DEEPER project is intended to design a complete and EU based innovative program for refugees and trainers: research activities carried on by a transnational group; transfer of innovative methodologies, results and practices; implementation and evaluation in the national context to better monitor all variables involved in setting an effective training program.

Policy Context

VET trainers involved into the Italian refugees system are facing diverse learning styles and behavior of people with different cultural background and psychological meaning related to the refugees experiences, seems to differ between countries: it requires the adaptation of the teaching behavior as well as the integration of innovative methods (such as informal, collaborative) that can foster a learner center approach and continuity in learning.

In addition, they are involved in a deeply differentiated delivery organization in terms of curricula, tools and programs employed in each local area. DEEPER takes into account two issues: a common need for designing a learner center and innovative training programs for refugees according to the diverse learning schema, and an heterogeneous situation of delivery models and training programs.

DEEPER aims to address the rising need for innovative (taking into account potential of informal, learner centered, behavioral learning) and common framework training (tools & programs as well as trainers community) which fulfill the requirements of refugees learning needs, styles and integration processes. By supporting VET trainers' competences development and their cooperative learning and exchange processes it intends to address in a systematic way the requirements of diverse refugees learning needs and styles and the wider integration process.

DEEPER intends to analyze, adapt test and valorise existing methodological guidelines and best practices according to language, context, and specific target groups and to integrate them within the training framework in order to ensure a common, innovative and effective approach throughout the national system for refugees in order to benefit trainers, institutions and, as indirect beneficiaries, refugees.

Description of target users and groups

Refugees are asylum seekers who have been granted refugee status, and therefore protection, by a country, or granted subsidiary international protection. Refugees must comply with the conditions of the Geneva Convention; they must have a well-founded fear of persecution owing to one of the criteria stated in the Geneva Convention: race, nationality, religion, political opinions or membership of a particular social group.

Refugees' Trainers are the first beneficiary of the DEEPER project.

Description of the way to implement the initiative

The needed analysis and research activities aim to identify useful and reliable data and information to set the phases of the training project: planning of training experience and identification of didactic aims, contents and training methods, fulfillment of such experiences through a training event:

• social integration training model for refugees and asylum seekers;
• linguistic training strategies for refugees and asylum seekers;
• organizational model;
• distance learning technologies to share materials experiences and training contents;
• refugees trainers profiles

Technology solution

The project is based on the model of Complex Learning. The technological choices are then related to that model in which learning represents a complex system of interactions between all actors involved.

For this reason, open source social networking tools, integrated with proprietary software as Learning Management System were used.

Technology choice: Proprietary technology, Open source software

Main results, benefits and impacts

Results will improve trainers teaching skills, tools and practices. Building and promoting the trainers network will allow enhancing, in the long-run, and the continuous upgrading of the competences and services delivery schema.

On an institutional level, the local ADM and the system for refugees as a whole, will improve knowledge and quality of services. Learners-refugees will benefit from the project results in terms of improved training programmes that take into account the diversity of cultural, cognitive and motivational learning schema also valorising informal learning schema. Decision makers and experts will benefit by getting insight into learning behaviors diversity and, finally, VET sector will benefit of competence development and on increased quality and attractiveness of institutions on cross cultural issues.

The main expected results are: targeted research to deeply understand organizational and methodological issues; best practices handbooks; trainers community (also ICT based to constantly assure knowledge sharing); refugees training materials and contents; trainers support package; innovative, blended and integrated methodological framework; train trainers across Italy.

Return on investment

Return on investment: Not applicable / Not available

Lessons learnt

DEEPER project is intended to design an integrated and EU-based innovative program for refugees through: research activities carried on by a transnational group to ensure a common and wider view of framework and related issues, as well as to share competences and experiences; transfer of innovative methodologies, results and practices; implementation and evaluation in the national context to better monitor all variables (pedagogical, organizational, cultural) involved in setting an effective training program.

Scope: International