The Talents project focused on a new form of comprehensive language and professional training for immigrants and refugees with the aim to support their fast access to the labour market – as jobs are considered to be the most important basis for successful integration. Project partners from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Norway and Sweden commonly developed and tested new strategies of integration in countries and regions which welcomed high numbers of refugees and which, in general, have high immigration rates. The heart and driving force of the project was the “Hotel Talents” project of the City of Göteborg - an innovative fast-track programme for immigrants and refugees that combines vocational language training with practical experience at the workplace. The Talents trainings prepare participants for a first job within a short period of several months and build a direct track to the labour market. The parallel, alternating structure of classroom language and professional training and internship in companies led to promising results. High employment rates of participants after the trainings in Sweden proved that the concept is effective and a suitable measure to increase employment rates among persons with migration background. In the course of the Talents project, the Göteborg role model was transferred to Germany and Norway, and the Swedish partners extended and further developed their fast track concepts as well as upskilling initiatives. The goal was to test the fast-track training model in different legal, financial and structural frameworks focussing on main characteristics of fast track and necessary functions to be taken over in the context of such concepts. In Germany and Norway, Talents fast-track trainings and curricula were developed in the sectors hotel and gastronomy, retail trade, warehouse and logistics as well as building and construction Moreover, some project partners developed fast-track trainings for immigrants and refugees with an academic background, e.g. for doctors, for persons who finished pedagogical and social studies or hold a degree in business administration. In Göteborg, fast-track trainings have meanwhile been developed for more than 50 professions. In addition, upskilling pathways were designed in Sweden to guarantee that career options and the perspective of a second and a third job are available.The Talents project partners are main stakeholders of integration in their countries on different levels and in different fields. They are responsible for the political and strategic steering of education and integration on the regional and local level, they are experts in the field of validation and guidance, they offer language classes and vocational training and do research on integration issues. The following institutions contributed to the Talents project: Volkshochschulverband Baden-Württemberg e.V. (Co-ordinator) / DE, Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport Baden-Württemberg / DE, Göteborgs Stad / SE, Cuben Utbildning AB / SE, Oslo Voksenopplæring Rosenhof / NO, Steirische Volkswirtschaftliche Gesellschaft / AT, Università degli studi di Firenze / IT, and EARLALL (Association Européenne des Autorités Régionales et Locales pour l'apprentissage tout au long de la vie) / European, based in Belgium. Outputs of the Talents project are: 1.) a European modular tool box, providing training concepts, curricula, pedagogical material, and other training documents for practitioners carrying out fast-track trainings, 2.) a competence balancing App to support the exchange on necessary competences for a certain job between employer, trainee, teachers, and coaches, 3.) a study on the project activities and 4.) curricula for trainings for language teachers and guidance counsellors that work in fast-track training programmes. During the project lifetime of three years, the project reached up to 9000 participants, among them staff of all project partners, counsellors and teachers participating in trainings, staff in companies and partner institutions involved, persons receiving guidance in connection to training activities, participants in 20 pilot training courses, users of the European toolbox and modules of the training concept, persons who will participate in Talents courses in- and outside the project within five years from the project start, persons who have a profit from improved guidance and training in partner organisations and other institutions and persons reached through other dissemination activities like press articles. The Talents project contributed to the successful integration of immigrants on the local and regional level. Talents classes have high access rates to full employment. Talents motivated a large number of follow-up initiatives in the Talents regions with additional budgets of several million Euro, it initiated structural changes on local and regional level land was a role model for national and EU initiatives to tackle the refugees crisis.

