Erasmus + for Equality & Inclusion – Rome, Italy – 23-24 November 2017

I recently attended a seminar with a group of 50 European people from the fields of education and training in Rome, Italy from 23rd-24th November 2017, sponsored by Erasmus+.

Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for training, education, sport and youth.  It operates between 2014-2020, and organisations are encouraged to apply for funding in order to facilitate creative, worthwhile activities.  Erasmus+ is open to all sectors of lifelong education to include school education and youth.  It offers many opportunities for UK participants to study, work, volunteer, teach and train abroad.

During the conference, there were plenty of opportunities available which enabled different organisations to discuss developing projects, partnerships between participating countries, aimed at KA1 (key action 1 – mobility placements), this provides individuals opportunities to improve their skills, enhance their employability and gain cultural awareness.  KA2 – Key Action 2 (Co-operation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practice).  This key action allows organisations to apply for funding to work in the fields of higher education, vocational education and training, schools, adult education and youth.

The seminar in Rome had key speakers from the Italian National Agency who discussed their ideas, good practice and gave the group valuable insight into how they had achieved integrating those with special needs into their successful projects.  The theme was how to address those within our communities with special needs and disabilities and give them opportunities to participate in the Erasmus+ programme.

Fitness Excel Training ran a successful project in 2012 with students from two Birmingham Schools, teaching vocational education in health and sports, learning Spanish and undertaking 3 week’s work experience in Tenerife.  Fitness Excel’s mission and aim was to promote inclusion through mobility.  Students who took part in the mobility project had successfully gained placements at University and were progressing in their professional lives.  Erasmus+ develops people personally, professionally and academically, gaining valuable skills, including language learning as well as broadening horizons and making dreams come true.