The process of refining the e-mentoring curriculum
In the period of November to December 2024, focus groups were conducted across six partner countries as part of the ongoing activities within the UPPEAL project. These focus groups aimed to test and refine the quality of the structured e-mentoring curriculum designed to address the challenges associated with the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) phenomenon.
The structured e-mentoring curriculum has been carefully developed to meet the needs of young people at risk of social exclusion, with a focus on ensuring adequate access to the labor market and vocational training opportunities. The content has been tailored to consider both the specific challenges faced by NEET youth and their gender-related vulnerabilities. The curriculum also serves as a foundation for effective digital mentoring solutions, emphasizing the importance of digital competence among mentors and youth organizations, and their experience using digital tools to support unemployed young people.
The quality assessment during the focus groups focused on several critical aspects. Firstly, the parameters of digital competence for mentors were specified, exploring both opportunities and limitations in their interpretation. Additionally, the structural-functional appropriateness of the e-mentoring methods was evaluated, along with the relevance of approaches and environments in each partner country.
A continuous conceptualization and reconceptualization process within the project partnership has been integral to this phase of curriculum development. The results from the focus groups will contribute significantly to the drafting of a comprehensive final curriculum. This final version will be accompanied by online resources designed to support the mentoring process further and ensure the effective application of digital mentoring strategies.
By engaging a diverse group of stakeholders and collecting in-depth feedback from multiple national contexts, the UPPEAL project aims to create a robust, inclusive, and adaptable mentoring framework that empowers young people and strengthens their pathways towards employment and personal development.