The aim of the Talent Matching project lead in Barcelona by CEPS Projectes Socials, is to design, test and validate a new training programme and EQF-aligned standards of competency framework for Vocational Mentors that support young disadvantaged people into Initial Vocational Education and Training (IVET) in Europe’s Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs).

For more information about research and actions done in Barcelona, access here.

On the 1st July 2016, the partners held their second meeting in Rijeka, Croatia, which has recently been selected  as the European Capital of Culture (ECoC) for 2020. Project representatives met the acting Director of the ECoC programme and explored how Talent Matching Europe may be able to assist with its capacity-building aspirations. The partners also explored the results of their respective national programmes of research and considered how to develop the profile and competences required for the vocational mentor in the arts, which is the next stage of the project.

Pictured above:  Members of the Talent Matching Europe partnership at the second partnership meeting at the Filodrammatica theatre in Rijeka on the 1st July.

The next meeting will be held in Barcelona in February 2017, which will also host an interim conference with local audiences about the project.  The UK partners Collage Arts and Rinova are holding events in London to ‘spread the word’ over the summer 2016. You can find out more about these events, and stay in touch with the project through its recently-launched website, as well as following the Talent Matching Europe twitter feed on #talentmatching or @aspire2createEU or link up with the project’s Facebook pages.

This two-year project is co-financed by the ERASMUS+ programme of the European Commission and started in November 2015. It is lead by Collage Arts in London and will be implemented by partners in 6 EU countries (Italy, Croatia, Spain, Macedonia, UK and Poland), who will implement the following actions in each country:

(i)Research, map and specify the critical factors across the partner IVET systems, CCI job entry routes, CCI sub-sector employment trends and the precise location, occupations and qualifications that impact upon the CCI Vocational Mentor role, with a view to assessing and outlining professional training and learning content needs;

(ii) Develop the specifications and standards for the Vocational Mentor in the CCIs (1) to develop the professional standards, and (2) to improve the provision of methods and approaches to address learners’ individual needs and expectations, incorporating considerations of ECVET;

(iii) Develop Vocational Mentor Curriculum, Learning and Tools: providing a blended learning framework for Vocational Mentors who will engage in flexible online learning, and participate in joint training events, including Webinars, interactive and participatory training assignments, and virtual peer mentor ‘teleplacements’.

(iv) Create an Open Source Learning Online Platform: to revolutionize Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities and resources for Vocational Mentors in the CCIs and provide wide-ranging opportunities for shared learning experiences;

(v) Disseminate the results widely at local, national and EU levels and embed the products and results within the practice of the partner organisations and their networks in sectoral VET, including vocational and technical schools, further education colleges, and employers.

The partners will cross-fertilise curricula, content, method and experience
from:
(a) established techniques and experience with mentoring in European
VET organisations;
(b) CCI-specific insight with sector employers;
(c) the integration of new perspectives drawn from the Social and
Emotional Capabilities Framework (Young Foundation) and the Journey of
Change Framework from Talent Match London
(d) the incorporation of European instruments such as EQF and ECVET –
in order to facilitate future EU mobilities