TIME

_ Description

In the increasingly multicultural European societies, understanding and trust between people of different origin is a major need. As part of the EU integration policy, intercultural mediators have been trained and employed throughout Europe in order to help remove linguistic and cultural barriers in the social, educational and health sector. The benefits from intercultural mediation for immigrants have been widely recognized by all stakeholders. However, no clear picture exists so far on the experience accumulated in Europe in this field, nor is intercultural mediation treated as a distinct profession. This leads often to poor service quality and inefficient use of resources. The project TIME – Train Intercultural Mediators for a Multicultural Europe is an Erasmus+ strategic partnership for innovation and the exchange of good practices in VET.

Training providers, regional authorities, social services, healthcare institutions, and NGOs working with immigrants will have access to modular training programs for intercultural mediators that meet European standards. Local and regional needs for mediation can thus be met in a tailor-made and reliable way, empowering both professionals and immigrants. Intercultural mediators in all partnership countries will profit from the free training material available at the project website and from the efforts made to promote the professionalization of their occupation. Researchers and policy makers will profit from the presentation of good practices at European level and the holistic approach to intercultural mediation adopted by TIME.

_ Outcomes

The project aims at actively promoting the standardization of training for intercultural mediators and the professionalization of their occupation through the following outcomes:

• Research report on intercultural mediation for immigrants (IMfI) in Europe
• Description of 10 good practices in Europe and transfer recommendations
• A guide on the desired profile of intercultural mediators and related learning outcomes
• A comprehensive training program for intercultural mediators, aligned with EQF, NQFs, ECVET
• A training program for trainers of intercultural mediators
• Recommendations for the validation, certification and accreditation of intercultural mediator training.