The European Commission through the Erasmus+ programme aims to develop the level of key competences, enabling adults to secure fulfilling & productive employment in an increasingly competitive work environment. Upskilling Pathways recognises that almost 20% of adult Europeans struggle with basic reading, writing, calculation & use of digital tools in everyday life. The level of these competences is believed to have a direct relationship with quality of life.The development of automation & artificial intelligence is already having a significant impact on working practices. This impact is expected to increase dramatically in the next 10 years with as many as 50% of low-skilled jobs disappearing as workers are replaced by machines. Low-skilled adults are therefore likely to find it increasingly difficult to access the job-market. This is further complicated when one considers the impact of discrimination, ageism & Covid-19.Work is important to an individual. It matters because we need to support ourselves & our families; it formulates social status; it provides opportunities to generate social relationships; it can also inspire creativity & contribute to individual identity.The idea for INTERGEN comes partly from discussions at the ‘Future of VET Conference’, held in Helsinki 11-13 November 2019; partly from the results of an intergenerational pilot study in Iceland & also from observations that low-skilled adult learners at both ends of the age spectrum encounter significant difficulties in developing the necessary skills to access learning opportunities & the job market.There is therefore a gap between the learning required by these target groups for the development of formal &/or non-formal competences & what is currently available.The INTERGEN project brings together 8 partners from 7 EU member states & aims to fill this gap by producing 4 outputs leading to a ‘win-win’ scenario – both young & senior target groups have skills & knowledge that the other needs to become more competitive for job market access.Firstly, we will research & design an INTERGEN BRIDGE MODEL to facilitate social inclusion through intergenerational learning, by allowing young & senior adults not in employment to learn from each other & develop mutual respect. We will design opportunities to acquire key competences, digital skills & entrepreneurship, tailored to meet the needs of our target groups. We will take into account cultural differences & specific needs of partner countries to produce an adaptable programme for effective implementation throughout the EU. We will create pedagogical materials for job centres, career guidance centres, adult educators & institutions based on the Community of Practice model to apply the INTERGEN BRIDGE MODEL in interesting, interactive ways appropriate to both target groups.We will develop training modules in key competence development appropriate to both target groups featuring an innovative peer-leaning-based methodology.Finally, we will produce online tutorials to link learning in the INTERGEN programme with EU tools, such as Europass CV, to best showcase competences to potential employers & access the job market.6 Pilot Studies in 6 partner countries will extensively test the INTERGEN materials, involving 30 participants from each target age group & 10 organisations. A significant number of participants will come from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds.These resources will be open-source, available in the 7 project languages & downloadable via the INTERGEN website.The impact of our project will be on 5 levels:+ The number of organisations offering intergenerational key skills & career development for low-skilled adults+ The disparity in learning opportunities for the development of key skills for adult learners of different ages+ Social cohesion & the reduction of age discrimination & ageist stereotypes+ The level of key skills & competences, adding value to participants’ CV & increasing job-market access+ Employer satisfaction due to increased availability of potential employees with the skills that they require, thereby increasing the degree of added-value to companiesOur main focus will be on low-skilled, unemployed adult learners aged 18-30 & 50+, but our resources will be adaptable for other categories of adult learners & for use in countries not actively involved in the project, thereby dramatically increasing the project impact.The INTERGEN partners believe that the problems of adult learners in developing their key competences & securing employment are likely to increase dramatically in the coming years. Hence, the urgent need for innovative solutions, such as those that we plan to design, is clearly demonstrated.In the words of Georg C. Lichtenberg, ‘I cannot say whether things will get better by change; what I can say is that they must change if they are to get better.’ This is what we will address through the INTERGEN project.

