European cooperative framework for Dual LEarning Erasmus Project

Project Title

European cooperative framework for Dual LEarning

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 higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries; Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal)

Project Summary

EuroDuaLE had pursued the objective of developing and testing an original transnational Dual Learning framework. 13 partners participated in the project, namely Centre for Studies in Law, Economy, Environment, and Work of the Marco Biagi Department of Economics of the Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, SOPHIA R&I, Fondazione ADAPT, Camera di Commercio Italo-Germanica, Otto-Von-Guericke-Universität Magdeborg, University of Southampton, Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, University College Leuven, Cofora International Projects BV, European Foundation for Education e.V., Universidad de Sevilla, Università degli Studi di Padova, and Università degli Studi Roma Tre.
The background of the project was characterised by:
¥ Skills mismatch: a growing number of employers highlights the disequilibrium and the difficulties to recruit people matching with their constantly evolving needs
¥ Higher education programmes sometimes lag behind compared to the emerging needs of the economy in general, and specifically to emerging career paths 
¥ High youth unemployment, even among highly skilled young adults, is also the result of such delay, particularly dramatic in Southern Europe

The main goal of the project is to help fighting youth unemployment, through the improvement of youth employability and the reduction of the mismatch of competences between education and labour market. The project wants to clear the path of synergy between HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) and labour market actors, giving students the chance to test new academic curricula and combining formal training (in class) and training on-the-job, geographical and virtual mobility.

Therefore, the EuroDuaLE project aimed at facing these critical issues by seeking primarily to reduce the mismatch of competences. This was pursued by involving companies in the definition of the academic studying and training programmes; taking advantage of the potentials offered by dual learning programmes to substantially increase youth employability, not only at the conclusion of but also during the education experience; giving students the chance to combine and integrate formal academic training and training on-the-job.
In this sense, the project set out the main objective of producing a framework for dual learning in higher education that combines dual learning and transnational mobility, giving students the possibility to integrate notional and practice training in collaboration with companies in different European countries.
The first phase consisted in analysing learning and job mobility of young people (IO1) and the current situation of different dual learning systems in some European countries participating in the project (IO2).

In the second phase, partners produced a model for transnational dual learning programmes in higher education. The model was firstly developed from a theoretical and methodological point of view (IO3). After that, a Practical Handbook was created considering the related issues as regards the realistic implementation of this model (IO4) in order to guide both the piloting phase planned by the project (C1 and C2) and other possible stakeholders who would like to develop dual learning programmes by following the model proposed by EuroDuaLE.
The last phase of the project consisted in the realisation of the piloting phase, which gave some students of the universities involved in this project the opportunity to gain a dual learning mobility experience (physically and virtually), and to draft a methodological and practical guide for designing and implementing a quality dual learning higher education programme (IO5).
The project was integrated by assessment activities of the project execution, which considered: methodology, implementation and reporting; validity and transferability of this innovative project idea; mainstreaming activities for the targeted dissemination of the project outcomes; set of recommendations directed to national and European political decision makers; the paper presenting all the methodological as well as practical aspects of the EuroDuaLE project. The objective of these activities consists in making it a scientific reference point in order to introduce the innovative elements of the model also in the already existing programmes of study.
The dissemination of the project outcomes took place through multiplier events, along with other canals and instruments described in the specific section.
The expected result, which consisted in defining a model to design transnational dual learning programmes in higher education, has been reached. The impact is represented by an extended awareness of the value of dual learning in general and transnationally in particular, as well as of its feasibility.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 416575,24 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MODENA E REGGIO EMILIA & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Camera di Commercio Italo-Germanica (AHK)
• OTTO-VON-GUERICKE-UNIVERSITAET MAGDEBURG
• FONDAZIONE ADAPT
• UNIVERSIDAD DE SEVILLA
• Cofora International Projects BV
• UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
• ASSOCIAZIONE SOPHIA R&I