Why was COMBAR Teaching Concept developed?

The COMBAR Teaching Concept supplies a number of working tools for those VET organisations that work with learners who live or come from remote areas.
The problem identified by the COMBAR Project promoters was that learners who live in remote areas have to overcome a multitude of barriers in order to be able to pursue and complete their studies.
The most important categories were:

• geographical barriers ;
• cultural barriers;
• language barriers;
• poor connection between theory and practice barriers

What are the main components of the COMBAR Teaching Concept?

• COMBAR pilot - testing and validating the COMBAR concept
• To overcome geographical barriers COMBAR created and suggested the use of a VLCE in delivering the curriculum (see example as this was used in the Greenland Construction School). This VLCE can also be a place where learners can meet and express opinions and ideas safely, where concerns and problems could be shared and assistance sought.
• To overcome cultural barriers COMBAR created programmes and suggested the utilisation of:
• cultural translators (individuals who understand both cultures)
• cultural understanding course  (outdoor activities type course that aims to help the learners and teachers to identify barriers and to create strong personal relationship between learners, teachers, counsellors and mentors)
• joint assignments (for the completion of which theory and practice is brought closer so that learners see the relevance of learning both)
• To overcome language barriers COMBAR suggested the utilisation of a web-based interpreter.

What is the pedagogical underpinning of the COMBAR Teaching Concept?

Pedagogically COMBAR is based on creating a strong bond between teachers and learners and on encouraging the learners to take responsibility of their own learning by involving them in identifying barriers, seeking assistance, making decisions and acting.

What organisational support is required?

Organisational support is based on collaboration between:

• Learner
• Teacher
• Counsellor
• Apprenticeship Mentor (formerly TR)

COMBAR Project produced and made available to the VET community the COMBAR Teaching Concept that was piloted in Greenland.