European Career Help and Occupational Orientation Play Erasmus Project

Project Title

European Career Help and Occupational Orientation Play

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal)

Project Summary

CONTEXT
As declared by OECD, it is more and more important the learning systems could provide opportunities to acquire skills that are in demand in the labour market. But this is challenging in the context of constantly changing skill needs.
At European level, EC has detected that:
– many in Europe cannot find a job because they do not have the right skills or they are working in jobs that do not match their talents. Indeed, 30% of higher education graduates are working in jobs which do not need a university qualification.
– at the same time, 40% of employers cannot find people with the right skills to fill their vacancies, and too few people have the preparation, mindsets and competences to set up their own businesses or look for new opportunities.

REASON FOR THE PROPOSAL
ECHOO PLAY project would like to develop, test, adapt and implement a brand-new methodology that could support educators to direct learners to careers and foster their guidance roles.
The proposal is based on the introduction of strong innovation, creative and disruptive approaches and methodologies in the Vocational Education system thanks to the intensive use of gamification elements via an educational play with LEGO® bricks and a board-game in order to create a cutting-edge novel system aimed at a more effective career identification and to empower the occupational orientation.
It is about the development of some innovative outputs ready to be used by teachers, trainers, VET providers, occupational staff, employment centres, educational system etc.

OUTCOMES/OUTPUTS
The PROJECT PARTNERSHIP will:
– INTRODUCE and SPREAD THE KNOWLEDGE the concept of Gamification, Creativity and Educational Play
– Create an EVIDENCE-GATHERING GUIDE by exploring and detecting the needs for better employability to be used then in the building of tailored approaches of educational play and gamification
– Provide a TOOLKIT and METHODOLOGY GUIDE about LEGO® bricks for CAREER Identification as an effective approach to FACILITATE and UNLOCK the “open mind” trainers’ skills useful to identify and select a career pathway for each learner
– Design and deliver a brand-new BOARD GAME for OCCUPATIONAL ORIENTATION tailored on the learners’ adaptation in accordance with the market and employment real needs
– Validate the methodology thanks to a RESEARCH PAPER about the methodological and pedagogical approach used during the project implementation
– Built-up a NETWORK OF EXPERTS and creating a brand-new PROFESSIONAL PROFILE for project partners’ staff as “European Career and Orientation PLAY Facilitator and Trainer” recognised under the ECVET and EUROPASS systems
– Launch a WEBSITE integrated with Blog and Social Networks containing a DATABASE OF MATERIALS TRANSLATED in different languages to promote and encourage extensive exploitation and dissemination
– Arrange a series of MULTIPLIER EVENTS involving a large number of stakeholders to foster exploitation and dissemination of PROJECT Intellectual Outputs

IMPACT ENVISAGED
The partnership will bring together partners coming from several countries and their stakeholders, both academic and private, with the synergic power to reach a very large and diverse audience.
The double-route to follow in the project is:
– Transfer innovative and disruptive methodologies/approaches ready to be implemented in VET classes and courses but also in other contexts (VET, University, adult learners, employment centres, students, Youth, teachers, enterprises, formal education system etc.)
– Recognise and validate the knowledge within partner staff thanks to the ECVET system and a Memorandum of Understanding to create a “European Career and Occupational Orientation PLAY Facilitator and Trainer” profile.

SCIENCE BEHIND THE NEW METHODOLOGY
The new methodology is based on the success of the worldwide famous LEGO® Serious Play®, even if adapted to a completely different goal and context. LEGO® Serious Play® is a creative process method for group discussion and knowledge sharing, based on scientific research on the added value of playing in problem-solving settings methodology. The method was created and it is used for business purposes and to create, innovate products and services in an entrepreneurial context.
The power of the gamification: the games are motivating due to their impact on the cognitive, emotional and social dimensions of the player. There are several positive effects in the use of the gamification, e.g. increasing motivation and interest in the learning process.
The partners, thanks to the skills and expertise of its staff, are going to enrich the methodology also with Creative Problem Solving methodology, pedagogical aspects, psychological and educators point of views and coaching/mentoring approaches.

ECHOO PLAY partners have to adapt the methodology, on the basis of the results of evidence-gathering research, to national and local contexts that are continuously changing under the pressure of skills anticipation policies.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 298213 Eur

Project Coordinator

MIDSTOD SIMENNTUNAR A SUDURNESJUM & Country: IS

Project Partners

• Studiodomino Srl
• TURUN YLIOPISTO
• KELJE PRODUCTION
• EURO-NET