The UNIQUE project aimed to reverse negative perceptions and attitudes towards LGBTIQ+ learners in Vocational Education and Training (VET). It focused on training VET Teachers/Trainers to effectively address incidents of discrimination within the VET environment and more openly discuss “sensitive” issues in the classroom with an emphasis on supporting their LGBTIQ+ learners.

The project undertook the following activities:

• Mapping of LGBTIQ+ related discrimination in the partner countries and non-discriminatory educational strategies in VET
• Development of an online Training Programme for VET Teachers/Trainers
• Pilot implementation of a Unique Training Programme and introduction of the concept of Unique Ambassadors
• Policy recommendations that will contribute to the respective agendas for gender equality in education

Despite the project's essential achievements throughout the last 2 and a half years, we still need to do more work on bringing VET institutes and LGBTIQ+ organizations closer through the implementation of two-folded visibility aiming at LGBTIQ+ inclusion in VET organizations and the VET environment in LGBTIQ+ organizations. Our recommendations focus both on the micro-level and on the local, national and European levels. The conference will discuss the piloted strategies further to encourage such visibility as well as potential new options.