Reflect-OR Project,

2008-2010 (website)

The project is aimed at transferring the innovative “reflective practice” approach, developed within the previous LdV “Reflect” project (see the Reflective Journeys book), within LLVG contexts. “Reflective practices” are in fact methodologies through which the actors within a given organisational context may be engaged in structured reflections, geared to tangible improvement results, regarding both the aims and ways of organisational action and the characteristics of their own involvement and commitment. The opportunities and challenges for the transfer of the reflective approach will be demonstrated through its implementation in two Italian cases (LLVG institutions) assumed as significant in relation to different national and European situations. A transfer objective is also assigned to a project’s section handle by a policy and an expert group in Bulgaria, aimed at contributing to the establishment of modern LLVG systems in that country.

The first tier partnership is formed by: (i) partners operationally involved in the LLVG field (the network of the “Centres for Work Guidance” of the Rome Municipality; the guidance desks of Ciofs-Lazio (Salesian VET and guidance centre in the Lazio Region); the Bulgarian Institute for Human Resource; (ii) scientific partner internationally recognised as leader for the reflective approach (“Reflective Learning – UK”). The second tier is formed by (iii) Italian institutional (provincial and regional) bodies in the LLVG field; a national centre in VET and guidance; a large professional association of guidance advisors.

The project is designed according to a strategy aimed both at accumulating specific knowledge to be implemented within further interventions for implementing the reflective approach in different LLVG operational contexts (through a number of handbooks and toolkits) and at diffusing the reflective vision throughout different audiences, even at the policy level, with workshops and conferences. At both levels an ad-hoc virtual environment will be used (starting from the VCoP created in the previous project “Reflect”) for assisting the creation and maintenance of a multilayered “virtual community of practice”, within a specific website and a communication blog.

A specific impact is expected on LLVG actors and systems that the project is directly addressed to, as the project regards LLVG workers’ empowerment and organisations’ effectiveness. Such an impact will be characterised by a long-term sustainability due to the intrinsic nature of reflective practices. Beyond the “micro” level of involved institutions, other impacts are expected at the “meso” and the “macro” level, due to concrete opportunities for wide-range contacts within local and wider networks. A specific European value added is also expected even regarding the “cultural” meaning of the project, focused on reflectivity values increasingly significant within the building of a new Europe.