About the Appskill+ project

The Digital Innovation for Competencies Assessment and Validation in Work-based Learning Experiences (Appskill+) is a transnational initiative that brings together VET providers, business organisations, and ICT companies to develop innovative digital tools to assess and validate the key competencies of lifelong learning and specific job-related competencies during work-based learning experiences for VET learners.

The project is rooted in the needs of VET providers to promote work-based learning in all its forms through innovative actions for the assessment and validation of the competencies, and hence the reinforcement of the learning process of VET learners.

The pandemic has, in fact, strongly affected the possibility to provide work-based learning experiences, and it is now necessary to adopt measures to allow the re-organisation of such activities, in line with governments restrictions. The project will also be complementary to other European funding focussed on the organisation of apprenticeships (e.g. ERASMUS+ KA1), service learning (EU Aid volunteers), as well as national tenders.

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The MAIN OBJECTIVE of the project is to strengthen the learning process of VET learners taking part in work-based learning activities, but leveraging on digital tools for the assessment and validation of their competencies.

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This objective is divided into three SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

 

• O1 Support VET providers in delivering work-based learning activities through the acquisition of digital competencies development and innovative tools.

• O2 Strengthen the assessment and validation in the work-based learning process, in all its forms.

• O3 Reinforce the resilience of the work-based learning ecosystems (VET learners-VET providers-company tutors-WbL organisers), by strengthening the connections between the actors and developing shared solutions to the problems raised by the pandemic.

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The TARGETS of the project are:

• VET Learners

The project will support young VET learners aged 16 – 25 enrolled in VET systems during the implementation of the project. We will particularly focus on VET learners with from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds and with cultural differences to enhance their inclusion in work-based learning activities.

• VET trainers and company tutors

VET trainers are defined as the specialised teaching staff of VET providers, which support the educational development of VET learners. Company mentors are the people – in companies or WbL organisers – that support the implementation of the activities and follow the VET learners in their experience.

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The METHODOLOGY is based on the strategic collaboration among different organisations. The first phase of the project will focus on understanding the current assessment and validation practices  of competencies during work-based learning activities. The partners will evaluate and compare the existing instruments and create national reports, which will be discussed with VET trainers and company tutors. This will allow to define priorities and needs developed during the pandemic. Starting from this research, the second phase of the project entails the development on a smartphone app that, through gamified activities, allow VET learners to monitor and assess their competencies during work-based learning activities. The app will be an open-source tool and will be piloted with VET learners from Italy, Belgium, Spain and Germany. The final phase of the project will focus on the development of guidelines for the VET trainers and company tutors, who play an important role in the learning process. The guidelines will allow to gain the digital knowledge and skills to create the conditions for the use of the app, and using the results for assessing the performances of VET learners and validate their competencies. During the project, the partners will meet four times in transnational project meetings, happening in critical phases and milestones of the project.

 

By the end of the project, we expect the following RESULTS:
- Stronger digital readiness of VET providers and Work-based learning organisers
- Enhanced learning process of VET learners in work-based learning, in all its forms
- Stronger key competencies for lifelong learning of VET learners, assessed and validated through innovative tools
- Enhanced competencies development regarding vocational sectors, aligned with ESCO skills database
- Shared practices and tools for the assessment and validation of VET learners' competencies on an European level
- Stronger training and professional development capacity of the partner organisations for VET trainers
- Stronger territorial and European cohesion between VET providers, WbL organisers and companies
- Increased ability of VET organisations to reach and include VET learners with fewer opportunities.