This project refers to the development of an open access remote photovoltaics (PV) laboratory for educational purposes. The remote PV laboratory is currently installed outdoors at the facilities of the TEI of Athens, Greece. The TEI of Athens is located in a geographical region characterized by a large number of annual sunshine hours, thus offering superior uptime for the laboratory’s users to perform real-world tests and experiments with photovoltaic panels over the internet in real time. At any time, including during the experiments, the student can have a live view of the system through a web camera, offering him/her a sense of personal presence at the place where the experiment takes place. The system is accessible by everyone on the planet with internet access. It is also accompanied by appropriate openly accessible educational material, in five languages. These open educational resources were developed with several target groups in mind, including but not limited to, students, postgraduates, professionals, and educators, thus allowing it to be used by a broad variety of users directly. Moreover, the remote laboratory could help students with disabilities increase their participation in a laboratory environment.A specialized website has been created as the host of the aforementioned OERs and remote PV laboratory that is openly accessible by anyone on the planet with internet access, acting as the basis of all educational and training activities. The OERs that were developed to accompany the remote laboratory include educational texts, tests, and documentation, all developed for various types of users. In addition to OERs, a series of experimental exercises have been developed on photovoltaic systems that could be adapted for courses currently present in higher education curricula by making use of the innovative, openly accessible remote photovoltaics laboratory. These remote experiments could also be used for distance education, professional training, and part-time study. Thus, students from Europe and around the world, whose institutes/schools do not have physical laboratories or their countries do not have a high annual number of sunshine hours, can perform experiments and then analyze the results according to the taught theory. Classroom courses can also benefit from the developed system by letting the teachers demonstrate the behavior and analyze the characteristics of a photovoltaic panel under real-life conditions. This approach opens new ways in the teaching and educational process by giving students the feel of an almost direct experience with the experimental device and providing an excellent context for developing remote collaboration skills that will be important in their future careers. The developed remote PV laboratory combined with the ample OERs can also be integrated into related distance learning and eLearning programmes of any educational institution worldwide, allowing the enhancement of the educational quality of such programmes, significantly refining education and training in photovoltaic systems, for the benefit of humanity.Five well-recognized European Universities were involved in the project, as well as the Technical Chamber of Greece. Each partner had a series of specific roles in the project and their expertise provided the means to a successfully implemented complementary collaboration between the partners. The duration of the project was three years. The first two years were devoted to the design, sizing, and installation of the remote PV laboratory, as well as for the development of open educational resources and experimental exercises. During the last year, the system was evaluated as an adapted module within the curricula of the partner universities studies. A number of workshops have been organized to disseminate the project and train the interested parties. Seminars were provided to local professional organizations, such as the Technical Chamber of Greece, so as for their members to be informed of, use and provide feedback on the proposed system. In order to disseminate the system towards other scientists with expertise in the fields of online/remote education and for the opportunity to receive feedback from them, the system and some of its capabilities were presented in relevant peer-reviewed scientific conferences.

Assuming a lifelong learning perspective, this project aims to increase the intercultural competences of healthcare professionals in Europe, through non-formal training. According to EU SKILLS PANORAMA (2014) report on the prospects for health professionals, healthcare providers in Europe should develop their skills as far as societal trends and influences as well as human ethnicity and culture are concerned. The need for intercultural competences has been stressed out by a lot of academics and researchers in the field. Anand & Lahiri (2009, p.388) argue that the key to an efficient healthcare is the “skills to learn about cultural and personal beliefs in a respectful way”. Spencer (2014) emphasizes the teachable dimension of intercultural skills and the importance of this aspect of professionalism for the satisfaction of the patient and the provider, as well as for the health outcomes. The intercultural competences are a useful tool for all the healthcare providers (doctors, surgeons, midwives, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, nurses, healthcare assistants) in all the stages of practice: prevention, treatment, management of illness and promotion of physical and mental wellbeing. The inability to cope with different perceptions about illness and health may result in misdiagnosis and mistreatment (Ahmed, 2015). Apart from the generally acknowledged need for development of intercultural competences in the healthcare sector, the current wave of refugees and immigrants towards and inside Europe underlines the need for provision of healthcare that is adjusted to the patients’ needs. The objectives of this project have been a) to equip healthcare professionals with the intercultural competences required in order to provide medical and healthcare services tailored to the needs of their patients, b) to provide non-formal educational methods that can be combined with the formal education of the healthcare professionals, c) to promote the efficient provision of healthcare to ethnic minorities that either inhabit or pass through the partner countries, taking into consideration the significance of different perspectives on health and illness for an efficient and cost-effective healthcare system, d) to sensitize the decision makers of educational and health policies in the partner countries concerning the needs of both patients and healthcare providers, e) to set off an international conversation and cooperation between healthcare professionals g) to address current needs and challenges of healthcare professionals.Project directly targeted all healthcare providers: