These past few years since the widespread of COVID-19 to the ongoing war in Ukraine, and many more disastrous events, it has awakened the VET-READY to create a project with the intention to raise awareness of the risks that may occur anytime and anywhere. In other words, the goal is to create an inclusive learning environment for both educators and students to achieve vocational education for lifesaving skills.
Why Vocational Education Matters Now More Than Ever
Not only the VET-READY’s Project motive is based on a comprehensive needs analysis at both European and local/regional level but also on people that want to be heard and seen.
Even though, vocational educational programs may not be widely known in Europe as a tactic of teaching professions, it is important to support projects like VET-READY that propose innovative ideas in order to enlighten both VET trainers and citizens about catastrophic events , active citizenship, and the development of lifesaving skills for sustainable livelihood options.
In particular, the target groups are VET teachers and workers in low-skilled, economically/socially vulnerable, war victims, migrants, and refugees, as well as diaspora, as they have the lowest participation rates in apprenticeship and continuing VET. Especially, if they live in abandoned neighborhoods vulnerable to extreme weather conditions.
Understanding the Local Realities:
- Spain has a substantial risk of earthquakes, forest fires and floods causing economic and nature loses.
- Latvia has a notably low percentage of participation in adult continuing education although most of the population is interested in receiving informative and learning tools.
- Turkey is in a region with high level risks that has been threatened by natural disasters. Also, there are a plot of non-Turkish speaking foreigners that need training resources.
- Island faces challenges in lifelong learning due to its 16.3% immigrant population, language barriers, and an ageing teaching force.
- Cyprus is affected by climate change making it more important to address preparedness and response to natural disasters.
- Ukraine that has been in a warzone for four years now, has also forced many educators to leave their positions. Plus, the region has seen an increase in natural and anthropological catastrophes.
- The project of Preparedness and Resilience is a collaboration between 6 partners from 6 EU Member States, third countries associated to the Programme and a neighbouring country to the East.
The Method: Innovative, Interactive, and Inclusive
The VET-READY project introduces innovative, gamified, and interactive learning tools through its curriculum and online hub, aimed at supporting trainers, NEETs, and vulnerable adults. A key feature is the life-saving skills self-assessment tool, an engaging digital resource that uses scenario-based learning to help users understand the consequences of their decisions in emergency situations. Additionally, the project addresses cross-border disaster challenges to reduce risks and mitigate impacts, while promoting the dissemination of results and expanding its reach across EU Member States and beyond to enhance disaster awareness and vocational readiness.
Conclusion
Considering all the above, EU including countries out of Europe, are lacking educational programs and are hit by ongoing disasters of natural and anthropological kind which causes are major contributors to mental health and well-being problems, along with the disruption of economic and social development. Therefore, the activities and expected results of the VET-READY project are designed to build resilient, inclusive, and future-ready vocational education and training systems that equip learners with the skills, knowledge . the project aims to strengthen institutional readiness, enhance the well-being, and contribute to sustainable development across both EU and partner countries.
