ICT based evaluation methodology to assess the social impact of work-linked training Erasmus Project

Project Title

ICT based evaluation methodology to assess the social impact of work-linked training

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 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition, transparency, certification; Quality Assurance; Quality Improvement Institutions and/or methods (incl. school development)

Project Summary

Training is a key element to ensure the sustainable growth and competitiveness. Public bodies and authorities have spent resources on the promotion of work-linked training programmes. Evaluation was an inherent nature of training process. It is mandatory to know the quality of the training process as well as the results of the intervention.
It’s necessary to provide a flexible, customizable and friendly methodology that help work-linked training providers to assess training activities considering the results, the impact of the training in the persons and the impact in the organization itself and in its environment. Companies’ needs a supporting tool that help them evaluate their training needs, labour market trends and the impact in the economies of the resources spent on these.
This new approach should cover four main criteria to evaluate:
Quality: evaluate and assess the quality of training, that is, witch characteristics of the training satisfy the needs of trainees (regarding contents, duration, trainers and facilities).
Efficacy/Performance: Identify the results obtained during the training sessions and how these results fit to the needs of the labour market and companies.
Efficiency: Assess the results focusing on the economic and other resources engaged in the process.
Impact: Assess the impact/effects of the training on both the employability of the trainees and the competitiveness of the companies.

ATWORK project aims to develop/build/create a methodology to evaluate the social impact of the work-linked training programmes on persons, on companies and on socio-economic environment.
ATWORK Specific objectives
Improve the environment of training evaluation through a new assessment tool
Promote a suitable framework to promote work-linked training in Europe
Provide with innovative method to manage work-linked training and assess its impacts on organization and on society
Improve the environment of companies through impact evaluation
Contribute to develop the social dimension of training, adapting it to new requirements of sustainability.
ATWORK Targets
Providers of work-linked training, to assess training developed and its impact in the socio-economic environment;
Trainees/Apprentices, to assess and evaluate their competences acquired regarding to the needs of companies and labour market and improve their employability;
Companies involved in these process, to match better the training needs of the company with the training offer and how they affect their competitiveness and growth.
To achieve this objective, five tasks have been carried out.
1.Comparative study of the existing evaluation models: in-depth interviews and an exhaustive analysis of the evaluation models existing in the countries of the partnership have been conducted.
2.Development of the Theoretical framework with evaluation Indicators: a battery of indicators has been proposed, to serve as a basis for knowing the impact of the training actions on citizens.
3.Development of the technological platform: a technological tool with high usability has been proposed, based on the indicators proposed in the theoretical framework.
4. Handbook, a user manual to accompany the tool.
5. Testing and Validation of the Platform: numerous activities were carried out in all countries, such as the selection of training courses, students and tutors, to use the platform and offer conclusions and assessment about its usability and usefulness regarding the objectives persecuted

The technological development phase suffered a delay. It has influenced in the development of the Manual and the Validation phase, finally executed throughout the summer months and until the end of the project, far from expected. This delay has also influenced the delivery of other transversal activities of dissemination of the project.

Finally, the results obtained are:
– A Comparative Study of Existing Evaluation Models.
– A Theoretical Framework with evaluation indicators.
– A technological platform, as a tool for evaluating training actions, with its user manual.

The Impact of the results used by the organizations targeted in the countries consortium opens up a wide range of possibilities. Some examples are:
– Increased knowledge regarding training evaluation,
– Development of transversal competences in teaching staff
– Increased motivation to participate in training actions.
– Implement work and collaboration networks around the exploitation of the ATWORK platform.
– Increase the quality of training offered by organizations.
ATWORK partnership is formed by 6 organizations from 5 countries: Spain, Austria, Poland, Romania and UK. All represents different scope of the project main objective and has been establishing from a geographical balance approach.
The project has been executed from January 18 to September 19. It started three months later than scheduled (Oct 17), after the NA communication in December 17.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 235460 Eur

Project Coordinator

Agencia para el Empleo de Madrid & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Glasgow Clyde College
• INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE STIINTIFICA IN DOMENIUL MUNCII SI PROTECTIEI SOCIALE
• 36,6 Competence Centre
• DRAMBLYS
• 3S RESEARCH LABORATORY – FORSCHUNGSVEREIN