Evaluation Report Output 01: Best practices analysis and exhibition

Evaluation Report Output 01: Best practices analysis and exhibition

Report: SEN Employment Links Output 01: Best practices analysis and exhibition The report describes the progress of work and outcomes of the SENEL partners collaborative effort on output 1: Best practices analysis and exhibition. We offer quotes from the Application form and then continue with description of the works done and activities carried out. Majority of the project materials and contacts can be found at the project websites www.jamk.fi/senel. Output description Best practices analysis (quote from the Application Form): Analysis and dissemination of the best practices in supporting VET students with SEN in transition from school to work; Qualitative assessment of well established practices used in project partner employment (policies and strategies used by VET colleges and support provided by social agents, employers strategies in the hiring, and training of young workers with SEND, the evaluation of reasonable adjustments and adaptations within work environments The project partners worked according to template prepared by MU indicating information necessary for the best practices analysis. The template was circulated to all partners and put to the project online communication platform. Firstly, it was important to establish common grounds concerning understanding of who a young person /jobseeker with SEND is. Secondly, having in mind a number of comparative and overview studies on this topic which are available, MU chose a different approach, focusing on changes in the relevant area in the last five years. We put special focus on what changes took place in legislation, who filed motions for these change, and foremost, what effect has the legislative development had in practice. Thirdly, partners prepared a list of effective instruments which are used in partner countries and identified as effective measures supporting employment of young people with SEND. In this section we also focused at development in the last five years and providers of these services (be it government or non governmental sector, etc.). Finally, partners carried out interviews with employers (minimum 2) and employees with SENED (minimum 3). Areas for interviews were identified by MU in advance, however, exact course of interview was upon partners as qualitative methodology is based on individual approach and possibility to adjust scenario to emerging topics. Topic for interviews with employers included: recruitment policies, provisions for employees with SEND, retention and promotion of people with SEND and overall experience. With young people with SEND we focused on: type of SEND as subjectively perceived at workplace, employment history, current employment, provisions, barriers, experience with work and colleagues and plans and wishes for future professional career. These interviews were a solid basis for preparation of the exhibition of best practices below. Page 1 of 5

Exhibition (quote from the Application Form): Public awareness campaign presenting best practices in creating inclusive workplaces; Portal exhibition of documentary photographs and videos of best practices, accompanied by case studies of young people with SEND who are successfully employed Each partner country prepared 2 3 case studies including photographs and 1 2 videos. We strived to present people with SEND as a heterogeneous group, therefore, we were looking for young people covering a whole range of SEND as well as job positions. The content of the posters focused on their education, searching a job, current job position and job satisfaction, provisions needed at the workplace. Furthermore, employers were contacted as well to provide their opinion and experience. The graphic works were carried out by the project leader MU. The works took place from September till March 2016. For the dissemination event held in Brno in March 2016 English and Czech posters were finalized, together with videos. Works on German and Finnish language versions will be ready by December 2016. On the E2 multiplier event in the United Kingdom, we gathered feedback from stakeholders (mainly employers) and based on this, we decided to further shorten the texts. These shortened versions will be used at future dissemination events. Posters are available at the project website as a free download. Furthermore, Agapo and MU prepared a public awareness campaign in the city of Brno. Posters were transformed to a smaller size, with text being considerably shortened. These posters were displayed in public transport a special Gallery Tram operating on all tram lines in the city of Brno for the whole month of May 2016. Information about the SENEL project and its aims was included as well (in the form of a separate poster). This exhibition was seen by thousands of passengers (general public). Page 2 of 5

Management Output management (quote from the Application Form): Output leader is Masaryk University, strongly supported by the national partner AGAPO All partners contribute their country specific information and case studies, photographs and videos Development will be supported by transnational meeting M1 The leader of the activity was Masaryk University and Agapo from the Czech Republic. MU prepared templates for all tasks and circulated these to the partners. Initial works and discussions took place at the first management meeting in September 2016 and were followed at the first transnational meeting in Jyväskylä in November 2016. Any issues arising during the lifetime of the project activity were solved either individually via e mail or skype or at regular management meetings via Connect Pro. MU is also responsible for finalization of the graphic versions in all four partner country languages. Dissemination Dissemination (quote from the Application Form): O1 will be disseminated at national multiplier event E1 in the Czech Republic and E2 in the UK, E3 and together with O2 at E and E5. Best Practices Analysis will be available as document file on project website Exhibition will be available at the project website in.pdf format The overview of dissemination activities can be found in the separate dissemination report. Among the main dissemination events belong two successful seminars held in the Czech Republic in March 2016 and in the United Kingdom in June 2016. And also the exhibition in the public transport Gallery Tram in the Czech Republic. Dissemination of the output was also done via social media, namely twitter, websites of the SENEL project as well as project partners webpages. Posters are available in.pdf format at the SENEL webpages. The webpages also contain an Events section where photographs from seminars, business breakfasts and other events can be seen. Page 3 of 5

Self evaluation The project consortium is a well established one. Majority of the partners have worked together on previous projects, therefore communication and ways of collaboration are well established. This helped us a lot in initial stages of the project. The consortium invited three new partners. With these partners, we devoted some time at the initial project meeting (M1) establishing communication channels, explaining project management and also ways of cooperation at project outcomes. Overall, the progress of work was smooth. Issues arose from not sufficient clarity of the study template. This was addressed by the management group at its management group meeting. Based on the discussions and questions, the activity leader MU prepared a detailed template including deadlines for individual steps. This detailed plan helped all partners in progressing with the work. Concerning quality and relevance of project meetings, the hosting partner circulates a feedback form to all partners. Based on the feedback, we modify the plans of the following transnational meetings. Overall, the cooperation is very effective and the main project aims concerning O1 have been met. Outstanding work has been produced (refined Best Practices Analysis and graphics of German and Finnish versions are well planned for and will be accomplished in the upcoming month). Brno, 21 st September 2016 Helena Vadurova, Lucie Prochazkova Masaryk University Page 4 of 5

Disclaimer The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects contained therein The Partnership Page 5 of 5