SUSTAINVET: Survival Skills for Trainers of Apprentices in Initial VET
M&M is partner in ‘SUSTAINVET’, a two-year project funded by Erasmus+ whose main objective is to provide company mentors with initial and continuous support to ensure the apprentice and the company mentor share a common understanding of the roles, responsibilities and rights within a work-based learning setting and to establish feedback mechanisms to monitor the progress of the apprentice and identify whether he/she is facing difficulties in а work-based learning environment. We will support company mentors in the planning, design, delivery and assessment of IVET apprenticeship schemes.
The project falls under the EU Strategic Partnerships for VET education – Key Action 202 (KA2): Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices.
Our project
The SUSTAINVET project will design a Train-the-Trainer Programme for trainers of company mentors (O1) and will develop, test, and implement a Toolkit for Company Mentors (O2) to assist them in planning, implementing and assessing WBL that takes place during practical training at a company.
Who we are?
The Consortium is comprised of:
Modern Education Foundation (Bulgaria)
Bulgarian Branch Chamber Of Woodworking And Furniture Industry (Bulgaria)
Zdruzenie Makedonski Centar Za Gragjansko Obrazovanie Mcgo Skopje (The Republic of North Macedonia) M&M Profuture Training, S.L. (Spain)
Viesoji Istaiga Panevezio Profesinio Rengimo Centras (Lithuania)
Why this project?
Improving competence and professional development of company mentors has been on the EU policy agenda for several 
years and is also the core concept behind the current proposal.
Work-based learning (WBL) also referred as dual VET has proven its worth in practice. Combining school-based and company training phases can increase the relevance, quality, and attractiveness of VET. In Europe’s most advanced economies work-based learning is considered a key factor for establishing young skilled professionals who contribute to the economic growth and more importantly high youth employment, as about 60-70% of apprentices secure jobs immediately after their training.
Evidence shows that countries with well-functioning work-based systems have lower youth unemployment levels. A key factor to high quality work-based learning is skilled workers and well positioned mentors who train, instruct, coach and guide young apprentices and serve as their role model. Their quality and competences are considered as strategic objectives for effective European cooperation in VET. The need to introduce systematic approaches to and opportunities for initial and continuous professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors in both school and work-based settings across the EU is embedded in the Riga conclusions (2015).
Work-based learning and apprenticeship schemes in particular have gained increased attention at EU and national level as the remedy for boosting employment and growth in Europe and reducing skill gaps and mismatch. In the participating countries, work has focused on reinforcing WBL to provide school apprentices with the opportunity to acquire real work experience and understand which skills employers expect and those that can help them succeed.
Follow us on the project website for more information.
