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AFEST – Training in working conditions

What level of the local language do you have?

AFEST provides a training program that is adapted to people with low levels of local language.

What supports were provided?

AFEST has been formalized as a scheme in France by the law of September 2018, after the first experimentations launched in 2015. It integrated the skills development plan of small and medium-sized enterprises to improve access to professional training for workers with limited opportunities for continuous education. Then the scheme has been largely documented and encouraged by the European Union.

Within the work-integration sector (IAE), Chantier Ecole has become the lead in training other associations on how to implement AFEST with their employees.  Indeed, IAE actors have specific measures that fit in perfectly with AFESTs, particularly in terms of the transmission of technical skills and basic knowledge and their assessment throughout the integration process. AFESTs, provided they are funded by the OPCOs, can become an additional training method, particularly suited to work-based integration and its specific features, to improve the quality of pathways.

Do you provide upskilling workshops in your organization or company?

The idea of AFEST scheme is to encourage a maximum number of structures to develop the on-site training courses.

AFEST is a formal training program that includes structured activities and reflection phases aimed at developing specific skills. It is distinct from informal on-the-job training, which lacks predefined objectives.

Two elements are particularly important :

  • Right to Make Mistakes: The methodology emphasizes learning through experience, where learners perform work tasks independently, with the understanding that making mistakes is part of the learning process.
  • Reflection Phases: After workplace activities, learners engage in reflective sequences with mentors to evaluate their performance and consolidate their learning outcomes.

Was any funding used to put into place supports lacking?

Small and medium-sized companies willing to implement AFEST can receive funding from their OPCO (training body) as part of their annual budget.

They will be able to finance the training of their field trainers and reference to professionals the key players responsible for developing the skills of the company's internal learners.

If a community organization or employer, how was the integration of refugees successful for you?

The AFEST appears to be quite an adapted scheme for refugees workers, as it provides a tailored learning approach, particularly beneficial for workers with fewer opportunities for traditional training. It fosters quicker skill acquisition, improves workplace organization, and enhances collaboration between employees and managers.

In particular, the reflection phase included in the training allows for the self-conscientization of skills which is crucial for refugees who often lack recognition of their skills. It can be a leverage for further self-confidence and thirst for training.

 

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