CITIC hosts the first transnational meeting of DEDUC, an Erasmus+ Project on Dementia Care

CITIC, the research centre of the University of A Coruña and a member of the CIGUS network — an initiative promoted by the Regional Government of Galicia that brings together centres within the system that have demonstrated scientific excellence — is hosting the first transnational meeting of the DEDUC project: Distance Education and Vocational Training on Dementia for University Students and Healthcare Professionals.

Approved under the KA220-VET call of Erasmus+ (2024), which supports cooperation partnerships in the field of vocational education and training, the project has received a total funding of €250,000 and will run for 28 months, concluding on 31 December 2026.

DEDUC is primarily aimed at enhancing the skills of university students and healthcare professionals in dementia care, through the development of a distance vocational training programme based on digital technologies, innovative content, and inclusive approaches. The initiative responds to the growing need for qualified personnel to care for an increasingly ageing European population.

To this end, the project includes several actions: the development of an accessible and interactive digital training platform; the design and implementation of a vocational training programme in dementia care; the creation of a digital simulation game as a complementary tool to reinforce practical learning in real-life contexts; and the drafting of a transfer guide and policy recommendations to facilitate the replication of the model in other countries and educational settings.

CITIC is participating in this project alongside the Fundación Universidade da Coruña and organisations from five European countries: the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (Portugal), Fundació ACE – Barcelona Alzheimer Treatment & Research Center, Irmandade da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Riba D’Ave, ELLINIKI ETAIRIA NOSOY ALZHEIMER KAI SYGGENON DIATARACHON SOMATEIO (Greece), and SPOMINCICA – Slovenian Alzheimer’s Association (Slovenia).

Through this initiative, more than 150 participants are expected to be trained, including healthcare professionals in areas such as nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, and social work, as well as university students in related disciplines. The medium-term impact includes an improvement in the quality of dementia care, increased use of digital tools in vocational training, and strengthened European cooperation in the health and social care sectors.

As Javier Pereira, Deputy Director of CITIC, explains: “This project is an opportunity to apply ICT to health and active ageing, aligning with our strategic lines of research and innovation with social impact.“