Counselling Immigrants in Vocational Education and Training (CIVET)
CIVET project offers training and support to vocational teachers/trainers and workplace instructors to develop intercultural skills for working with migrant students and trainees CIVET aims to affect work-based learning and improve vocational teachers' / trainers' and workplace instructors' know how concerning interaction with immigrants.
As the population ages over the upcoming years, the supply of labor will decrease. The need of qualified work power is anticipated. Meanwhile, the number of immigrants in European countries is increasing. Immigrants with a vocational qualification and adequate language skills are needed in the labor market. The key idea of the project is to make immigrant learners' path to working life smoother and shorter. The mean to achieve this is to develop a multicultural training model for VET (Vocational Education and Training) and workplaces. It focuses on interaction between vocational teachers / trainers or workplace instructors and immigrant learners in work-based learning situations. Tools and material for better multicultural interaction will be created. Also the importance of multicultural counseling will be enhanced.
Year(s): 2011
Target group(s): Vocational teachers/trainers, workplace instructors, and Migrants students and trainees
Website: http://civet-project.tk
Methodology
Across Europe, non-native speakers face problems in vocational education and training. This project offers training and support to vocational teachers/trainers and workplace instructors to develop intercultural skills for working with migrant students and trainees.CIVET is developing material for an interaction model and situations and to support understanding of the basic elements in interaction. The Intercultural Training Model is presented in three parts: the training framework, the guidebook and additional national support material.
It is recommended that the materials are used within the training framework to maximize learning through discussion and group interaction.
The framework consists of a half-day workshop; a period of self directed study (supported by a mentor if appropriate) and then a further half-day workshop.
The guidebook has been produced and made freely available for those who trainvocational teachers and workplace trainers to allow them to use the background information and the practical exercises it contains. Many of the exercises can be used as they are but they can also be adapted to meet local needs and situations. In addition to the core material in the guidebook, each partner country has produced support materials that are specific to their language or situation.
Type of product
Training model.
Brief description of the product / outcome / method
Training Model (half a day workshop) with a guidebook.
Impact on target groups / Transferability potential
The main impact of the project is that the vocational teachers/trainers and workplace instructors have more competence in counseling immigrants in work-based learning situations. They have more courage and less prejudice in counseling situations and they are able to pay attention to challenges caused by cultural diversity. They are able to observe and analyze their use of language and also make it easier and more understandable for immigrants.
The impact on end-users, i. e. immigrant learners, is that their motivation for vocational studies and learning the second language increases. Also, the suspension of studies in vocational education due to language difficulties decreases and the time used for completing a vocational qualification is shorten.
Promoter of the initiative
Name of organization / individual: Kotkan - Haminan seudun koulutuskuntayhtymä / Etelä-Kymenlaakson ammattiopisto
Country: Finland
Website: http://www.ekami.fi
Contacts: Kotkan - Haminan seudun koulutuskuntayhtymä / Etelä-Kymenlaakson ammattiopisto (Coordinator) Kymenlaaksonkatu 29, 48100 Kotka, Finland