Projects
Access for All to a European Certification in Social Mediation through Guided Immersion across the EU (ArlekinPro)
ArlekinPro. Erasmus+ project aimed at creating a European professional certification for level 5 social mediators, in the form of micro-credits and a "Short Study Track". It will include online courses, immersion in a European mediation organisation, and the development of a professional project.
ArlekinPro addresses the growing conflictuality (real or perceived) in our democratic societies and the widening gap between institutions and citizens. Social mediators and apprenticeship mentors are increasingly seen as key players in rebuilding social cohesion. However, the development of a distinct professional identity requires the creation of specific qualifications that reflect field practices and the needs of mediation organisations.
This is underdeveloped, as mediation is often seen as secondary, frequently subordinated to or confused with social work, public security, justice, or humanitarian aid. ArlekinPro thus aims to professionalise field practitioners in social mediation through a training offer tailored to the specific needs and limitations of mediators, contributing to the reconstruction of social ties on a European scale.
The training format is adapted to the constraints of mediation organisations and mediators, who often lack structured HR policies or formal training programmes. The proposed “professionalisation” enables mediators to develop the competencies expected by their organisations. These competencies combine theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and new knowledge gained through immersion in foreign professional contexts.
The training format proves it is possible to design a course that aligns with field realities and mediation working conditions. Its innovative nature lies in offering lifelong learning opportunities through flexible, accessible, and supported pathways, which can be endorsed by institutions to ensure the sustainability of ArlekinPro. The project aligns with Erasmus+ priorities and offers the opportunity to:
- Formalise learning for skill enhancement among learners with training constraints
- Create lifelong training under the right to education in a rarely addressed sector (social mediation)
- Provide a scalable economic model recognised at the European level (micro-certifications)
Objectives
The general objective, after 36 months, is to design a lifelong learning programme in European social mediation through blended learning that is:
- accessible and flexible, allowing for autonomous and individual learning pathways;
- responsive to the needs of social mediation professionals;
- recognised and accredited at the European level through European micro-credentials.
Six CoPils will be organised to manage the project and its working teams, focusing on the design, accreditation, and implementation of the ArlekinPro training, with the goal of strengthening learners' skills through both virtual pedagogical support (MOOC) and the mobility of social mediators and apprenticeship mentors.
The training includes 2 learning mobilities in European social mediation and 1 immersive European mobility, building on previously acquired professional experience.
Ultimately, ArlekinPro aims to contribute to the development of a common approach to lifelong learning in social mediation across Europe. This will be achieved through the experience of the first cohort of 15 learners, and through engagement with the broader Vocational Education and Training (VET) ecosystem via 5 national seminars and 1 European seminar, involving at least 430 participants across the EU.
Research Team
Partners
- Association CreE.A, France
- OPTIMA, France
- IPLUSO - Sesc - Sociedade de Estudos Superiores e Culturais, S.A, Portugal
- FUNDACION CEPAIM ACCION INTEGRAL COM MIGRANTES, Spain
- Mosaico - Azioni per i rifugiati, Italy
- EGREGOROS, Belgium