"“Erasmus plus : le Renouveau de la Mobilité Transnationale, une nouvelle opportunité pour les personnes en insertion et les entreprises » (Erasmus Plus - RMT) – “Erasmus plus : The new way of transnational mobility, a new opportunity for people in the process of integration and for companies "" is a proposition coming from mobility experiences that the applying organisation runs since 1995 in the framework of European, regional and local funds to support and reinforce employability of people integrating the labor market. This program, run within two years, aims to finalise a methodological toolkit of orientation to transnational mobility which will be innovative and complementary to the existing ones. It will be an answer to priorities defined by the E.U because it offers to : - contribute to the acknowledgement of mobility periods as an impulse for qualification and the development of personal and professional capacities- reinforce the employability of people in the process of integration – students, recently graduated students, jobseekers – offering them alternatives and qualifiying ways of thinking- give actors of the integration sector a toolkit which will be used within their professional activities- reinforce the companies’ implication in the certification of added value of mobility experiences through a better understanding of the labor market needs. The innovative methodological aspect can be found in « capitalisation of experiences” activities, undertaken at the beginning of the project and within all the orientation process, modifying current practises where this activity appears only at the end. This should help beneficiaries to develop their capacities of analysis and explanation mobility benefits according to the professional sector they plan to integrate while coming back to France.Another innovative aspect : comparative researches undertaken within the 5 countries of the partnership will contribute to define the content of the activities. These studies (the first one to identify European mobility projects, the 2nd one, on methodologies of capitalisation, applied on 170 European companies) are the products of the project and will be published as a compendium.To undertake the activities of the project, the applying organisation has federated 6 partners qualified in diversifed and complementary fields – education, orientation and integration, development of public politics – with common aims : implement local and transnational initiatives to ameliorate qualification and employability of the public in the process of integration, integrating professional actors, such as companies. The project will benefit from 2 regional organisations : the Department of Regional, European and International Partnerships within the Ile de France Region and the Employment and training centre of Nanterre. Four international partners: CEDIT -, Florence, BERLINK – Berlin, ESMOVIA – Valence, EPN –Bristol. All have been chosen for their experiences within the frame of the LDV programs and the ESF, as intermediary placement organisation for many types of public.The complementarity of our fields and our network can be seen as a garantee to acheive the project activities, for the quality and the relevance of the intellectual productions, the ways of dissemination and the impacts in terms of durability."

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 c&idates 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 & the European 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.

Europe is facing its greatest threat since World War II. The COVID19 outbreak is triggering unprecedented social & economic consequences. It has brought into question established practices & highlighted the importance of developing digital skills & tools in order to find innovative solutions to meet the new challenges in continuing to offer transnational work-based learning (TWBL) opportunities in the VET sector.Work-based learning is one of the main areas in European VET policies. Targets & priorities are underlined within core strategies & initiatives, such as the Europe 2020 Growth Strategy, the ET 2020 Strategic Framework & the Agenda for New Skills & jobs.Before the onset of the pandemic, the difficulties encountered by trainees in securing TWBL were raised at the ‘Future of VET Conference’ in Helsinki, 11-13 Nov 2019. This was identified as a major problem that has now become even more problematic in a COVID19 world & no adequate solutions currently exist.There is a gap between the requirements of both employers & trainees, creating a vicious circle. Trainees need work-based learning opportunities to get a job & companies need future employees with both qualifications & work-experience. There is a clear & identifiable need to help trainees find opportunities abroad & persuade employers to provide the opportunities that trainees require as the transnational element brings further added-value to a CV & an application.TWBL traditionally involves a trainee working physically in a company in another country. COVID19 has reduced mobility & led to travel restrictions, thereby creating a need for innovative solutions to continue to provide appropriate TWBL opportunities for trainees if physical mobility is not possible.For this to happen, trainees require improved digital competences & greater awareness of available digital tools to contribute effectively to a host company if working remotely.Companies need to be made aware of the possibilities for physical, virtual & blended TWBL & the benefits to the company of hosting a trainee from another country.The primary objective of our project is to address these challenges by bringing together partners from 6 EU countries & developing 3 main outputs.Firstly, we will create online tutorials to develop key digital skills required by trainees in varied forms of TWBL: to improve trainees’ awareness & capacity to use digital applications before, during & after a work-placement, strengthening links with EU tools such as the new Europass & allowing them to adapt how they work if required to work virtually.Secondly, we will expand our research & focus on the views of companies from 6 countries on physical, virtual & Blended TWBL in the light of COVID19. We will use digital questionnaires & analytical tools to design digital marketing materials for TWBL for VET providers to showcase new approaches & the value of hosting trainees from another country to companies.Thirdly, we will develop an innovative, user-friendly online ‘market place’ to increase TWBL opportunities in a COVID19 context. This will allow the remote matching of trainees & host companies & take into account the needs & expectations of trainees & host companies, leading to improved accuracy in the matching process. With many trainees currently learning remotely, this becomes even more important, especially for smaller VET providers, lacking resources to develop their own platform.In this way, we aim to facilitate a PERFECT MATCH between the challenges of the COVID19 pandemic & the digital needs of trainees for appropriate innovative transnational work-based learning opportunities.We will test our outputs in pilot studies in 6 countries, with over 30 host companies & trainees. The project will cater for all categories of VET learner with special attention to the needs of those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds & less likely to take part in TWBL.The PM resources will be digital, open-source, downloadable from the PM website & available in 7 languages. They will empower VET providers to offer high-quality TWBL to their trainees & can be tailored to the needs of specific target groups.The impacts will be on 6 levels:+ Develop digital competences of trainees thereby improving the quality of the labour force+ Identify innovative ways to diversify the types of TWBL available to trainees despite the challenges of COVID19+ Increase the awareness of companies of the benefits of hosting trainees+ Increase the quality of the matching process & thereby the quality of TWBL+ Increase the number of companies prepared to host trainees & thereby the opportunities available to trainees+ Increase the satisfaction & added-value to involved partiesAs D.E. Norman said ‘To get real work experience, you need a job, & most jobs will require you to have had real work experience & a qualification’. The ‘PERFECT MATCH’ project aims to make a substantial contribution in this area.

