Integral process for ISO 17024 certification of EU project managers Erasmus Project

Project Title

Integral process for ISO 17024 certification of EU project managers

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: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Open and distance learning; Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

The EU relies heavily on its programs to achieve the goals envisioned for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth under the Europe 2020 strategy.
This raises the question of the extent to which European project managers are well prepared to frame, design, implement and close such projects effectively and efficiently.

At the time of writing the Erasmus+ project “EMVOI” – strategic partnership for vocational education and training, there was no tool available on the market for the evaluation, training or even certification of EUropean project managers (EUPM).

This is now over since the EMVOI project (2016 – 2018) saw the creation of an online tool enabling self-evaluation, training (self-directed learning) and support for ISO 17024 certification (instructions).

The overall objective of EMVOI project is to contribute to the recognition, validation and reinforcement of EUPMs’ key competences while at the same time strengthening cooperation between the world of training and the world of work by applying a global approach to evaluation, training and certification.

The specific objectives of the project were to:

+ develop an approach to recognize competences acquired by European project managers;
+ develop a competence chart for EUPMs that can contribute to the development of high-level core and cross-curricular competences in a lifelong learning perspective;
+ create a web tool for the assessment of transversal competences;
+ develop training courses based on ICT – Information and Communication Technologies – using open educational resources and integrating modern digital solutions into the VET process – Education and Vocational Training;
+ develop cross-curricular competences of the EUPM through an innovative approach, focusing on competences, learning and results;
+ frame a certification system according to the ISO 17024 standard that can be considered as a system for recognizing and validating EUPMs’ competences ;
+ promote learning of the English language and linguistic diversity through the EMVOI multilingual web platform.

To do so, consulting and training organizations from 6 European countries worked for 28 months (Sept.2016 – Dec.2018) to carry out the work: Coopérative Sud Concept (FR), Instituto de Soldadura and Qualidade ( PT), ISCN (AT), EuroSuccess Consulting (CY), EVBB (DE) and DAKOM (BG).

Thus, on the basis of their experience and expertise but also those of 91 other European managers who took part in the work, especially during the development and testing of the Curriculum, the objectives were achieved and the following activities were carried out:

+ development of a competence chart based on scientific articles and other relevant documents. The chart is divided into hard and soft skills;

+ development of a multilingual online platform (BG, DE, EL, EN, FR, PT);

+ creation of a self-evaluation tool directly linked to the competence chart. It is autonomous and immediately displays the evaluation results once it is complete. It advocates the way forward for learners to develop their competence chart.

+ content writing for 3 training modules:
• basic knowledge of any European project manager;
• competence chart to develop and / or improve in the management of European projects;
• national specificities of certain programs such as operational programs, structural funds, the various national financing mechanisms (administrative procedures, political context, etc.).

+ a manual including advice and a summary of the important points of the training;

+ a framework for certification according to ISO 17024.

To conclude, EMVOI project presents a global approach since it allows the identification of the competency and its evaluation, proposes improvement tracks (training contents) and a certification process. The project is largely involved in “Improving relevant and high-level cross-curricular and relevant competences in the perspective of lifelong learning” and promoting “Transparency and recognition of competences and qualifications to facilitate learning, employability and mobility of the workforce “.

For more information on the project and its results, please consult free of charge the developed tools from the project website: http://www.emvoi.eu.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 287091,59 Eur

Project Coordinator

SUD CONCEPT & Country: FR

Project Partners

• G.G. EUROSUCCESS CONSULTING LIMITED
• EUROPAISCHER VERBAND BERUFLICHER BILDUNGSTRAGER (EVBB)
• INTERNATIONAL SOFTWARE-EXPERTS FORCOLLABORATIVE NETWORKS I.S.C.N. GESMBH
• INSTITUTO DE SOLDADURA E QUALIDADE
• DAKOM