Improving the implementation of work-based (dual) Vocational training policies trrough peer learning, experience and exchange Erasmus Project

Project Title

Improving the implementation of work-based (dual) Vocational training policies trrough peer learning, experience and exchange

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: Labour market issues incl. career guidance / youth unemployment; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); Regional dimension and cooperation

Project Summary

The European Union (EU) has insisted on the need to adapt training systems to the requirements of a constantly changing labour market, in which, as a result of globalisation and technological development, professional skills must be adapted to the new times. The adaptation of qualifications is particularly important in the field of Vocational Education and Training (VET), in which two main lines of action have been identified: 1) Boosting the quality of the dual system 2) Reinforcing collaboration between the actors involved.

In this context, the iidVET project has aimed at improving the quality and effectiveness of the systems and institutions involved in the development of dual VET, as well as its implementation mechanisms and tools, through an exchange of knowledge and good practices between European countries with consolidated systems of dual Vocational Education and Training and others in which this type of training is not yet sufficiently well developed.

Countries such as Germany and Austria have a long experience in the development of dual VET, based on a fluid relationship with companies, while in other states such as Spain, Italy and Portugal, collaboration between training centres and companies needs of an impulse to facilitate a horizontal adjustment of competences.

The iidVET project has been designed to establish a collaborative space for mutual learning, development and innovation in the implementation of dual VET between the five countries mentioned above, which are committed to improving its quality and effectiveness.

To this end, throughout iidVET, the main factors featuring consolidated and successful dual VET systems have been identified and analysed through the analysis of the German and Austrian cases through joint reflections, study visits and analysis of good practices, with the aim of applying the main strengths to overcome the weaknesses identified and analysed during the project in the participating countries where dual VET is less developed: Spain, Portugal and Italy.

Approximately 300 participants related to the design, implementation and evaluation of dual VET took part in iidVET, including policy makers, administrative technicians, managers and teachers of training centres providing dual VET – including centres for students with special needs -, representatives of the areas of training and/or human resources of companies, universities, chambers of commerce, employers’ organisations and trade unions, company tutors and dual VET students, among others.

In terms of results and impact obtained, all of them with a long-term perspective of permanence, the objectives related to the transfer of knowledge and experience and the successful factors of the dual VET systems in Austria and Germany to the other countries have been achieved to a large extent. Thus, it is worth highlighting the introduction by the Ministry of Education of Castilla y León, already initiated for the 2019-2020 academic year, of the role of the Prospector of Learning Positions in Companies for the Development of dual VET projects in Castilla y León, releasing at least one teacher from each of the publicly owned centers that have authorized dual FP projects or have requested authorization, in order to foster the search for companies for the development of dual projects.

Also, the feasibility analysis that the IFEP of Portugal is currently carrying out on the possibility of modifying the contracting system of its dual VET training model, based until now on an agreement between the centre and the student, to move to one based on the agreement between the company and the student, once they have verified through the project that this is the system that operates in all the countries of the project and that it is more effective than their own.

In addition, the objective set for the five participating countries of establishing and strengthening networks of contacts that will remain in the future and that will lead to an increase in the number of mobilities in dual VET between partner countries/regions has been achieved. This has already led, among other things, to the collaboration between partners and their international networks in new Erasmus+ projects to further increase the quality of dual VET and to foster international mobilities in this field, such as the one launched on 1 December 2019 under the name ‘doALLVET’ (Strategic Alliances for Quality Dual VET and International Mobilities), coordinated by the iidVET Project Leader and again with the Portuguese partner IEFP.

In addition, a ‘Key Findings, Recommendations and Inspiring Experiences’ guide has been produced in the languages of all project partners, which will serve as a basis for further reforms and projects.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 112055 Eur

Project Coordinator

CONSEJERIA DE EDUCACION DE LA JUNTA DE CASTILLA Y LEON & Country: ES

Project Partners

• BBQ Berufliche Bildung gGmbH
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET KAISERSLAUTERN
• CONSEJO REGIONAL DE CAMARAS OFICIALES DE COMERCIO E INDUSTRIA DE CASTILLA Y LEON
• WIRTSCHAFTSKAMMER OSTERREICH
• Camera di Commercio Italo-Germanica (AHK)
• INSTITUTO DO EMPREGO E FORMACAO PROFISSIONAL
• ISTITUTO FORMAZIONE OPERATORI AZIENDALI