Work Based Intergenerational Learning in SME – a Key Factor for Success Erasmus Project

Project Title

Work Based Intergenerational Learning in SME – a Key Factor for Success

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 2014

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The project “WINGS4Success- Intergenerational learning (IGL) at the workplace was understood as balance of knowledge, skills and competences “transfer” between all generations at the workplace. Despite its potential to improve both the performance of the respective company as well as the individual performance of the generations regarding employability the topic Intergenerational Learning (IGL) is still marginal to SMEs. That is why the project aimed to address IGL on the workplace more systematically. Therefore we intented to establish an training curricula for employer/employees as “Intergenerational Facilitator”, who shall help to surrender the passive role of intergenerational processes in the company by representing an active part of the company´s personnel policy. HR-Managers, owners, directors or special selected staff in SMEs were meant to take over the facilitators’ roles and should be trained to sensitize for, promote and facilitate IGL in SMEs in a structured way.
The partnership was a very good mix of professional partners in the field of VET and the world of work (SMEs)
1. Chambers of Commerce:
* La Cambra da Comerc de Terrassa (ES)
* IHK-Projektgesellschaft (DE), partner in a wide network of regional companies, especially SMEs; VET provider and regional stkeholders
2. Training and counselling providers:
* BFI Tirol (AT),
* Mentortec (PT)
with many years of experience in vocational education, in terms of designing courses and curricula, conducting training in and with businesses and networking with training actors.
3. Foundation for Research and Technology:
* FORTH (EL), a scientific institution which was responsible for the quality of the project and acadmic support, in terms of providing professional tools for research, evaluation and reporting.

In order to take into account needs and existing conditions of SMEs regarding IGL we designed and carried out a survey in IO1, following a three-phase approach: 1. Research of existing literature related to IGL and the IGLOO projects’ outcomes (our reference project), 2. Quantitative data collection with an Online-Survey, and 3. Qualitative data collection with a semi-structured interview guideline. After conducting the survey, all partners presented their findings in a National outcome report in English which was then summarized by BFI Tirol in a White Paper (Case study in SMEs).This outcome offered recommendations and a summary of best practice and practical opportunities for SMEs. Based on the survey results Mentortec (former INOVAFOR) provided a facilitators profile, containing different requirements of a facilitator for IGL in SMEs; e.g. functional qualification, tasks and responsibilities, qualifications, experiences and competences. The profile provided support to identify suitable members of staff in SMEs to take on the role as IGL facilitator. One of the main findings during the survey was that SMEs are very interested in solving problems for the ageing workforce but do not favour a separate person as IGL facilitator due to lack of capacities and personnel. They rather imagine equipping certain relevant members of staff, such as heads of departments or members of the HR department, with relevant competences to fulfil the role of an IGL facilitator additionally to their usual responsibilities. That is why we had to adapt our training and piloting concept. The idea was to establish the IGL facilitator not as a specific person but as a function of staff in charge for personnel matters. As a result we developed a training curriculum that combined present with distance learning and naturally followed neccessary steps to promote and implement IGL in SMEs: 1. Get an overview of important concepts related to IGL, 2. Check the proper conditions for IGL in your company and 3. Start or improve IGL activities among your colleagues. In order to deliver these topics 3 online learning modules and a toolbox have been created, which allow for different methodological implementation. The curriculum was pre-tested in the partners’ organizations, adapted and piloted with groups of SME representatives. The whole testing phase was monitored and evaluated using questionnaires by FORTH. All testing results can be found in the evaluation report as download on our website www.wings4success.eu.

During the lifespan of the project all partners raised their profile as competent institutions for Intergenerational Learning at the workplace. They will further adapt the curriculum to national requirements, incorporate it as a regular course offer in their training programme and offer counselling on IGL to companies.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 261949,91 Eur

Project Coordinator

IHK- PROJEKTGESELLSCHAFT MBH & Country: DE

Project Partners

• FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY HELLAS
• BFI TIROL BILDUNGS GMBH
• CAMBRA OFICIAL DE COMERC I INDUSTRIA DE TERRASSA
• MENTORTEC SERVICOS DE APOIO A PROJECTOS TECNOLOGICOS SA