Innovating VET practices in isolated rural and remote regions of the EU

VETgoesRURAL
EU Programme: Erasmus+ KA2: Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training (VET)
Reference: 2021-1-ES01-KA220-VET-000024868
Start date: 01/11/2021
End date: 31/10/2023

The VETgoesRURAL project aims to improve VET professionals’ skills and capacities in order to provide enhanced training and foster learners’ engagement in EU isolated rural and remote areas. To fulfil this aim, the project will design, test and fine-tune innovative VET teaching and training methods, with an appropriate mix of open, digital and participative learning environments.

VETgoesRURAL addresses needs and priorities recently confirmed by the EU and its Member States. Particularly, the EU Council Recommendation on VET (December 2020) has pointed out that “VET programmes need to be accessible for vulnerable groups, low-skilled people and people in rural or remote areas” and “VET staff need to undertake continuing professional development to deliver high quality training through digital skills and effective innovative methods”.

In line with the EU policy-making framework, partners also have identified a clear need for enhancement and support of rural people’s increased participation in VET. The project emerges from the will of 7 partners to cooperate transnationally to innovate their educational practices and transfer them to other education and policy practitioners from their isolated rural/remote communities.

Objectives

To address main barriers and motivations for participation in VET activities in remote/isolated rural areas, with a special focus on factors and strategies to adapt to new ways of learning after the COVID-19 crisis.
To support innovation in VET methodologies and approaches for effective training and increased learners’ participation in isolated rural and remote parts of the EU.
To establish new education strategies and tools, summarised in the VETgoesRURAL Methodological Suite, as a reference to focus on programmes that impart initial education and update skills, so that low-skilled adults gain and/or maintain employment.

Activities

Top-down analysis on the different dynamics in remote and rural areas will be made in order to compare them with urban ones.
Development of an Educational Suite embedding new teaching and training strategies and tools for VET providers in isolated remote/rural areas, defined upon the findings of the previous analysis.
Design, pilot testing and fine-tuning of an e-learning course for VET providers to provide in-depth support knowledge, skills and practical cases for a successful implementation of the Educational Suite at local level.

Resources

VETgoesRURAL Research, mapping and analysis of main barriers and motivations for participation in VET activities in remote/isolated rural areas, with a special focus on factors and strategies to adapt to new ways of learning for the COVID-19 recovery period.
VETgoesRURAL Remote and Rural Educational Suite: a methodological tool that encompasses more efficient dynamics of learners’ engagement techniques and learning methods to better Design-Enrol-Deliver-Engage-Deploy and Evaluate VET programmes in rural/remote contexts.
VETgoesRURAL E-Learning Course for rural and remote VET professionals: the goal is to transfer the methods developed within the Suite, to ensure a homogeneous knowledge level of understanding among practitioners.

Results

Increased quality of VET programmes and the learners’ participation and retainment in VET.
Strengthened capacities and practices of national, regional, and local VET networks within 4 EU target countries.
Higher quality engagement and involvement of low skilled learners and VET professionals, who will be supported in better approaching and engaging the target group in the local VET offering.

Co-experts