doctors, surgeons, midwives, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, nurses, healthcare assistants. Among the indirect target groups that are also addressed through this project are refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers, Roma, Pomaks and any other ethnic minorities treated by the western healthcare system. Consortium consists of six organizations from European countries. Partner organizations have a diverse background. Partners include one public Educational Institution, VET centers, NGOs and IT experts.Intellectual Outputs: IO1 - Baseline report on Intercultural competences for healthcare professionals: Quantitative, Qualitative and Context Analysis. The main result of the Intellectual Output 1 was the identification of the intercultural competences that should be enhanced from the point of view both of the healthcare providers and their patients. IO2 - The InterHealth (ECVET based) Curriculum for Intercultural Competences of Healthcare professionals. The expected result of Intellectual Output 2 was a Curriculum for the development of the necessary know-how of the healthcare providers who treat patients with a culturally different background. IO3 - The InterHealth Forum for healthcare practitioners and patients in an intercultural setting. The InterHealth Forum aimed to promote the active communication among healthcare professionals themselves and among them and the patients on the common ground of the need for intercultural healthcare. IO4 - The InterHealth mobile training application for autonomous learners. The aim of this Intellectual Output was to provide an interactive application that promotes autonomous learning of healthcare professionals on the subject of intercultural perspective on health and illness. IO5 - The InterHealth policy recommendations report. The main aim of this Intellectual Output was to produce a policy, guidelines and recommendations report which among other matters reviews the use of intercultural training for the efficient delivery of healthcare to all patients.Results & Impact: The main results have been the provision of innovative training tools for the lifelong training of healthcare practitioners and the influence on policy makers related to healthcare education and training. Indirectly, migrants and refugees will have the opportunity to enjoy personalized healthcare which on the same time will be cost effective and ti

In the era of Europe 2020 Strategy, for overcoming the socio-economic crisis affecting European countries, of boosting growth and jobs and of fostering social equity and inclusion, this project aims to use the potential of Europe’s human and social capital originating from higher education’s institutes and the industry, in order to exchange and transfer knowledge and know-how in food science and technology education, by the creation and development of a network that will provide opportunities for cooperation among stakeholders. This partnership consists of 4 higher education institutes, namely Technological Educational Institute of Thessaly (Greece), Catholic University of Portugal, Cyprus University of Technology, University of Leon (Spain) and Technological Educational Institute of Athens (Greece). All higher education partners have been previously successfully involved in European Education Projects and it is aimed to blend experience and good practices previously acquired in order to make steps forward for enhancing the quality and relevance of the learning offer in food science and technology education. Additionally this partnership includes an IT Specialist Partner originating from the industry (SystServ), a Dissemination Specialist (ANKA) and also has a series of collaborating partners from Food Industries from the participating countries for developing case studies material for training purposes. Universities, national and regional development and education agencies will also act as collaborating partners in order to facilitate the dissemination of the project’s outcome. The general objectives of this project are:1. enhancing the quality and relevance of the learning offer in education by developing new and innovative education approaches and supporting the dissemination of best practices in food science and technology education2. promoting innovative practices in education by supporting personalised learning approaches, collaborative learning and critical thinking, strategic use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), open educational resources (OER), open and flexible learning, virtual mobility and other new pedagogies 3. increasing labour market relevance of learning provision and qualifications and reinforcing links between education with the world of the food industry4. improving the capacities of the participating universities in the areas of strategic development, quality of learning provision and internationalizationThe project is based in the following key activities dealing with Research and Training needs Analysis to evaluate the training needs in Food Science and Technology Study Programmes in European Higher Education Organizations, in order to ensure that EU labor has the skills and knowledge to face the emerging food sector market related to non conventional foods (namely functional, nano, organic/eco) production, food safety and regulatory affairs, marketing and entrepreneurship. Relevant to the needs training material and case studies will be developed and uploaded on an on line learning platform to be constructed by the partnership, introducing innovative education training materials for EU Universities, by enhancing the potential of the agri-food sector for the production and promotion of functional foods in Europe (including all the ethical and safety aspects).In summary the expected results include:1. Intellectual outputs (training material and case studies) based on exchange of good practices (technology and pedagogical)2. Blended mobility for creating the material and pilot test the proposed teaching method 3. Intensive study/training programmes4. Dissemination of teaching methods/materialsThe impact of the project has to do mainly with the development of an innovative and quality training program in the emerging fields of food science and technology, using entrepreneurial and marketing opportunities simultaneously, as a mean for enhancing competitiveness, pro activeness and extroversion in the participating countries. Thus, the project will give the opportunity to develop the existing intellectual property of the stakeholders and create new knowledge in specific fields, leading to a knowledge intensive business. Furthermore, the project wishes to develop an innovative multimedia based training program that will act as a multipurpose tool for academic purposes, research, merging industry with academia, networking and synergies development from the participating countries and internationally, that will remain active beyond the course of this project.