The project CREATE was inspired by the results of a previous project REGIONAL, which found that regional and local adult education did not necessarily only suffer from lack of funding, but also from a disconnect between AE policies and local economic development, resulting in inefficient use of funds. CREATE aimed and still aims to enhance performance and efficiency in adult education by addressing the gap between EU/national strategies and local/regional implementation as well as the challenge of formulating appropriate AE policy. The goal is to enable policy makers to better coordinate and plan policy, share experiences and enhance inter-regional and cross-border cooperation. To that aim the CREATE consortium created an open resource Toolbox containing useful tools, best practice cases as well as networks. The Toolbox is accompanied by an Implementation Package containing documents and templates that enable users to directly apply the content of the Toolbox alongside instructions on how to join the Virtual Community and how to propose new tools for the Toolbox. Documents include a memorandum of understanding, letter of intent, invitation for consultation and open call for proposals and there are examples and instructions alongside templates. The consortium was keen to make all resources as easily accessible and as directly applicable as possible so users could reap immediate benefits. the consortium itself represented different perspectives and agents of the AE sector: providers and practitioners to strengthen practical relevance and applicability, government administration and umbrella organisations to provide the link to the policy level and an academic partner to guarantee methodological accuracy. Partners started by mapping the ‘tool landscape’ of the AE sectors in their countries and regions. A survey sent to central stakeholders in AE helped map current practices on policy tools, measures and strategies by asking recipients to recommend and rate the efficiency of tools and networks known to and used by them. This was crucial information for the creation of the repository (the Toolbox) but also allowed partners to identify needs and opportunities for further development along the way. Participants were also asked to point out gaps where they would like to see tools and useful resources to help them navigate the area. The results of the survey were published in a report which also contextualises them through country reports outlining the AE systems in partners’ countries and regions. This presents a useful framework for readers which allows them to compare their own systems and strategies and helps them identify useful tools and approaches for their specific context. Through the mapping process and their own analyses partners identified “policy tools” available within partners' regions and territories and beyond. The tools proposed were vetted for inclusion in the Toolbox as partners were keen to only include items of high value, accessibility and applicability. The Toolbox currently contains 60 tools and will be extended over the coming years; every user can suggest new additions. It is searchable by keyword, category or phase of the policy cycle. To help users implement new ideas and strategies directly, the consortium created an Implementation Package containing useful documents that can be adjusted to the users’ specific needs. The Toolbox and Virtual Community offer a framework for enhanced cooperation and exchange among policy makers as well as other agents in the AE sector. As such it is a novelty and addresses a real need for sharing and exchanging experiences, good practices and strategies instead of every agency going it alone. The cooperative approach, which stresses communication and inclusion of practice, will make these processes much more sustainable, time-efficient and create programmes much better informed by the real needs of the sector.The website, including the Virtual Community, the Toolbox and Implementation Package all come in the seven languages represented in the consortium. Partners welcome suggestions for further translations if new members would like to volunteer their services. The website, Community and Toolbox will be active for four years beyond the project lifetime and will be kept up to date by the original partnership. Partners have started to grow the Virtual Community during the project lifetime and will continue the promote it in the years to come with the goal of creating a thriving international community of exchange and cooperation consisting of agents active in strategic policy processes for adult education. Main results:- Project Website feat. the Virtual Community Platform (http://www.projectcreate.eu/)- Report on Mapping and Assessment of Policy Tools - Toolbox as a searchable repository of tools useful for the AE policy process- Implementation Package containing useful documents and templates to facilitate uptake

Offering quality guidance services to all citizens at any point in their lives is an important challenge for regions. All regions participating in the ERASMUS+ strategic partnership BRIDGE have established guidance systems that support the access of citizens to training and further education. However, these guidance services didn't reach all target groups to the same extent. Above all, only a small number of low-skilled people used lifelong guidance in BRIDGE regions and the participation of low-skilled adults in up-skilling training activities was significantly low. In order to raise the percentage of lower-skilled target groups in guidance and up-skilling activities new innovative concepts were needed. The BRIDGE project was designed to find such new ways of reaching lower skilled persons. As specific objectives of the BRIDGE project partners aimed at1. analysing the access to and quality of guidance services for low-skilled adults in Baden-Württemberg/Germany, Bretagne/France and Jämtland/Sweden from different perspectives and with different methods and activities and to adapt, test and transfer best practice tools and processes in the field of guidance from one region to the others,2. describing ways of addressing low-skilled adults e.g. through guidance in cooperation with companies,3. analysing and increasing the quality of guidance services by learning from the partners' experiences and from the results of two surveys, by transfering tools and strategies and by training professionals in using these tools and strategies,4. developing self-evaluation tools that help to evaluate the access to and quality of guidance for low-skilled people. Long term goals of the project were ...1. to strengthen guidance networks, co-operations between organisations and measures to support low-skilled target groups through European mutual learning,2. to innovate the access of low-skilled adults to lifelong guidance in participating regions and beyond,3. to improve the quality of guidance with a view to the needs of low-skilled adults by supporting professionals in guidance services and,4. consequently, to increase the participation of low-skilled adults in up-skilling activities.Seven organisations from four European countries participated in the BRIDGE project as full partners. In addition, four silent partners contributed to the project. The following institutions were full partners of the BRIDGE consortium:Volkshochschulverband Baden-Württemberg e.V. (Co-ordinator) as the biggest provider of adult education in the south-west of Germany and the co-ordinator of the regional guidance network Landesnetzwerk Weiterbildungsberatung Baden-Württemberg (LN WBB).Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport Baden-Württemberg which founded and finances the LN WBB.FONGECIF Bretagne whose mission is to inform, advise and support employees in their professional transition and development, e.g. in phases of reconversion, graduation and professionalisation.Région Bretagne that has in place a regional network of several hundred information centers which can offer basic information about training opportunities and orientation to more specialized guidance services. Lärcentrum Östersunds kommun, responsible for all matters regarding adult learning for citizens in the area including education and career guidance.IUC Z-Group which is a cooperation between manufacturing companies in the county of Jämtland, provides and verifies training and education to member companies. EARLALL, the European Association of Regional & Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning. During seven project meetings, the BRIDGE project partners investigated best practice measures and tools of guidance in the participating regions, described and analysed the measures and worked out success factors. Around 20 activities were followed up in detail. Powerpoint presentations on the different activities and reports were produced.The reports formed part of a study and handbook which collects information, good examples and suggestions on successful educational and career guidance. The study addresses several thousand professionals working in the field of guidance in the participating regions and beyond. It offers an overview on existing measures to reach low-skilled adults in the BRIDGE regions and puts the findings of the BRIDGE project into a broader context. The study and handbook also includes results of two surveys among counselors and low-skilled people, it defines key-performance factors for counseling as well as self-assessment-tools for institutions that are active in the field of guidance. The BRIDGE regions have successfully implemented several of the best practices in their guidance structures, used project results in policy processes and provided financing for new guidance strategies. In one European and three regional multiplier events results of the project were spread to other regions.

