic platforms in the educational process, the role of informal and non-formal education in vocational training, the introduction of experiential educational methods in education, the curriculum in Greece and how to introduce innovations and technological developments in education programs in the Professional Training and the role of the Institute for Educational Policy and the educational counselors in this process.

The students of the 2nd vocational school of Rethymnon (EPAL), organized an excellent presentation of their school and described in detail the fields – specialties they offer, the special features and characteristics of the EPAL. The event was organized under the Erasmus + program entitled “Management of Educational Content in Educational Institutions in Europe”.

Mrs. Maria Kountouri, ECTE training director in ECTE and Mr. Alessandro Gulo, tutor on international programs in ECTE, are particularly grateful to the Director of the 2nd EPA Rethymno Theodoros Papadakis, the professors and the students for the reception and presentation School. They also thank the Director of PEK of Heraklion Dr. Maria Kalathaki, KEKAPPER Training Director Mr. Charalambos Piteras and Mr. Kostis Flouris, a non-formal education advisor and adult educator.