Let’s TRY

Since July 2017 the Youth Association from Transylvania is engaged in another Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic Partnership called “TRY: non formal learning approaches and self-management practices”. This partnership gathers 9 partners from 3 EU program countries, Portugal, Romania and Poland which are connected to vocational education and training and will occur from October 2017 till July 2020 (34 months) and involves mainly VET students, teachers, school board members, public authorities, and partner’s staff. From Cristuru Secuiesc the partners are us, the Youth Association from Transylvania, the Municipality of the town and the Zeyk Domokos Vocational School. The project is coordinated by Aventura Marao Clube, an association from Portugal.

The TRY project intends to create synergies and links between different sectors of education, training and youth in order to facilitate inclusive education and training (and therefore increase the quality and relevance of VET) by introduction of non-formal education methods in VET teaching methodology. The project also aims to introduce self-sufficient school principles in VET organisations in order to diminish the dependency on state funding, while, at the same time, providing students with hands-on experience developing their practical, technical and business skills that are aligned with the needs and opportunities of the labour market.

To reach these goals we will organize international project management meetings, trainings, multiplier events and create intellectual outputs, like this:

  • We will be part of 3 international project meetings, one already done, in October 2017 in Poland, the next hosted by us in Transylvania in the Summer of 2018 and the last one done in the Spring of 2020 in Poland.
  • We will send our youth workers, teachers and staff to training events, once to our town, Cristuru Secuiesc and two times to Amarante, in Portugal.
  • We will make 5 intellectual outputs from which we already started the study of VET teaching approaches and management practices, the documentary film that complements it and the improving the websites of the participating VET schools. In the next year we will also elaborate non-formal education methods and non-formal education games for VET school environments.

In the project end phase we will also organize 3 multiplier events, one in each country where we will present the created games, media content and research outputs.

The methodology used in carrying out the project are different research methods, non-formal education methods (e.g., simulations, roundtable and work in small groups, study visits, case study analysis, workshops, games, films, brainstorming, etc.), experiential methods (e.g., learning by doing, peer education, boot camps), as well as information and communication technologies.

The expected results and impact are on one hand that we will have improved teaching methods that are better aligned with students biological, psychological characteristics and needs will result in increased motivation of VET students to study and, there-fore, improve their study results. Secondly, the student involvement in school management activities that are relevant and applicable in real-life situations will improve skills and increase the employability of youngsters, therefore smoothing the transition from school to work. Thirdly, the improved teaching methods (by the application of non-formal education methods) will improve the work of teachers, facilitate the involvement of students in the study process as well as increase the class attendance rates, therefore decreasing the drop-out rates. Last but not least, the application of self-sufficient school principles will improve management practices that lead to cost-efficient and sustainable solutions as well as improve the financial situation of VET organisations in long term.

Follow our website, www.ata-ro.eu or our page https://www.facebook.com/ata.ong/  to get updates on how this project progresses and for instructions on how to get involved in the project.