Growth in the Work Based Learning (WBL) Triangle Erasmus Project

Project Title

Growth in the Work Based Learning (WBL) Triangle

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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal); New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

The project “Growth in the Work-Based Learning Triangle (GRIT)” was a cross sector project between VET and HE institutions developing work-based learning practices. A specific focus of the project was the interactions between the three parties: the school, the student and the employer.

Project aimed at improving the interactions between the WBL parties and taking digital tools into use to support work-based learning.

The project was led by Haaga-Helia UAS (HE, Finland) and the other 4 parties were Omnia (VET, Finland), HoGent (HE, Belgium), Tartu Kutsehariduskeskus (VET, Estonia) and Ikaslan Gipuzkoa (VET, Spain).
The immediate target groups of the project were the teachers, students and contact persons of involved organizations.

The project hold two international training events related to Service Design and Digital tools. The number of local trainings for all the target groups to involve and integrate them to the project goals was over 20.

The project improved the professional competences of the teachers and boosted the digital competences of all target groups.The project took two major approaches to improve the communication between the three parties of Work Based Learning:

1) Service Design (SD) thinking and methods were used as a training tool. SD offered the participants ways to improve the content of their mutual communication. All three parties (teachers, workplace coaches and students) learned and practiced how to think of others as customers (instead of seeing different situations only from one’s own viewpoint, the participants practiced the skill of understanding others and their needs). The project narrowed the generation gaps and empowered the parties to collaboratively and respectfully work for common goals.

2)The project experimented the use of several digital tools (such as Slack, Padlet, Trello, Popplet..) that could be used by regular smartphones to
– increase interactions in the WBL triangle and innovate, how e.g. WhatsApp could be used as a reflection tool for learning outcomes by the students.
– boost the self-confidence of students and impact attitudes and develop transversal skills (e.g. ability to work collaboratively, think critically, take initiative and problem solve).

Long term outcomes and benefits of the project included
– Increased cooperation between the WBL employers and the schools that were sending students to the WBL period.
– New and innovative methods were used in the learning materials, inspired by Service Design.
– In addition, introducing innovative, rewarding and fun communication methods and evaluated digital interaction tools were demonstrated for WBL contexts.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 223335 Eur

Project Coordinator

HAAGA-HELIA AMMATTIKORKEAKOULU OY & Country: FI

Project Partners

• ASOCIACION DE DIRECTORES DE CENTROSDE FORMACION PROFESIONAL PUBLICOSDE GIPUZKOA IKASLAN
• HOGESCHOOL GENT
• ESPOON SEUDUN KOULUTUSKUNTAYHTYMA OMNIA
• TARTU LINN