ColegauCymru is pleased to report that both Erasmus+ Learner 2019 and Erasmus+ Staff 2019 programmes have been extended to 31 August 2022 in light of the challenges brought about by the Covid19 pandemic. This funding was approved in 2019 with a previous project end date of 31 August 2021.
This news has been welcomed by all parties as the extension provides an additional 12 months to complete project activities once overseas travel is able to resume.
Erasmus+ Learner Project
With a project value of just over €1.5m, the Learner Project will enable 624 vocational learners/apprentices to undertake 2-week work placements across Europe. All further education colleges in Wales are participating in this programme and we’ll be working with over 40 EU partners across a wide range of curriculum areas including engineering, hair and beauty, equine management, film and media, ICT, and health and social care. All work placements are linked to the qualifications that are being studied by learners in Wales. These experiences can contribute to the achievement of those qualifications undertaken, meaning that the mobilities are real learning experiences!
Erasmus+ Staff Project
The Staff Project provides an opportunity for 18 staff from further education colleges and other key organisations such as Estyn and Welsh Government to undertake a 3-day study visit to Stuttgart, Germany. They will be given the opportunity to explore the digitalisation of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the Baden-Württemberg region. The visit will be hosted by the Ministry for Culture, Youth and Sport.
Digitalisation is particularly important now as we are increasingly considering the impact Covid19 has had on more traditional methods of teaching. The programme will enable the participants to consider the policy direction for digitalisation in this region of Germany as well as being able to observe first-hand how different strategies are being implemented at an operational level within the vocational colleges.
European Qualifications Framework
Further extensions have been granted for funding from the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) network until March 2021. This programme was originally due to end on 31 December 2020.
ColegauCymru has already completed the referencing of the Credit & Qualifications Framework for Wales (CQFW) to the EQF, with a report launched back in October 2019.
This extension is again welcome news as it will enable us to complete the update of our Skills for Europe website and a survey, report and roundtable event on the use of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) with refugees in Wales.
Further Information
Please contact ColegauCymru European and International Project Manager Siân Holleran with any questions.
