Bilateral fund initiative proposal

EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS FUND FOR BILATERAL RELATIONS INITIATIVE PROPOSAL Title of the initiative: Inclusive education and NEET youngsters, best practise from Norway and Iceland. Implementing entity (beneficiary state entity): the Association of Local Authorities of Pärnu County, Estonia Partner(s) (minimum one donor state entity): UngInvest, Norway Fjölsmiðjunnar, Iceland Bilateral priority area identified by the JCBF beyond the programmes: X promotion of core European values, such as respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and the respect for human rights for all people, regardless of their racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation or gender identity;  E-governance (digitalization)  eastern partnership  equality and equal treatment  competitive business environment, sustainable and adaptive governance (based on “Competitiveness Plan for 2020” approved by the Government of Estonia) Allocation (total sum): 87 800 eur (A more detailed project budget description in the activity plan) 1 Short description of the initiative: (background, aim, participants, activity plan, budget outline, communication and dissemination) General theme Inclusive education, NEET and NGTS (youth guarantee support systems) development in the Pärnu county. The best practise from Norway and Iceland. Background At the moment, the mainstream education system is unable to cope fully with inclusive education solutions. Too many students with special educational needs (HEV) end up as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youths. There is a need for school network development in Pärnu county, and together with that, we could create a new environment to generate opportunities and establish a separate system with a different teaching approach and methodology, similar to Nordic approach. It is good timing, as all across Estonia started a new system about NEET and NGTS in March 2024. In Norway is UngInvest https://bfk.no/unginvest/ and in Iceland Fjölsmiðjunnar www.Fjolsmidjan.is, and their partners (the co-operation agreement between Sjúkratrygginga Íslands, VIRK starfsendurhæfingarsjóðs, and Janusar endurhæfingar). They all are dealing with the same issues (inclusive education, NEET youngsters etc). Generally, it is practice-oriented and strength-based training offer for young people with an aim to recruit and retain young people in upper-secondary education such that more young people gain qualifications and become attractive prospects for future working life. Trusting relationships are built through dialogue that emphasises the young person’s strength, enabling each individual to start using his or her unique potential. This contributes to higher completion rates, improved learning outcomes and young people becoming active members of society with jobs and meaningful lives. It is minimising drop-out rates and maximising learning outcomes. We cannot directly transfer UngInvest or Icelandic experience here, but we can certainly utilize the knowledge to create a concept and operational model here, adapting it to our legal and economic context. Content Part 1 A training cycle, 3 workshops and 1 bigger seminar with Nordic participants and lectures, about 50-60 persons. This consists of introduction of methods used in Norway and Iceland. Both countries use appreciative communication with the youth. It is an offer for those who, for a period, need an alternative path through upper secondary education. It is a strength-based methodology. The goal is to recruit and retain youths in upper secondary education so that more youths qualify for their future careers. Through dialogues focusing on the strengths of the youth, trusting relationships are built. Each youth practices recognizing their own qualities and becoming even better at them. This contributes to increased completion rates, improved learning outcomes, and youths who become active members of society with jobs and good lives. They learn together every day in a safe, strength-based, and joyful environment so that all the youths find their way in the education system. The collaboration is set up closely with upper secondary schools, vocational training offices, and the workforce, also with psychological services. Training cycle consists, in addition to workshops and seminar, a study trip from Estonia to Norway and to Iceland. Including people from Norway coming with us to Iceland, and people from Iceland coming with Estonians to Norway. This gives the added value also for our partners, as they can study also from each other’s best practise. As a result, all new NGTS persons with partners from schools and involved parties start to use appreciative communication methods with the youth. In Pärnu County, there are 9 NGTS people (7 case managers and 2 coordinators). We hope to have about 10 involved parties (schools, municipalities, mental health centres etc). Part 2 In addition to the training cycle, and with the help of it, the project manager, along with the steering group, conducts a background study about inclusive education’s current situation in Pärnu County and the opportunities to implement a system similar to UngInvest and Icelandic experience, in the region. They develop a concept, and based on it, create an action plan for the coming years. Also, some materials will be developed and/or translated (know-how got from part 1) to be used by NGTS people and by the schools, which are appointed/chosen by the local municipalities with co-operation of school representatives and involved parties. As a result, a concept and the design model for the development of inclusive education will be developed, along with a potential action plan. Necessary know-how import for the development of inclusive education and the possibility of conducting a pilot project here would take place. 2 Activity plan: Activity Time Location Cost Participants 1 3 workshops August 2024 Estonia 14 300 eur 30 participants per workshop November 2024 (Estonians) January 2025 2 1 seminar in Pärnu March 2025 Estonia 9000 eur 50 from Pärnumaa county 5 from Iceland 7 from Norway 3 Study trip to Buskerud September 2024 Norway 23 000 eur 15 from Pärnumaa 5 from Iceland 4 Study trip to Reykjavik October 2024 Iceland 26 500 eur 15 from Pärnumaa 7 from Norway 5 Information materials February 2025 Estonia 5000 eur 100 6 Part 2 – study, August 2024 - Estonia 10 000 eur Project manager + steering developing the concept March 2025 group, and action plan, all together about 10 persons conducting a pilot 87 800 eur 1 – 3 workshops for Estonian participants, costs cover workshops and seminar costs (rent, coffee, lectures or specialists etc) 2 – seminar with representatives from Norway and Iceland, and Estonians. Costs cover seminar costs + travel costs and accommodation for Norwegians and Icelanders. 3-4 – study trips costs cover partly travelling, accommodation, workshops and visits according to the programs. About 15 participants from Estonia and 7 participants from Norway and 5 from Iceland. 5 – material about “Appreciative communication” - costs cover compiling, translation, editing, printing. 6 – Conducting the survey in the Pärnu county, developing the design model for the development of inclusive education, drafting the action plan, conducting a pilot with interested parties. Planned results1 OUTPUT INDICATOR TARGET Information materials number of information materials 100 distributed/printed Concept and action plan number of materials 1 Number of people involved 10 Workshops Number of participants 30 Seminar Number of participants 62 Study trips Number of participants 27 /Digitally signed/ Erik Reinhold The board member The Association of Local Authorities of Pärnu County 1 Please refer to the Results Guideline 3