Europe is facing its greatest threat since World War II. The COVID19 outbreak is triggering unprecedented social & economic consequences. It has brought into question established practices & highlighted the importance of developing digital skills & tools in order to find innovative solutions to meet the new challenges in continuing to offer transnational work-based learning (TWBL) opportunities in the VET sector.Work-based learning is one of the main areas in European VET policies. Targets & priorities are underlined within core strategies & initiatives, such as the Europe 2020 Growth Strategy, the ET 2020 Strategic Framework & the Agenda for New Skills & jobs.Before the onset of the pandemic, the difficulties encountered by trainees in securing work-based learning abroad were raised at the ‘Future of VET Conference’ in Helsinki, 11-13 Nov 2019. This was identified as a major problem that has now become even more problematic in a COVID19 world & no adequate solutions currently exist. The report ‘Digital gap during COVID-19 for VET learners at risk in Europe’ (CEDEFOP, June 2020) highlighted the digital skills gap for VET learners & the unique challenges caused by the pandemic. It also underlined the key importance of ensuring continued cooperation ‘at school-company level’ in order to ensure training continuity. There is a therefore a gap between the requirements of trainees & employers, creating a vicious circle. Trainees need work-based learning opportunities to get a job & companies need future employees with both qualifications & work-experience. There is a clear & identifiable need to help trainees find opportunities abroad & persuade employers to provide the opportunities that trainees require as the transnational element brings added-value to an application.TWBL traditionally involves a trainee working physically in a company in another country. COVID19 has reduced mobility & led to travel restrictions, thereby creating a need for innovative solutions to continue to provide appropriate opportunities for trainees if physical mobility is not possible.For this to happen, VET tutors & trainees require improved digital competences & greater awareness of available digital tools to contribute effectively to a host company if working remotely.Companies need to be made aware of the possibilities for blended & remote & TWBL & the benefits to the company of hosting a trainee from another country.The primary objective of our project is to address these challenges to develop Key Digital Skills for Staff & Trainees for Innovative Transnational Traineeships & Work-based Learning by bringing together partners from 6 EU countries & designing 3 outputs.Firstly, we will design of a pedagogical method for VET providers to facilitate digital upskilling of VET staff & trainees in a COVID19 context.Secondly, we will create interactive learning modules for digital upskilling to enable VET Tutors to create & adapt their own digital learning resources to meet the digital needs of their trainees in a COVID19 context.Thirdly, we will develop interactive learning tutorials for trainees to develop the key digital skills required by host companies during blended & remote transnational work-based learning in a COVID19 context. With many trainees currently working from home, this becomes even more important, especially for smaller VET providers, lacking resources to develop their own materials.In this way, we aim to propose innovative solutions to meet the challenges of the COVID19 pandemic & the digital needs of VET tutors & trainees for appropriate innovative TWBL opportunities.We will test our outputs in pilot studies in 6 countries, with over 30 host companies & trainees. The project will cater for all categories of VET learner with special attention to the needs of those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds & less likely to take part in TWBL.The DSKILTI resources will be digitally-based, open-source, downloadable from the DSKILTI website & available in 6 languages. They will empower VET providers to offer high-quality TWBL to their trainees & can be tailored to the needs of specific target groups.The impacts will be on 6 levels:+ Digital upskilling of VET tutors, thereby encouraging the development of innovative & adapted digital learning solutions+ Developing the digital competences of trainees & readiness of workplace needs+ Encourage the uptake of blended & remote TWBL available to trainees & meet the challenges of COVID19+ Increase the awareness of companies of the benefits of hosting trainees via blended & remote TWBL+ Increase the number of companies prepared to host trainees & thereby the opportunities available to trainees+ Increase the satisfaction & added-value to involved partiesAs George Couros said ‘Technology will not replace great teachers but technology in the hands of great teachers can be transformational.’ This is what we aim to facilitate in the DSKILTI project.