Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, this has proven to be a significant year of learning and growth. The ability to continue our projects has demanded creative solutions, new digital (communication) tools, coordination and guidance from a distance, organizational upskilling and innovation. Luckily, those are the very same objectives that stand at the heart of Metropolisnet’s mission. We remain confident in our ability to advance strong European cooperation, and are excited to introduce the network’s latest projects:
Good E-Guidance Stories (GEGS)
Responding to the emerging need for the modernisation of Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) and Vocational Education and Training (VET) sectors across Europe, Good E-Guidance Stories (GEGS) offers a holistic policy measure, tested and implemented to achieve systemic impact at the EU, national, regional and local level.
The project’s innovative approach centres around two critical elements: providing IAG practitioners with a complete, engaging and easy to use digital training framework, and introducing advanced tools for e-guidance, based on artificial intelligence.
The ‘Guide’ Case Studies will be combined with engaging quality methods to progress IAG practitioner competences, keeping in mind the Communities of Practice (CoPs). All this experience will be combined with technical partner Jobiri’s e-guidance platform, as an AI-based digital career advisor.
This project has been developed through the lived experience of thousands across several sectors who have so far been involved in the guide series. Continuing this participatory approach, the current measure will involve 30 new teachers, trainers and IAG practitioners in Italy (region Sardinia), Germany (federal state Berlin) and Greece (region Thessaly). They will be involved through the Regional Ministries in Sardinia, Thessaly and Berlin, in coordination with the private strategic partners there – Ciofs-FP, Dimitra and gsub mbH. Additional practitioners will b involved from the UK, Ireland and France as part of the field trial.
Participating MetNet members: Ballymun Job Centre, CIOFS-FP, Dimitra, Eurocircle, gsub mbH and Rinova Ltd.
Increasing and Enhancing Effective Digital Opportunities (IEEDO)
The IEEDO project develops innovative, customised e-learning resources to promote resilience and efficacy for refugees and humanitarian migrants – and the tutors and coaches who support them. By focusing on skills and knowledge for digital self-learning, the project aims to reduce disparities in European adult education.
Over 36 months, the IEEDO project will engage with 60 coaches and 300 refugees, as well as a range of stakeholder organisations in its activities. At the heart of the project is the IEEDO Digital Kit for building resilience in self-learning. This is an interactive e-learning resource for refugees using video game-based approaches for refugees to develop their digital self-learning skills for resilience and progression, whether learning in autonomous or blended learning concepts.
IEEDO offers a flexible, sustainable solution that is scalable, transferable, and replicable, contributing to the innovation that will be required to address this challenge. The long-term vision is that partners and their networks will open up new avenues for effective adult and community-based learning with refugees and humanitarian migrants. The IEEDO model seeks to offer a new approach to digital self-learning to foster educational, social and economic integration for refugee communities.
Participating MetNet member: Rinova Ltd, Dimitra.
Development of inclusivE iNteGration pAths 4 miGrant women (ENGAGE)
Third Country National (TCN) women, who make up 45% of refugees in EU, have lower employment rates, are at higher risk of poverty and social exclusion, and are more likely to be in lower skilled occupations.
Most of them face integration challenges associated with fewer educational and labour market opportunities compared to refugee men.
An effective integration process of these women in the new social environment can contribute to their social and economic inclusion. With 11 participating organizations from 9 countries, ENGAGE aims to increase TCN women’s capability for entering the labour market and social life of the host society.
This will be achieved via the organization of up-skilling workshops, job shadowing programmes and cross-cultural activities.
Participating MetNet member: Dimitra