Background and objectives:The most important aim of the project was and still is the better integration of disadvantaged persons (low-skilled, migrants, ethnic minorities, long-term unemployed etc.) into education, training and the labour market through more client-oriented guidance and counselling offers that consider diversity issues. Therefore more qualified counsellors in the field of VET are needed who will be aware of various kinds of disparities and sensitised and prepared for equity, diversity and inclusion challenges. This is crucial in order to reach the disadvantaged persons in the first place and to respond as a counsellor adequately to their needs and particular circumstances. Thus, the project facilitates through its outcomes not only the access to guidance services but also the transition to further education, training and the world of work.In Bulgaria and Romania there are huge economic and especially ethnic disparities which counsellors have to deal with. We tackled these facettes with a diversity and human rights oriented approach. Also in Germany we need innovative approaches to deal on the one hand adequately with the increasing number of migrants and refugees but also to close the gap between low-skilled and high-qualified persons. Counsellors need appropriate tools, methods and knowledge how they can reach and counsel them appropriately and individually.To reach this aim all partners identified, developed (further), compiled and disseminated successful methods and approaches to improving the integration into society and the labour market and support of unemployed people and those who have only little or no access to further education. The main focus was on the analysis of methods and approaches and to establish new counselling and guidance offers by developing a modular training course for counsellors that we started to establish in the partner countries. Central focus of the project was to support the target groups in their home countries and to foster the national economy by counselling and qualifying disadvantaged persons. This project increased the chances of disadvantaged persons to find (better) work, as this is directly correlated with the level of qualification.Direct target groups of the project: counsellours and guidance practitioners, social and community workers, staff of churches and other aid organisations, advisors of the public employment services and the chambers of commerce, adult education providers, universities.Activities and methodology:- Compiling country reports that describe the VET system and the possibilities for further training and counselling/guidance in each partner country- Presentations from all project partners about suitable best practice examples in their countries for reaching and counselling disadvantaged people- Development of a training course handbook including a curriculum for both trainers (who want to train counsellors) and for counsellors as a reference guide to improve their knowledge and skills. Topics/chapters:• General basics for counselling and guidance in order to support disadvantaged persons• Career guidance according to the special needs of disadvantaged persons• Diversity and human rights• Business foundation coaching / Entrepreneurship• Mobile guidance to reach disadvantaged persons• Quality standards in guidance• Guidance for volunteer work and internships- The training course modules are carried out in the participating countries- Website in all partner languages + English- e-learning platform in all partner languages + English - Dissemination events in each partner country to disseminate the project resultsResults, impact and long-term benefits:- Through the training course counsellors can provide more individualised guidance to disadvantaged clients. They gained deeper understanding on their special needs, are aware of the necessity in being mobile as a counsellor and as an institution and they increased the effectiveness of their guidance and counselling services as they incorporate new knowledge and methods and a deeper understanding of diversity and fairness in their professional processes.- Organisations gained information on how to design their offerings and services to meet the needs of disadvantaged target groups and offer suitable support and how to modify their mission statements in regard of diversity.- Disadvantaged persons profit from more professional client-centered counselling and guidance offers and better access to learning opportunities.Project partners:Germany: ttg team training GmbH (ttg) and Ministerium für Kultus, Jugend und Sport Baden-WürttembergRomania: Asociatia Multifunctionala Filantropica Sfantul Spiridon (AMFSS), Asociatia Ecumenica a Bisericilor din Romania (AIDRom) andAGENTIA JUDETEANA PENTRU OCUPAREA FORTEI DE MUNCA GALATI (AJOFM)Bulgaria: SDRUZHENIE TERITORIALNA ORGANIZATSIA NA NAUCHNO-TEHNICHESKITE SPETSIALISTI (TOR) and University of Ruse Angel Kanchev