Partners

The University of Northampton (UN) is delighted to be part of the SENEL project. Not only does UN has extensive experience and expertise in project management but also academic staff with key knowledge, skills and interests focused on this area.

In 2015, the University of Northampton celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the granting of its University Title and Research Degree Awarding Powers. UN is a modern institution providing both undergraduate and postgraduate education for over fourteen thousand students spread out between two campuses. The University has developed number of research centres, including the Centre for Education and Research (CeSNER) within the School of EducatioUkn. The School of Education is highly experienced in managing large, multi-agency projects. We have delivered for a range of private and public sector clients across the UK and Internationally.

The University offers a wide range of undergraduate degrees as well as foundation degrees, diplomas and a variety of postgraduate opportunities including a PhD programme. The School of Education provides initial teacher education, specialist training for teachers in the area of Special Educational Needs, a Master’s Level programme and provision for research students taking PhD studies. The School of Education runs courses focussed on special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities  at both undergraduate and Masters levels, including a BA SEN and Inclusion and an MA Education (SEN and Inclusion). PhD students and staff are carrying out research into SEN within the UK and internationally. We are one of the leading UK universities in the field of research, publication and teaching regarding SEN.

In 2013 Ashoka U, the world's leading network of social entrepreneurs, awarded the University of Northampton the international accolade of 'Changemaker Campus', in recognition of our commitment to social enterprise and the excellence of the opportunities this commitment gives to our students. Underpinned by clear values, one of them enabling all students to develop the skills required to stand out in the employment market and to be the change leaders of the future.

The University is investing in its local community with the creation of a new University campus in the heart of Northampton’s Waterside Enterprise Zone, which it is anticipated will open in Autumn 2018.

The University of Northampton (UN) is responsible for management, administration and quality assurance of this project. UN will lead development of work in the areas of policy and practice to inform the Mini-Guide for Employers, also coordinating a national presentation day based on project the Best practices analysis and exhibition in June 2016. It will also coordinate, in June 2017, an international meeting for the conclusion of the project and the final dissemination/multiplier event for all three project outcomes.

Activate Learning (AL) will work with UoN on the development of Outcomes 1 (Best practices Analysis and Exhibition), and support in the piloting of Outcomes 2 (Mini guide for Employers) and 3 (Passport to Employment) in an English context. It will also support in the coordination of a presentation day based on project Outcomes 1 and 2 in March 2016. Additionally AL, will work with the UoN in June 2017, in preparing for the final dissemination/multiplier event for all three outcomes. It is ideally suited to this role because of its current work and vast experience in supporting students with SEND into work, its partnerships with a wide range of employers, and its experience in working on previous project. 

Activate Learning is a pioneering education group which combines secondary, further and higher education, with apprenticeship and workforce training, consultancy, commercial business and social enterprise. These organisations are united by a common purpose - to transform lives through learning.

Our unique learning philosophy understands how people learn best and creates an environment where they can succeed. We ensure the future employability of our learners throughout their lives. We achieve this by developing the technical and softer skills required for success. Our learners develop confidence, self-awareness, determination and creativity - attributes needed to thrive in a competitive global market. We want to go 'further than education' by igniting confidence and expanding opportunities in our people; in ways that energise communities, build businesses and grow the economy.

City of Oxford College provides career-focused education for school leavers and adults in Oxfordshire. The college is a specialist in post-16 education, providing A-level and BTEC programmes that prepare young people for university and employment. It works in partnership with local secondary schools to offer vocational pathways for pupils aged 14 to 16 and offers full and part-time professional pathways for adults, together with a diverse range of evening and weekend leisure courses. As part of the Activate Learning group, the college provides higher education programmes backed by leading universities including Oxford Brookes. Higher education specialisms include policing, health and social care, business and enterprise and computer games animation. The college is also home to the Rycotewood Furniture Centre, part of the National School of Furniture. As a national centre of excellence for training in furniture design and making, students have access to degree-level programmes backed by Bucks New University and enjoy excellent progression into industry.

(during the project: Teacher Education College)

Working with FAIDD, JAMK University of Applied Sciences (JAMK) will lead the development of Outcome 3 (Passport), collating information from the other partner organisations, leading on piloting as well as contributing to Outcomes 1 and 2. Along with FAIDD, JAMK supported in the coordination of the first transnational project meeting in November 2105 to kick start the project and work of Outcome 1. It will also support in the coordination of a multiplier event in February 2017 disseminating details of progress made in Outcomes 2 and 3. JAMK is also responsible for the development of the website for the project ensuring continuing accessibility of the outcomes.
 
JAMK, located in Jyväskylä, is an internationally oriented and dynamic HE institution with 8000 students and 700 employees. The Teacher Education College (TEC) of JAMK has its history back to 1962 in qualifying teachers for all professional fields in vocational and higher education. Since 1994 this postgraduate level program has also been provided in English. Teacher Education College (TEC) has a leading role in providing continuing education for qualified vocational teachers in special needs education and in counseling and career guidance. Teacher education in TEC emphasizes the ideology of inclusive learning environments and inclusive vocational education.

Working with JAMK University of Applied Sciences (JAMK), the Finnish Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (FAIDD) will lead on the development of outcome three, collating information from the other partner organisations as well as contributing to Outcomes 1and 2 (and leading on the piloting of Outcome 3). Along with JAMK, FAIDD will support in the coordination of the first transnational project meeting in October 2105 to kick start the project and work on outcome one. It will also support in the coordination of a multiplier event in February 2017 disseminating details of progress made in outcomes two and three.

Assigned this role within the SENEL project partnership because of its vast experience and expertise, FAIDD is a national organisation with 70-80 experts which promotes equality and participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and others who need support with learning, understanding and communicating. It also develops services and does research in the field. The main objectives are research, development, personnel training, production of materials, promoting plain language information and culture, furthering accessible and participatory communication and use of information technology, providing and exchanging information and exercising social influence.

