Project info and news

Project duration: 24 months, 1.11.2024–31.10.2026

Project news

In the news section, you can follow the progress of the development project through blog posts.

Welcome to the final webinar, where keynote Ben Furman will be speaking

• Join us as we celebrate the conclusion of the IPVET (Inclusive Pedagogy in VET) project and explore its outcomes. Our keynote speaker is Ben Furman, who will be presenting on the topic of ‘Solution-​focused tools for supporting students in vocational education’. Ben Furman is a Finnish psychiatrist and prolific author specialising in the use of solution-​focused psychology in therapy and coaching.

The SolutionWin pilot provided well-being and support to WinNova´s teaching and guidance staff

• As part of the international IPVET (Inclusive Pedagogy in VET) project, a service primarily aimed at WinNova´s teaching and guidance staff was piloted from September to December 2025; the working title for this service was SolutionWin. The goal of the SolutionWin service was to strengthen pedagogical well-​being and offer concrete support for the everyday challenges of teaching and guidance work. The SolutionWin space was designed for relaxation and daily breaks. The space also featured activities and tools designed to support students’ motivation, concentration, and self-​esteem.

From Building a Chatbot to Rethinking Student Support: The Story of “Tante Geesje”

• When we took a closer look at the wellbeing of our students, we noticed something important: our organization already offers a wide range of support, facilities and initiatives. Yet many students are not aware, these exist or struggle to find them. This insight led us to search for a way to lower that barrier and guide students more easily to the support that fits their needs.

From Focusing on Failure Anxiety to Building Resilient Learning Environments

• Over the past few months, our work around failure anxiety has evolved significantly. What started as a targeted approach aimed at helping teachers address failure anxiety in students has grown into a more layered and impactful strategy. Through practice and reflection, we discovered that different target groups require different approaches – and that true impact lies in addressing both prevention and support.

Journey through Graafschap College and IVV Sint-​Vincentius

• IPVET (Inclusive Pedagogy in VET) project had splendid start during workshops and benchmarking at Graafschap College Netherlands and at IVV Sint-​Vincentius Belgium in the beginning of February. The project group got to spend 4 days together sharing best practices and exchanging experiences. Our two-​year project is all about student and staff well-​being, so our four-​day benchmarking and workshops concentrated on these topics as well. Below are the highlights of our journey through Graafschap College and IVV Sint-​Vincentius!

Continuation of our journey through WinNova and Pori

• After two months apart, the IPVET (Inclusive Pedagogy in VET) project partners were all delighted to reunite in Pori, Finland. The warm atmosphere and familiar faces made it feel like no time had passed since our inspiring first meeting in the Netherlands and Belgium. This second gathering marked an important next step in our two-​year journey focused on student and staff well-​being. Hosted by our Finnish partners, the program in Pori offered new insights, engaging discussions, and hands-​on experiences that deepened our understanding of inclusive pedagogy. Below, we share the highlights and key moments of our time in Pori and reflect on the connections, inspiration, and learning that continue to grow within our international community and work together across borders.

Project background and overall objective

Teachers and student counsellors in partner schools have observed that the number of students that struggle with social, mental, and physical wellbeing has increased significantly. To be able to address these issues the partner schools have a common interest to find new methods and tools to help the personnel in their daily work, to update their competences and learn new skills. Evidence and research supports the critical role of VET schools in supporting the wellbeing of young people. The project addresses challenges in VET education that indicate the problems the students are facing with social, mental, and physical wellbeing. New methods and technologies will be studied, tested and integrated in the learning and orientation materials of the partner schools to help the personnel to improve their skills and competences. In the long run, the project will have a positive impact on students’ inclusion and integration in VET schools and help them to complete their studies. The project addresses the following topics: 1. Preventing early school leaving and failure in education 2. Physical and mental health and well-being 3. Social responsibility of educational institutions

Project target groups & associated partners

Primary target group is the personnel at the partner schools. Secondary target groups are students at partner schools that will benefit from the project results in the long run. By equipping VET school personnel with the tools and skills to support students’ mental, social, and physical health, the project ensures that young people are not only prepared academically and professionally but are also resilient and well-equipped to face life’s challenges. Associated partners are stakeholder groups of each partner organization. These stakeholder groups support students’ social, mental or/and physical wellbeing.

Project aims and work packages

• WP1 Project Management
  WinNova is the coordinator of the project. Each partner has a project manager for managing their own activities and WP´s. The administration staff of each partner will participate in the project and budget management.
• WP2 Collecting information, benchmarking, peer learning
  The objective of WP2 is to list collective and applicable methods, practices and technology that can be used in improving the skills and competences of the schools’ personnel in addressing students with problematic behaviour, problems with concentration or/and physical, social, mental wellbeing, isolation, or no-show in classes. The main result of WP2 is a survey report listing best practices.
• WP3 Pilot planning and piloting
  The objectives of WP3 are to produce concrete pilot plans and to run pilots in each organisation and test the assumption that the chosen methods, practices and/or technology lead to good results. The results of WP3 are concrete pilot plans and successfully conducted 2–3 pilots in each organisation.
• WP4 Analysis of used methods, creation of learning materials
  The main objective and result of WP4 is learning and orientation material that is applicable at VET schools and useful for the personnel addressing students that struggle with social, mental, and physical wellbeing.
• WP5 Dissemination, integration
  The main objective of WP5 in increased knowledge of the project activities and results.

Results of the project

The main outcome is learning and orientation material for VET schools that will help the personnel to tackle problems with students that struggle with social, mental, and physical problems. It will consist of detailed information on best practices, as well as examples and instructions on their usability. The collaborative approach of the project enhances the professional development of educators and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within and across VET institutions.