Klaipėda Ernests Galvanauskas Vocational Training Centre successfully implements the Nordplus Adult Programme funded project "Together We Are Stronger", Nr. NPAD-2019/10176
Project title - "Together we are stronger"
Project number - NPAD-2019/10176
The project involved two partner organisations from Lithuania and Estonia - Klaipėda Ernesto Galvanauskas Vocational Training Centre and Veru County Vocational Training Centre. The main objective of the project was to build on the experience, examples and opportunities of other countries to enhance teachers' competences in modern, technology-related classrooms, to improve the quality of lessons, to improve teaching and learning and to increase interest in the subject matter, by encouraging students to actively participate in lessons, involving them in the teaching and learning process. At the same time, increase their motivation in order to improve attendance and progress. The partner VET centres also aim to educate students in line with common global trends and state-of-the-art practices, and to encourage adults to learn in a way that makes them feel part of the global community, not just their own country, to broaden their horizons and to increase their country's competitiveness. Participation in international projects provides a wide space for teachers in training centres to explore the discoveries of teachers from other countries and examples of successful practices, stimulating creativity and meaningful insights.
Participants:
Activities carried out:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic-related travel restrictions, both planned visits to partner countries have been postponed to 2022.
28 March - 1 April Visit to Estonia. 4 teachers from Klaipėda Ernests Galvanauskas Vocational Training Centre took part in a five-day visit to the Vocational Training Centre in Veru. During the visit, the teachers got acquainted with the Vocational Training Centre of Veru County and the Crafts Centre. Representatives of both partner organisations presented their schools, discussed their similarities and differences, gave presentations on vocational retraining of adults in Estonia and Lithuania, innovativeness of the services provided by the partner organisations and the relevance of the services to the labour market needs. Lithuanian teachers also had the opportunity to take part in theoretical and practical lessons, to hear a presentation on the best methods of teaching adults and the motivation of adult learners, to take part in a variety of workshops and practical group activities, such as "Teaching Methods for Adults" or "Try out the profession of a Social Worker", and to engage in a variety of formal and informal discussions. One day of the visit was dedicated to the partners of the Vocational Training Centre of Võru County. In addition to listening to a presentation about the social partners, the group visited their premises, got to know their work, met their staff and shared information and good practices on the practical knowledge needed by adult learners in the social worker programme and the communication techniques used in social work and social assistance provided by social workers.
9 - 13 May - visit to Lithuania. 3 teachers from Veru Vocational Training Centre took part in a five-day visit to Klaipėda Ernests Galvanauskas Vocational Training Centre. During the visit, the Estonian teachers visited the Klaipėda Ernests Galvanauskas Vocational Training Centre and the renovated and (at that time not yet officially opened) state-of-the-art Construction Sector Practical Training Centre. The Estonian and Klaipėda Ernests Galvanauskas VET Centre teachers gave presentations on "Vocational training during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: challenges, adaptation, lessons learned", "Online learning: changes in teaching methods, communication, classroom management", and "Online learning: youth and adults. Key differences, major challenges, best practices".
The Estonian guests also learned about online and mobile apps used in distance learning, participated in a distance learning simulation and had to complete a practical group exercise using different apps and applications. They also took part in theoretical and practical lessons. In a workshop with teachers and an informal meeting with teachers and students, they discussed topics such as: designing an online curriculum; motivating students online, choosing the best applications, communication and group management, applying distance methods to practical learning; the sudden digitisation of various services due to the COVID-19 pandemic; how to motivate students remotely; the transition to and return to the classroom; and online distance learning applications. In the second part of the visit, the Estonian teachers were introduced to the Social Worker Programme, learnt about the current demand for social workers in Lithuania, visited social enterprises, had discussions with social workers about the differences between social care in Lithuania and in Estonia, and participated in a workshop with students and teachers on social work development.
Project results:
The most important result was that each partner, representing its own country and school, presented good examples of adult education. All participants were able to learn from each other - special skills, new teaching methods, different technologies, language, culture, history, etc. Partners had the opportunity to compare different study programmes. Participants gained new knowledge and practical skills and a better understanding of the similarities and differences between the Baltic States.
During the project, teachers improved their English language skills and were encouraged to learn the language (or at least a few key phrases) of the partner country. The project activities were important for the development of general-cultural and social competences, which enable the development of sociability and tolerance towards other nations and cultures.
Every person, group and institution involved in the project raised the quality of adult education, as participants learned from each other and shared their knowledge and skills.
The project aimed to build on the experience, examples and opportunities of other countries to enhance teachers' competences in modern, technology-enhanced classrooms, improve the quality of lessons, enhance teaching and learning, and increase interest in the subjects taught, thus encouraging pupils to actively participate in lessons and become more involved in the teaching and learning process.
At the same time, the motivation of the participants was raised, thus improving attendance and progress. The project also aimed to educate students in line with common global trends and state-of-the-art practices, to encourage them to learn in a way that makes them feel part of the global community, not just their own country, to broaden their horizons, and to increase their country's competitiveness.
Participating in international projects gives teachers a wide space to explore the discoveries and successes of teachers in other countries, stimulating creativity and meaningful insights. The majority of teachers who have previously participated in in-service training in a foreign country note a change in the situation: teachers are becoming more open to change and innovation.