The Competence Coach (CC) and Pilgrimage (PiL) methodologies.

CC is focused to improve professional performance of trainers and counselors by introducing the coaching method and assessment tools, especially for target groups at risk of social exclusion. IEKEP (Greece) was a Core Partner in the development of the “Competence Coach” guideline, toolbox and exercises, during LDV TOI project “Competence Coach” (2008-2010). A full guideline was developed with complementary exercises to be used by VET providers in training/counseling unemployed and disadvantaged clients and learners. This guideline is based upon the approach of empowerment and self - assessment, which enables and supports the development of personal and socially relevant self-management competences.

PiL focused on the acquisition and implementation of autonomous learning skills, rather than traditional methods based on presentation and knowledge transfer. BEST (Austria), in partnership with ROC Nijmegen (Netherlands), implemented as a core partner the “Pilgrimage of Lifelong Learning - From Knowledge Transfer to Autonomous Learning” project (TOI 2008-2010). In this project, a European partnership of experts undertook a ‘pilgrimage' in order to compile a ‘canon' of autonomous learning for teachers and trainers in adult education. The project provided a complete toolbox with many different examples of didactical materials, using methods of self directed learning dedicated to “teach adults in an autonomous way”.

The combination of these two methodologies will provide our Trainers/Counselors/Caregivers with new skills and competences to facilitate their beneficiaries’ journey into become more autonomous, which is a key point for their rehabilitation and integration.