FAIDD is a centre of knowledge and a forum of cooperation. It engages in diverse cooperation with people with disabilities and their families and carers, professionals in the field, service providers, organisations and public authorities. The members of FAIDD are joint municipal authorities, municipalities, congregations, registered voluntary organisations and foundations.

BSG is a state-registered private Vocational Educational Training College (VET College) for students with Special Educational Needs (SEN). It belongs to the Berufsbildungs- und Jugendhilfezentrum Sankt Georg in Kempten and to the education institutions of the Katholische Jugendfuersorge der Dioezese Augsburg e.V..

The college programme leads to the successful completion of vocational education, supporting transition to working life and thus participation in wider society. To enter the college, students have to be identified and reported as having SEN. These students have learning disabilities and/or social and emotional problems and individualized support is provided.

The BSG has about 400 students between the ages of 15 – 23 years; in exceptional cases students can also be older, up to 35 years. About 300 students of the BSG use the German dual vocational training system (Duales System) to get trained and qualified for a job. The final qualifications for skilled jobs are the same as for students in regular VET Colleges. The audits are carried out by the official Chambers.
About 90 students are in vocational training classes for students with SEN who are not yet ready for VET programmes.  Additionally about 10 students with SEN are unemployed and need support for motivation and planning for living, learning and working.

Additionally two teachers of the BSG are a “mobile special education service” (MSD – Mobiler Sonderpaedagogischer Dienst) for the students with SEN at the regular VET Colleges in Kempten.  In the vocational field “metal processing technology” the BSG cooperates with Berufsschule I, the regular VET College in Kempten. The educational staff, such as teachers for special education, advise students about their future plans. They focus on topics such as self-assessment of strengths and weaknesses, creating personal profiles and encouraging interests.

During internships in companies, staff also advise workplace mentors of trainees, mediate in conflicts and contribute to the successful completion of training and internships. Furthermore, at the end of the training they support students in the job application process and with transition processes for successful careers.

During the educational programmes offered by the college, the focus is not only on specific preparation for a particular career field, but also on general competences such as mathematics, reading and comprehending texts. Workplace internships complete the students’ experiences.
BSG currently offers professional studies in the vocational fields of catering & housekeeping, business & sales, painting & decorating, metal processing technology, building, horticulture & landscaping and body care.

Working with BSG, Private Fachakademie fur Heilpadagogik (PFH), will be responsible for the overall valorisation of the project. Additionally BSG along with PFH will coordinate the piloting of Outcome 3. BSG and PFH will work together to coordinate a transnational event in October 2016 focusing on the development of Outcome 3, concurrently preparing a multiplier event focusing on piloting of Outcome 3 so far and the best practices exhibition (Outcome 1).

PFH is a private Further Education college for special education in Augsburg. We offer education and training for staff in the field of social work with disadvantaged people. In order to educate well-qualified professionals we cooperate with several institutions for children and youth services, institutions for vocational training and hospitals. Our college has extensive experience in preparing students to be able to help people with disadvantages to participate in everyday life and the workplace. There are approximately 20 teachers at the College with lengthy experience in the field of supporting the education of people to work with those who have SEND and disadvantages. Study programmes combine theoretical and practical competences. Students at PFH must have qualifications in secondary studies in either social education or special education. In our post-secondary college we differentiate and deepen the competences of their first qualification. We offer the degree of  "staatlich anerkannte Heilpadagogen".

Within a 4-year part time education programme we educate about 50 students in two classes. In addition to their studies, all of our students are working in their first qualified role, either in social work or institutions for children, young people or adults with special needs. The goal of our education programme is the development of knowledge in theories of special education, psychology, social science, medicine and law. Additionally we train students in professional competences in communication and mentoring, consultation, diagnosis, play therapy, motortherapy, social and quality management and others. An important part of our education is to build up personal skills to enable our students to work well both independently and in multiprofessional teams. During their studies they
have to complete several training periods with specific tasks in different institutions.

As we cooperate with a lot of institutions for vocational and educational training for our placements, the students are learning to counsel young people regarding transition to their further careers. Some of the students work with young people through the transition from school to VET to the workplace. Our Fachakademie fur Heilpadagogik is certified by the quality system of DIN EN ISO 9001/2008.

In cooperation with the non-governmental organization AGAPO, Masaryk University (MU), will lead on the development of Outcome – report on best practices in employing of people with SEND and exhibition. Furthermore, they will cooperate on the development of the mini-guide for employers and its piloting. The Czech partners will also host the first multiplier event taking place in Brno in March 2016.

Masaryk University, located in Brno, is the second-largest public university in the Czech Republic. At present it comprises nine faculties with more than 200 departments, institutes and clinics. It is recognized as one of the most important teaching and research institutions in the Czech Republic. The Faculty’s primary goal is the education of the teachers in primary and lower secondary schools, and secondary schools in certain fields. Besides teaching programmes, the faculty runs studies in special and social education. The Institute for Research in Inclusive Education, that is a partner to this project, focuses on education and employment of young adults and adults with SEND.

AGAPO is a non-governmental organization which has been active in the South-Moravian Region since 2004. The organisation´s mission is to support employment of people with disability or social disadvantage and thus allow them to live normal lives. Currently, the organisation runs a social service called “Social Rehabilitation”. In addition, it offers to its clients the following services: “Supported Employment”, “Transition Programmes”, “Job Club” etc. Within the Transition Programme AGAPO cooperates with the Practical School. AGAPO is a member of umbrella organisations, among the most important ones belongs the Czech Union for Supported Employment (CzUSE) or the Association of Non-governmental Organisations of the South-Moravian Region.