VIP RTDP
VIP RTDP – Virtual Incubator for Prequalification into Resource Tutors for Disabled People
Virtual Incubator for Prequalification into Resource Tutors for Disabled People was a 30-month project in the field of vocational training funded by the Leonardo da Vinci programme of the European Commission. The project raises the qualification of unemployed or disabled pedagogues by offering them an opportunity to continue their vocational training. The new qualification, competencies and skills will raise their employment opportunities on the labour market and improve their self-confidence. On the other hand, the resource tutors will make vocational training accessible for people with disabilities or help them continue their education. Thus the project will answer the realized necessity of specially tailored, flexible and more effective approach for education and training of disabled people.
People with disabilities are in an unequal position on the labour market not only in Bulgaria but in the rest of Europe as well. Researches show that disabled people are twice as likely to be unemployed than other people. Our partners form the UK share that although their legal regulations and practices are considered to be developed in the best possible way to benefit disabled people, relying on mainstream teachers to teach disabled people has not worked in the past as those teachers were not given enough flexibility. Regardless of the budget available for the needs of disabled students in colleges, classes are tailored to fit the able bodied and to be cost effective. Thus, only daytime training is offered, during fixed hours of the day to suit the college and the curriculum is not adapted to disabled people’s needs.
The project commenced on Oct. 1, 2003 and ended on Mar. 31, 2006. Participants in the project are Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and the UK. Bulgarian Partners are the University of Plovdiv, Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, and the Regional Development Agency with business center for support of SMEs.
This project createde a new curriculum for RESOURCE TUTORS for people with disabilities (older than 18 years old) who have not had the chance to get access to education and training. RESOURCE TUTORS will be trained in different modules.
The Virtual Incubator For Prequalification Into Resource Tutors For Disabled People (VIP RTDP) project was awarded with the “QUALITY CERTIFICATE” from the Bulgarian National “Leonardo da Vinci” Agency of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science & Bulgarian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in 2006.
