Shaping Flexible Learning Pathways
Erasmus+ KA3 - Support for policy reform – Initiatives for Policy Innovation
2017-1-UK01-KA202-036666
317.914,00 €
01/2016 - 01/2018 (24 months)
Turkey, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain
TANDEM
The new economic realities and rapid shifts on the job market are changing what we need from our education system. Not only should access to higher education be widened to groups like adult learners, vocational learners and employed learners, but also the teaching-learning environments should be adapted to the diversified needs of lifelong learners in order to reach a competitive and sustainable economy and create an inclusive society towards the EU 2020 goals.
Workers need to develop advanced technical and management competences to improve their job and career prospects. Also, lifelong learners, typically having vocational experience, need more flexible education systems and transition opportunities between learning forms by validation of their work experience, non-formal and informal learning without losing the labor market focus. Therefore, it’s important that stakeholders and policy-makers identify the gaps in the qualifications landscape to develop new pathways combining labor market orientation with progression opportunities to/within higher education.
The project is designed to contribute to the debate on reform by drawing lessons from the existing expertise and good practices of consortium’s partners and strengthening the connection between European and national policymakers and practitioners.
The word “TANDEM” should emphasize the efficiency of businesses, VET and HE providers working together for high quality VET aligned with regional and global labor market demand to proactively respond to emerging skills shortages.
Objectives of the project
The TANDEM project’s overall objectives are to enhance the flexibility in learning pathways across education systems (from EQF levels 4 to 5 and 6) as well as to contribute to educational policy development by connecting Vocational Education and Training (VET), Higher Education (HE) and the business world.
The main objectives include:
- To provide high-quality VET aligned with regional and global labour market needs to respond to emerging skills shortages – industry employers will be involved in the design and organization of practical options connecting upper-secondary, higher education, the VET sector and enterprises focused on identified areas of skills.
- To outline the possibilities for workers and lifelong learners after completing a level 4 program to get a degree at levels 5 and higher- VET programs delivering specific modules to prepare students for HE by offering bridge courses and taking work experience/training into consideration.
- To outline the transferability between Higher Vocational Education and Training (HVET) to Short Cycle Higher Education (SCHE) and from HVET or SCHE to Bachelor’s programs through a clear and coherent credit transfer system – recognition, permeability and transfer of lifelong learning outcomes and outputs.
Expected Results
- 1 Background study on the skills demands and good practices
- Virtual and face-to-face workshops
- National working groups
- 1 Symposium in Brussels for EU stakeholders
Project Activities
- Fostering growth and jobs: VET prepares students for both lower and medium-level jobs. Providing the correct skills that match the labour market needs and support employability throughout workers’ careers is key to fostering employment. The transferability of VET students to tertiary education is important to upskill both students and employees.
- Allowing innovation since the implementation and production of new technologies depends on the availability of highly qualified people.
- Promoting sustainability: the implementation of solutions also requires VET students and employees to be educated and trained to develop sustainable innovations. Successful local and sectorial practices show that close cooperation between the business world, VET and HE institutions increases the scope and effectiveness of these solutions.
- Social inclusion: VET helps to prevent and overcome inclusion issues by preparing an educational level for work and thus for social participation.
Project Partners
- European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) – Lead Partner (Germany)
- Prysmian – Cables and systems for energy and telecommunications (Turkey)
- EUCEN European Universities Continuing Education Network (Belgium)
- European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting – EFW (Belgium)
- Leido and Chain 5 (Netherlands)
- Industry and Chamber of Commerce Oviedo (Spain)
