The European Commission thorough the Erasmus+ programme aims to develop the quality & benefits of transnational work-based learning (TWBL) across Europe & encourage greater numbers to take part. The idea for ShowValA comes from research & the observation that the learning & achievements of those who undertake a period of TWBL are often not recognised & do not always contribute to any potential certification. Furthermore, learning & achievements are frequently not effectively showcased by candidates when looking to gain entry to the employment market. This can discourage trainees from taking part in this type of experience.
There is therefore a gap between what trainees require, the level of current uptake EU tools & methods & the current situation in regard to the showcasing & valorisation of formal/non-formal learning & achievements.
The ShowValA project brings together 7 partners from 5 EU member states & aims to fill this gap by producing a user-friendly & adaptable Guide, Process & Tools for educational institutions & mobility organisers on how to fully integrate a period of TWBL into a vocational pedagogical programme & assess formal & non-formal learning & achievements, leading to a recognition of the achievement of learning outcomes & their contribution to the overall course assessment & certification using ECVET principles & materials as appropriate. The guide & process will be compatible with & complement the already existing materials developed & promoted by the EU, such as Europass CV & the European Skills Passport.
It will be linked to a multi-format smartphone/tablet application which will allow trainees to collect, save & organise evidence of their achievements during their TWBL on a day to day basis. It will fit in very well with their current lifestyle habits as young people tend to manage a significant proportion of their activities on their Smart phones. It will have the potential to be a complete record of their experiences, achievements & unlike a traditional diary, the interface will be structured in relation to agreed learning objectives, units of learning outcomes & skills/competences. It will be linked to the European transversal competences frame (AEFA). The stored information will be also to be uploaded into a database or a Mobility Management Platform
A Guide for Trainees will also be developed in five languages with an innovative methodology for the online pre-departure preparation of trainees to use the smartphone application to record & organise their learning & achievements during the placement & post-mobility, a structured, online activity-based valorisation programme on how to link their learning during the work placement with Europass CV, Europass Skills Passport & to best showcase their achievements.
Five Pilot Studies will take place, one in each of the countries of the project partners leading to facilitate extensive testing of the ShowValA Guides, Processes, Tools, Modules & Smartphone Application through transnational work-based learning of 3-42 weeks in duration. This will involve at least 50 trainees & 45 host companies. Some of these placements will involve young people who would not typically take part in transnational mobility, including those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.
These resources will be open-source, consultable & downloadable via the ShowValA web-platform & available in the 5 languages of the project. They can be tailored according to the needs of specific target groups. They will empower schools, universities, training establishment & mobility service providers to reward trainees for high quality work-based learning. The ShowValA outputs will thus develop innovative ways to make the recognition of formal & non-formal learning acquired by trainees during TWBL accessible to smaller institutions by providing a means to collect & present clear evidence of learning whilst re-enforcing the links between ECVET, Europass & theEuropean Skills Passport.
The promotion of work-based learning will therefore be on three levels. Firstly, on the number of training institutions that reward trainees for their learning & achievements from a transnational work-placement. Secondly, on the number of trainees who undertake a period of TWBL. Thirdly, this increase in participation & recognition of achievements will improve labour market relevance of learning provision.
The ShowValA project will help increase the impact of transnational work placements for the trainee, leading to added value on a CV & thereby improving employability by helping to recognise the skills that have been developed that are required by businesses. This in turn may contribute to improving the quality of the labour force & helping to promote economic development within the European Union.
In the words of scientist Thomas Edison ‘There’s a way to do it better….Find it!’ This is what we hope to achieve through the ShowValA project.
