Abstract:

The Project Q4ADHD is financed by the ERASMUS+ Programme under the key action “Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices”. Its implementation started on 1 September 2016 and expires on 31 August 2018. The total budget of the project is €286206. Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria is the Coordinator. Eight institutions from 5 EU countries are members of the Consortium - NART (BG); EFFEBI Association (IT); UNINETTUNO University (IT); Foro Técnico de Formación (ES); Folkuniversitetet (SE); SCIFY (EL); DIMITRA (EL)Q4ADHD. With a kick-off meeting carried out in Sofia, the project was launched on 13-14 October 2016.

According to the work plan, 3 more transnational meetings will be held:
(1) in Larissa (Greece) - May 2017;
(2) in Sofia (Bulgaria) - December 2017 (Coinciding with the European Seminar); and
(3) Final meeting in Rome (Italy) - June 2018.

Five national multiplier events (one per country) are foreseen where representatives of all target groups will be invited for sharing with them the main project issues and positions and disseminating the project achievements.

Development of Innovation is the main objective of the project based on the two priorities: further development of the quality assurance mechanisms in Vocational Education and Training (VET); and contribution to the improvement of the Inclusive education, training and youth.

The project is aimed at the elaboration of the VET quality offer for learners with Special Educational Needs (SEN), with a specific focus on learners with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), through the implementation of Quality Assurance principles in VET in line with the European quality assurance in vocational education and training (EQAVET) recommendation.

Quality Assurance Framework and Tools will be set out as an effective support for VET providers to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate their training strategies in addressing challenges regarding participation both in iVET and cVET; and related to the continuous feedback loops between the two systems.

The project activities are targeted at VET Providers; Teacher and School associations; ADHD Associations; ADHD learners; Employers; National and European organizations active in the field of VET and inclusive education and training; National authorities (relevant Ministries, Agencies, regional Offices, etc.) and EQAVET secretariat and expert group.

The expected outputs are a compendium of good practices in the field of EQAVET implementation in VET for learners with ADHD; a Quality Assurance Framework for VET for learners with ADHD; a toolkit for VET providers training ADHD learners and an European Report on testing activities regarding the Quality Assurance Framework and a QA Toolkit.

The desired impact of the project addresses the following directions:
• The quality initiatives of the VET programmes aligned with the European and national policies in the field of inclusive VET;
• VET providers and local/regional/national authorities supported in understanding the essentials of the changes for aligning their QA approach with the inclusive VET policies;
• Key stakeholders attracted to use the quality exercise, aware in the influence and importance of the QA in VET for ADHD learners;
• The future work of EQAVET - better focused on provider’s needs and environment concerning quality initiatives and quality assurance processes, with an inclusive approach;
• Increased transparency of provided VET programs leading to wider implementation of other European instruments for VET e.g. European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and European Credit transfer system for VET (ECVET).

Keywords:

VET, EQF, EQAVET, Training Quality Assurance, Attention Deficit, Hyperactivity Disorder.