1. Context and background of the project Young adults in a vulnerable position will leave education without a diploma. They will have a negative experience and are supported in the belief that they are a failure for not having a professional qualification. This project will focus on the capabilities of these young adults by focusing on the development of a portfolio approach. By using EVP, EVC, and the ECVET methodology it will be possible to highlight the competences and skills of these young adults on the EQF level 1 and 2. This will enable them to progress to professional education (VET), and support them towards the labour market. Next to that they will be able to get a degree in the future by participating in a life-long-learning programme. Therefore this project will address the following topics: Access to the labour market for disadvantaged groups with disabilities and special needs Combating early school leaving and failure in education 2. Objectives of the project To develop instruments capable of clarifying the educational, professional, and employment opportunities of disadvantaged young adults in a school type transcending transnational collaboration. The project will describe which methods and products are usable to measure latent experiences, competences, and skills and objectify them in a portfolio. The focus will be on the so named essential soft skills as described in the EQF. Therefore the following questions will be answered by this project: Which experiences and development possibilities can be determined? Which diagnostic tools and developmental opportunities can be provided by the participating institutions? Which developmental and learning outcomes (results) are relevant to record in a portfolio? 3. Number and profile of the participants Ten participants from 3 collaborating countries will participate in this project. The mix of partners consist of school who are providing secondary, special, and professional education (VET) and thereafter national associations and government bodies. Schools were selected based on their specific expertise and capacity to realize this project. The support of national associations and government bodies guarantees the monitoring and dissemination of the results. They will discuss and translate the approach and strategies towards National and European policy. This will guarantee the impact of this project sufficiently. Description of the activities Preparation of the project from the started collaboration in 2014. Substantive translation of the content of the work package within a pedagogical, didactical and methodological framework and reviewing of the proposed activities. Description of best practices for both formal and informal learning and determine how the instruments can be used within the points-system of the ECVET. To develop the structure/outline of a manual. Developing a framework for usable instruments and testing the portfolio approach in an educational and learning environment. Realization and production of: A web-portal Cozima portfolio An App based on the portfolio A manual which contains: problem description and project approach, competence description for informal and formal learning, description of usable instruments and portfolio, process description of a digital portfolio, description of usage of portfolio in the transfer of participants to further education and employment 4. Project execution There will be a clear definition of demands and responsibilities between collaborating partners. The project is managed by the Aloysius Stichting. Next to that there is a clear time schedule with interim products and –evaluations which is monitored by Lecso. 5. Results and impact This project offers innovative instruments for the progress towards employment and transfers within the VET for young adults with learning and behavioral problems on level 1 and 2 of the EQF. At the moment the employment possibilities of this group cannot be highlighted and are not univocal. Therefore they have limited possibilities and it strengthens their belief of being a disadvantaged, not sufficiently qualified group. By connecting to European and National qualifying structures the position on the labour market of these young adults is improved and focus will be towards their skills and competences. 6. Long-term impact By using European standards and methodologies it is possible to expand the approach to collaborating and other European countries. The ECVET methodology makes it is possible to develop approaches in consultation with employers and provide education in recognizable competences for employers without adjusting the qualifying structure of each independent country. This will improve the position of these young adults and will increase their employment potential. The developed approach is consistent with both European and National policy in the collaborating countries, which is focused on increasing the employment potential of this target group.