The project aims to reduce the number of dropouts in VET, across a range of training sectors, by developing and testing an ‘empowering’ pedagogical model for guidance and counselling. The model is based on a learner-centred approach to VET, which accommodates different levels of user education and offers a variety of 'best practice' in counselling support. The project targets people who are at risk of dropping out of VET. Different levels of guidance, either administered via a course counsellor or self-administered by the student, are offered to enhance the learning experience and to counter potential for course dropout: proactive guidance takes place prior to training; general guidance (how to learn) takes place during studies and ongoing, intensive guidance, targets dropout rates by focusing on motivation, special problems and networking with different social/health actors. The final pedagogical model will provide an online toolkit to facilitate lifelong learning through appropriate counselling. The project also includes a counselling training programme for trainers and the development of coaching groups, in the partner countries, for learners with specific needs. A project website will be developed as a basis for disseminating guidance on counselling to overcome dropout rates in VET. The website will further include information on best practice. A research report (in EN) and a guidebook on the project's pedagogical model (in EN and the languages of the partner countries) will be produced and made available via the website and in printed form.