The NextSteps@TechVET project has started. The project continues the development of vocational training in the fields of technology launched at Teformi as international cooperation. The NextSteps@TechVET project aims to develop partnerships that promote WBL in VET and support professional development – especially guidance skills – of people involved in the WBL process and the internationalization of VET.
The project responds to the EU priorities for Vocational Education Training aiming to promote Work-Based Learning in all its forms, by involving companies and VET providers. It promotes WBL and teachers’ and trainers’ professional development through the recognition of the current state and development needs regarding cooperation between VET institutions and working life; especially focusing on guidance (incl. career guidance and workplace guidance in physical and digital environments); development of pedagogically considered educational materials to support guidance skills and cooperation between education and work; promotion of best practices for WBL from the perspectives of teachers, students and working life and the improvement, recognition and accreditation of guidance skills through the development of digital open badge-driven learning process.
In the first phase, we map the current state and development needs of workplace learning and career guidance. The survey serves as a basis for the development work to be carried out in the later stages of the project. All partners participate in the survey, which is carried out under the leadership of HAMK. Information retrieval methods include a survey for students, a survey for teachers and an interview with company representatives. Data collection has begun and the results of the survey are expected in the spring.
The NextSteps@TechVET project is supported by the Erasmus+ program. The project will run for three years: September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2023.HAMK coordinates the project. Project partners are Koulutuskuntayhtymä Tavastia Finland; Kouvolan kaupunki (City of Kouvola) Finland; Vidzemes Tehnoloģiju un dizaina tehnikums Latvia; Tallinna Lasnamäe Mehaanikakool Estonia and Stichting voor Christelijk beroepsonderwijs en volwassen educatie Friesland/Flevoland Netherlands.
You can find a presentation video of the project on the project website at http://www.hamk.fi/techvet or from YouTube https://youtu.be/IkBrHIDL0Ao .