The PROJECT contributes to the efforts for reduction of youth unemployment specially among women and for recognition and certification of skills developed in environments of non-formal and informal training/education that can be adapted to different work needs and environments.Through the production of a structured product DigiFem accompanied by MOOC courses, women will be enhanced to start up businesses, in a qualitative and quantitative rich frame of further personal development. The PROJECT seeks to connect dynamic areas of research, surveys, vocational training, dissemination and create a new professional framework on female business entrepreneurship for recognition and certification of learning outcomes, skills and competences in non formal/informal learning environments . Main objective is to offer to young women the possibility to be in contact with a supportive low cost mechanism and investigate in a simple way the needed steps for setting up a business, maintain established and find.Achievement of objectives: through the development, of ICT products, development of training curriculum based on profess framework, production of an innovative model for the recognition, development and certification of fem-entrepreneur skills, targeting unemployed young women or professionals wishing to develop new skills that enable them to respond more adequate to modern requirements of the labor market and business, in Europe.Activities: testing courses under which participants will use all products during preparation phase, under the guidance of experienced trainers, professors. Surveys for the provision of data in order to develop the prof framework, focusing on the initiation of a tool for european institutionalization of female entrepreneurship. Women Participants face and cope with real challenges in a business world under a continuous process of transformation, on which knowledge, skills and competences are contested due to the lack of recognition and validation of skills and competences referring to professional framework. Young women will use projects products for job creation, job enhancement and acquisition of new job places, as well as for an unofficial self - assessment of competencies and skills in a virtual process. The certification of learning outcome will be, compatible with the EQF and ECVET. Each beneficiary after completing the training / testing will receive a certificate which will identify/recognize their experience and capacities in business. In this way, the students will have the opportunity to present and use with confidence new competencies and improve their professional profile, claiming appropriate / matching for the same jobs in the labor market of their country and abroad.The PROJECT is structured so that results directly benefit to three target groups:1. The final users: young unemployed women and other NEETs and fewer opportunities young women interested in mobility, women needing support through new skills for the modern labor market and entrepreneurial activity, low cost . During the project is expected have a participation minimum of 240 people in each countrie. 2. Researchers / trainers / experts of the VET and educational sector: educational staff, HEIs, educational institutions, mentors to participating to production of outputs, surveys, professional framework and for the elaboration of results, factors of failure/risks/assumptions, consultants and more supporting staff from all partners. Expected to train, minimum 60 people in each countrie.3. Partner organisations and cooperating stakeholders, at local, regional and national level: It is expected to reach at least 50 bodies, both from the participating countries and other countries of Europe.Intellectual outputsA. Digi-Fem: Research for the development of project's tools (definition of the objectifs, parameters of business success, business param) .B. Experimental development of educational methodology MOOC and more software tools. Also development of training curriculum, educational material, methods, techniques and tools, based on professional frame, evaluation procedures.C. Transnational courses train the trainer one in Greece and one in Austria, D. National Surveys and development of a system of certification of female skills/competences, (based on EQF and ECVET), production of professional framework on female entrepreneurship,F. Pilot (at least 12 pilot), training testing courses for all ICT products, in all European countries).G. Development communication platform for networking in local - national - European networks of beneficiaries as well as stakeholders ( creation of virtual environments to exchange ideas , knowledge , practices, proposals , involving key persons from the VET, business, universities' sectors).H. Dissemination activities: awareness of more different social groups.I. Evaluation activities.Six organizations are involved from GR, RO,GE,AT, NL, IT.

More than any other sector, today’s health care sector is dependent on the mobility of workers from across Europe and even on an international scale in order to overcome skill shortages within the EU Member States. The mobility of skilled workers is strongly hindered by highly complex and time consuming validation and recognition processes and by a lack of transparency among health care qualifications in the European Member States. The HCEU Project has made a major contribution towards the transparency of health care qualifications across borders and the facilitation of processes to formally recognise and validate health care qualifications acquired abroad as well as through in- and non-formal learning within different health care recognition and validation systems throughout the European Union. For this purpose the HCEU consortium made use of the award-winning, practically-applied VQTS model. The VQTS model does not focus on the specificities of national VET systems but uses learning outcomes and work processes to enhance transparency. It provides a ‘common language’ to describe competences and their acquisition and a way to relate these competence descriptions to concrete qualifications/ certificates and competence profiles of individuals. The VQTS model relates on the one hand to the work process and follows, on the other hand, a ‘development logical’ differentiation of a competence profile. This makes it an ideal and comprehensive tool to appreciate the lifelong learning of health care professionals in the context of formal recognition processes. Based on this approach HCEU developed VQTS matrices, profiles, tools and instruments for the field of ‘professional care’ for the national contexts of the project partners in order to facilitate recognition praxis in those EU Member States. In addition HCEU developed transfer kits in order to facilitate the transfer of those tools also to other national (within and beyond Europe) contexts and to other fields within health care. Those tools are expected to make a major contribution to the work of VET providers and recognition bodies/authorities involved in transnational mobility of health care professionals. In this way HCEU makes it possible to facilitate the establishment of a European labour market that helps to overcome skill shortages and high unemployment rates through fostering the mobility of health care professionals across the European Member States.