ECVET for Digital Media Erasmus Project

Project Title

ECVET for Digital Media

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition, transparency, certification; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The ECVET for Digital Media (EfDM) project’s major objective was the development of qualifications and curricula for the Digital Media industry, with an emphasis on creating and integrating an ECVET approach within the production of a suite of new ‘European Digital Media’ VET qualifications. The project partners worked to create a brand new qualification the ‘LRN Level 4 Diploma European Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship’, collaborating with both VET partners and a specialist Digital Media partner, Cybersalon, to create course curricula and assessment processes which integrated ECVET functionality in the context of partner countries’ different accreditation and recognition systems for VET qualifications.

Our initial plan was to start with a City and Guilds qualification, and then update and adapt the materials to facilitate a modernised qualification. A closer examination, however, revealed that the previous qualification was nearly obsolete by the time the project started, so we had to create an entirely new qualification. The new qualification is designed to facilitate integration with work experience within the sector and thus replicate key aspects of apprenticeship type training. In particular, the course explores the crossover between VET and the world of work and enterprise and is ideally suited to adult VET learners who already have some skills and qualifications but lack the experience and workplace skills to secure employment in their target job role.

Aims & Objectives

The primary goals of the EfDM project were as follows: (1) to use an ECVET approach in the creation and adaptation of the ‘LRN Level 4 Diploma European Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship’, so that it could be delivered and recognised in a wider range of European countries; and (2) to to achieve accreditation and recognition in all partner countries.

Target Group

The project’s major target groups were:

VET institutions working in the digital sector, particularly those interested in expanding VET provision linked to digital freelancing and company start-up, as well as promoting the internationalisation of their VET supply.

VET learners interested in pursuing a career in the Digital Media industry, who we anticipate will largely be young individuals aged 19-24 confronting economic and educational barriers to labor market integration in their chosen profession.EU VET Support and the corresponding National, Regional and Sectoral Qualifications Frameworks in the participating Member States

Project Activities

The project collaboration included VET institutions from Ireland, Italy, the Czech Republic, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The partners in Ireland and the UK -Capacity London and Capacity Ireland – were already accredited by City and Guilds to deliver a digital media qualification based on ECVET principles. However, we decided not to work with City and Guilds as they were unable to offer the necessary level of engagement to support the transnational nature of the project. Instead, we worked with Learning Resource Network (LRN) – a UK Awarding Body that also works internationally – who were able to provide much better engagement with senior staff and key decision makers.

It was through this process that the EfDM Project Partnership developed a common scheme of work, which was then shared among the partners for them to develop the new qualification based on the five units identified in our initial application and following approved Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria. This enabled the other partners – 3Si, Eduart and Villa Montesca – in developing Digital Media qualifications based on ECVET principles in Spain, the Czech Republic and Italy respectively.

The EfDM project’s primary activities were the creation of new curricula and qualifications for the Digital Media sector, based on the development, updating, and creation of qualifications to facilitate accreditation, recognition, and piloting in a broader range of European countries. The project has created a suite of 5 units, focusing respectively on the (1) Technical; (2) Creative; (3) Business/Strategic; (4) Entrepreneurial; and (5) International, Cultural and Regulatory aspects of the Digital Media sector.

As part of our stand-alone digital media program, we designed engaging, relevant and cutting-edge units that mirrored real-world digital skills. The resulting qualification offeredd a modular structure with a cohesive learning plan when studied together. As a result, when the five units were added together, they equaled a QQI Major Award.

Finally, the project partners worked on adapting the qualification for use in other EU countries and incorporating an ECVET approach to create a guide for further adaptation that will support wider use of the ‘LRN Level 4 Diploma European Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship’ by external organisations – including those in other EU countries – beyond the life of the Erasmus+ funding.

Project Website

https://digiblox.org/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 283147 Eur

Project Coordinator

C.L. ADULT EDUCATION & TRAINING LIMITED & Country: IE

Project Partners

• FONDAZIONE HALLGARTEN-FRANCHETTI CENTRO STUDI VILLA MONTESCA
• Digital Liberties Limited
• CAPACITY LONDON LIMITED
• Third Sector International S. L.
• EDUART Projects s.r.o.