Project Leader: EARLALL

Partners: Melius (IT), University of Florence (IT), Tuscany Region (IT), DIE (DE), Region Västra Götaland (SE), Region Syddanmark (DK), Gobierno Vasco (ES), OA Vidin (BG), Welsh Assembly Government (UK) and STVG (AT).

This project aims to promote policy learning and transfer processes among regional governments in the policy areas where their interest is higher. Such processes encompass quality and effectiveness improvement of regional policies through active trans-regional cooperation around Europe. Moreover, they support mutual institutional learning on innovative policy measures and their transfer into other Regional systems, where feasible. This is made possible due to the effectiveness of the Soft Open Method of Coordination (SMOC) model elaborated through the already tested action-driven research worked out by EARLALL and a group of regional governments (wwww.mutual-learning.eu). The prototype has been elaborated in the framework of the Leonardo da Vinci project named PREVALET/Policies for Regional Valorisation of Education and Training.

The core objectives of the SMOC project are to maximise the achievements of the Prevalet accompanying tools and to support transfer of VET/LLL practices among regions.

As to the first objective, free access to the website and the multilingual online support devices, are maintained so as to the database with information on policy measures developed in restricted policy areas and related background documentation (i.e. mobility, youth employability); A search engine with regional web pages on lifelong learning; Online multilingual specialized Terminology with some key words agreed by partners in their main contents for facilitating communication spoken and written among specialists, decision-makers, policy advisers and users in EU regions; Inter-regional agreements (English/national languages) for cooperation in some policy areas.

As to the second objective, the strategy is to promote inter-regional bilateral agreements in specific policy areas concerning policy transfer among regions.

The SMOC device supports the development of policy learning and transfer processes and the analysis of their effects and results in terms of enhancing regional innovation and quality in several fields through scientific systematisation of learning and transfer. The envisaged impact is to promote a cooperative transfer of innovation in lifelong learning policies.

To know more on SMOC visit www.mutual-learning.eu or click here to download the SMOC leaflet.

Contact person: Ms Francesca Torlone: francesca.torlone@meliusitaly.eu