VM2 presented at event "Boosting the employment of older workers in the European Union: what can be done at regional and local level?"

VM2 will be presented at the event "Boosting the employment of older workers in the European Union: what can be done at regional and local level?", taking place at the Committee of the Regions on 25 November 2010 (10:00 - 16:00).
This event will present current projects concerning older workers. It will also showcase what can be done to lessen the impact of the crisis on older workers and address issues that confront older workers such as combating age discrimination in the workplace, reconciliation the professional and family responsibilities of the sandwich generation, implementing intergenerational solidarity in the workplace, phased retirement etc.
If you have any questions related to the content of the meeting, do not hesitate to contact Rachel Buchanan, Policy Officer (e-mail).

OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT

Validating Mentoring 2 project will support the needs of disabled people and others disadvantaged in the job market by developing systems for the recognition of their non-formal and informal learning. This is particularly important for a group that, compared to its peers, lacks formal qualifications with the consequent effects upon their employability. It will do this by establishing new mentoring programmes in 3 countries for disabled people, older people and young people at risk and it will transfer to them the principles and practices of effective, high quality, mentoring and validation, based on the Code of Practice for Mentoring developed the first Validation of Mentoring project BG/05/C/F/TH- 83 300 (www.mentoring-validation.org). In support for the transfer, it will develop and evaluate comprehensive systems for the self-assessment of mentoring programmes. The principles and practices developed will be potentially transferable to other areas of informal and non-formal learning.

This project focuses on the needs of disabled and other disadvantaged people – who gain particular benefits from the non-formal nature of mentoring. It is particularly useful for people who lack work-experience and who have not had the opportunity to develop their full skills and competences, as is often the case with disabled and other disadvantaged people.

The development of a validation system for mentoring will be a major advance and is based on the project team’s extensive experience in this field, which enables it to draw upon best practice from across Europe in all aspects of its work. Without authoritative validation those who participate in mentoring (both mentors and mentees) are denied legitimate acknowledgment of their achievements, and employers cannot properly judge the qualities of staff and potential recruits.

The project is a direct expression of the principles of the Copenhagen Agreement and complements the range of community initiatives that seek to ensure that the benefits of informal and non-formal learning are fully realised as a part of VET.