ERASMUS+ VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR INCLUSION. THE INCLUSION OF RARE DISEASE ASSOCIATIONS IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING AND OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING STUDENTS IN WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH RARE DISEASES

The Isabel Gemio Foundation coordinates a new ERASMUS+ programme – 2024-1-ES01-KA220-VET-000254122 – VET FOR INCLUSION, co-funded by the European Union.

PARTNERSHIP

Spanish Federation of Neuromuscular Diseases (ASEM) (Spain) is a non-governmental organization that brings together associations and foundations focused on neuromuscular diseases. It currently represents more than 60,000 affected individuals across Spain.

University of Évora (Portugal) is a centre for the creation, transmission, and dissemination of culture, science, and technology which, through study, teaching, and research, plays a key role in society.

Rare Diseases Croatia (Croatia) is an organization that unites 29 non-profit associations acting on behalf of rare disease patients, as well as over 900 individual patients who do not have their own patient organization.

Fundación Escuela de los Oficios (Spain) was established by the NGO CESAL and the International Education Foundation to address the serious challenges of social and professional inclusion faced by an increasing number of young people with limited employment opportunities. Since 2015, it has collaborated with CESAL in training 456 students from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.

Cyprus Alliance for Rare Disorders (Cyprus) brings together 20 member associations and more than 250 individual patients. Its aim is to provide a dynamic and unified voice for the approximately 60,000 people currently identified with rare diseases in Cyprus.

PURPOSE

VET FOR INCLUSION will create the necessary conditions (both in VET centres and in social and medical organizations) to offer VET students internships that complete a specific and high-quality training pathway in the rare diseases sector. The project aims to build a vocational education system more engaged with inclusion and research, contributing to improving the lives of thousands of young people with rare diseases across Europe.

OBJECTIVES

OB1: Promote changes in structure, working methods, staff training, and daily practices to ensure that rare disease associations can offer more direct services to their users, enhancing digitalisation, green practices, inclusion, and the overall development of their members.

OB2: Strengthen the work experience and practical knowledge of students from medical and social VET fields so they can effectively support people with rare diseases and access this specialised labour market.

OB3: Drive real changes within VET centres to turn them into active agents for inclusion — both by empowering students during their internships and by enabling students with disabilities to access adapted placements, while promoting green and digital practices in their institutions.

OB4: Implement a placement system, in collaboration with VET centres, that provides adapted services delivered by qualified technicians with specific knowledge, involving VET centres and rare disease associations across Europe.

RESULTS

✅ METHODOLOGICAL GUIDE FOR ADAPTING SOCIAL AND HEALTHCARE ENTITIES TO HOST VET STUDENT INTERNSHIPS

✅ RESOURCES FOR TRAINING TECHNICIANS AND HEALTHCARE STAFF FROM RARE DISEASE ASSOCIATIONS AS INTERNSHIP TUTORS

✅ ONLINE TRAINING COURSE FOR INTERNSHIP STUDENTS

✅ GUIDE FOR DEVELOPING INCLUSIVE INTERNSHIPS IN VET

✅ REPORT ON PILOT TEST RESULTS

✅ CERTIFICATE OF SPECIALISED TECHNICIAN IN RARE DISEASES

✅ NETWORK OF RARE DISEASE ASSOCIATIONS AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES

✅ VET FOR INCLUSION WEB PLATFORM

VET4INCLUSION celebrates its Kick-Off Meeting!

After the holidays, projects don’t take a break! New meeting of the VET4INCLUSION PROJECT!

We wrap up October with a new meeting of the VET4INCLUSION project!