News
EmpowerHer
EmpowerHer to Be Showcased at Conference on Integration and Innovation
Date: May 27, 2025
Location: QUAZ Ruhr, Bochum, Germany
Event: “New European Impulses in Integration Work”
Hosted by: QUAZ/ QBS Gewerkstatt
We are excited to announce that EmpowerHer will be featured at the upcoming conference “New European Impulses in Integration Work”, held on May 27, 2025, at QUAZ Ruhr in Bochum, Germany. The event marks 10 years of dedicated work with refugees and migrants by QBS Gewerkstatt/Quaz and will bring together professionals from across Europe to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore innovative approaches to integration.
EmpowerHer Workshop: Innovation in Action
As part of the conference program, EmpowerHer will be presented in a hands-on workshop. Titled
“Qualification through Virtual Reality – The EmpowerHer Example”,
the session will introduce participants to our innovative use of Virtual Reality (VR) in vocational education and training.
The workshop will showcase how EmpowerHer uses immersive learning to support refugee women as they prepare for employment in the hospitality sector. Attendees will learn about our approach, tools, and early outcomes, including the development of VR training videos, profession-specific language modules, and interactive learning materials designed for both learners and VET professionals.
About the Conference
This one-day event includes keynote presentations, international insights, parallel workshops, and a panel discussion with experts from public institutions, employment services, and the private sector. It offers a platform to reflect on progress made in the field of refugee integration and to explore new ideas shaping the future of inclusive education and labour market access.
Practical Information
Venue: QUAZ Ruhr, Somborner Str. 84, 44894 Bochum, Germany
Time: From 13:00 (main program runs 14:00–16:30)
Registration: Email fuhrmann@gewerkstatt.de
EmpowerHer
2nd Transnational Partner Meeting,Thessaloniki, Greece
Date: March 10–11, 2025
Location: Thessaloniki, Greece
Hosted by: Ekpedeftiki Paremvasi KDVM S.A.
Format: Hybrid (in-person and online)
The second transnational partner meeting of the EmpowerHer project was successfully held in Thessaloniki, Greece. The meeting was hosted by Ekpedeftiki Paremvasi KDVM S.A., with partners from Germany, Greece, and Spain attending in person, and partners from Austria joining online. This hybrid format enabled full participation and ensured inclusive collaboration across all partner organizations.
Meeting Overview
Training Toolkit for VET Professionals
The partnership reviewed the content and structure of the training toolkit, which is being developed to support vocational education and training professionals working with refugee women in the hospitality sector. A key feature of the toolkit will be virtual reality (VR) videos, offering immersive, profession-specific scenarios to enhance practical training.
Profession-Specific Language Curriculum
Partners shared updates on the language training component, which is designed to provide targeted linguistic support for refugee women entering roles such as kitchen assistant, housekeeping staff, front desk operator, and logistics assistant. The curriculum integrates workplace language and communication practices, tailored to each profession.
Peer-to-Peer Learning and Mentorship
Discussions also covered the initial structure for the peer-to-peer learning and mentorship model, which will encourage mutual support, cultural orientation, and leadership development among participants.
Planning Ahead
The consortium finalized plans for a combined Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) in Austria in September 2025. This event will bring together trainers from all partner countries for hands-on training and collaborative development. The third transnational partner meeting will follow immediately after the LTTA.
Below are photos from the Thessaloniki meeting, highlighting the collaborative spirit and commitment of the EmpowerHer team—both on site and online.
EmpowerHer
Kick-Off Meeting Held in Bochum, Germany
On October 3–4, 2024, the EmpowerHer project officially launched with its kick-off meeting in Bochum, Germany, hosted by QBS Gewerkstatt. Representatives from all four partner organizations came together to discuss the project’s goals, assign roles, and plan upcoming tasks.
Key topics included finalizing templates for PR1 and PR2 deliverables, planning dissemination strategies, and setting timelines for reports and activities. The meeting marked the beginning of a collaborative effort to empower refugee women through language training, vocational education, and peer-to-peer mentorship.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.