Concluding the QUASAR Project: Enhancing Quality Assurance in VET Services for People with Disabilities

Concluding the QUASAR Project: Enhancing Quality Assurance in VET Services for People with Disabilities

QUASAR (Quality Assurance of VET Services based on Rights and Quality of Life) was a project led by ISEM, Plataforma de entidades para la promoción e integración  social de personas con enfermedad mental (Spain), and joined by Rehab Ireland, AJA Europe (Italy), and EPR (Belgium).

This small-scale project held its kick-off meeting online in March, where partners launched work on a mapping and summary of existing research and analysis of quality assurance and trends in the social service sector. This included reviews of quality assurance systems such as ISO 9001, EfQM and EQUASS, and also recent work of service provider networks on quality indicators for the disability sector.

Next up were surveys with service providers and service users to capture their views and expectations on quality in services. Project partners distributed online questionnaires and organised interviews with audiences in their countries, EPR reached out to respondents across Europe and organised focus groups with quality assurance experts involved in EQUASS.

The partners compiled research findings and survey outcomes in the QUASAR booklet, research report, several articles published, and presented them at a multiplier event “Why Quality Matters” that took place in hybrid format on 5 December in Brussels. Attendees were provided with an introduction to the project, findings from desk research, surveys and consultations, and a presentation of the QUASAR booklet. Representatives of the European Commission DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion and the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) provided feedback on their understanding on quality assurance in services for people with disabilities. And participants were invited to discuss their observations in break-out groups.

Final versions of the QUASAR Desk Research report, the QUASAR Survey & Focus Group report, and the QUASAR Booklet are available for download in English, French, Italian and Spanish.