Improvement of Employment Chances of the Unemployed and the Visual and Auditive Disabled by Using Virtual Learning Applications - IECUVADVLA -

“IECUVADVLA” - SOCRATES/ Grundtvig 2 Project “IECUVADVLA” - SOCRATES/ Grundtvig 2 Project In the framework of Socrates Programme Romania initated in 2004 “IECUVADVLA” Grundtvig 2 project in collaboration with other four European countries: Germany, Hungary, the UK, and the Netherlands. In the framework of Socrates Programme Romania initated in 2004 “IECUVADVLA” Grundtvig 2 project in collaboration with other four European countries: Germany, Hungary, the UK, and the Netherlands. The main aim of Grundtvig 2 project is to increase the chances of employment of unemployed seniors with visual and hearing impairments who have a moderate level of education, offering them basic skills by virtual application models. The main aim of Grundtvig 2 project is to increase the chances of employment of unemployed seniors with visual and hearing impairments who have a moderate level of education, offering them basic skills by virtual application models.

Partners “Octav Onicescu” High School (Bucharest, Romania) “Octav Onicescu” High School (Bucharest, Romania) The Romanian Foundation for Quality Promotion (RFQP, Bucharest, Romania) The Romanian Foundation for Quality Promotion (RFQP, Bucharest, Romania) Institut Arbeit und Technik (Gelsenkirchen, Germany) Institut Arbeit und Technik (Gelsenkirchen, Germany) Széchenyi István University (Gyor, Hungary) Széchenyi István University (Gyor, Hungary) Fry-Samuels & Associates Company (Lymington, U.K) Fry-Samuels & Associates Company (Lymington, U.K) I.E.R.- Stichting International Excellence Reserve (Eindhoven, the Netherlands) I.E.R.- Stichting International Excellence Reserve (Eindhoven, the Netherlands)

The Project Products National studies on unemployment situation and on visual and auditive (unemployed) disabled and some short national studies about the specific needs of the target group and the educational assistance by electronic means were developed. These national studies showed that in Eastern European countries the high cost of assistive technologies is the most important obstacle in their use. Two types of questionnaires were elaborated, for the project’s target group and for companies and organizations that hire (unemployed) persons with hearing and visual impairments.

Project Activities and Results Microsoft Agent software was identified as appropriate to be used in the project. Training modules on basic computer skills and Internet use, Assertiveness Training and Communication Techniques for Getting Employed were developed in different forms accessible for the target group (web, CDs, hard copies, and text to speech conversion).

Project Activities and Results The feedback obtained from learners during the training courses and project meetings was very efficient in the evaluation of the project’s progress. A “Quality Charter” elaborated by the Romanian Foundation for Quality Promotion ensured a qualitative evaluation of the project’ activities and products. A database of national statistics, typology and disability, learning providers and available jobs has been set up. the project’s efficiency. The percentage of the learners’ employment that will be identified to the end of the project represents an indicator of the project’s efficiency.

♦ ♦ Romania - Octav Onicescu High School ♦ Romania - Romanian Foundation for Quality Promotion ♦ Germany - Institut Arbeit und Technik ♦ Hungary - Széchenyi István University ♦ The Netherlands I.E.R.- Stichting International Excellence Reserve ♦ United Kingdom -Fry-Samuels & Associates (Lymington) Limited

Projects presented in this paper are funded with support from the European Commission through Socrates / Grundtvig 2 program. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.