The "Students on the Job" project was a 2 years European project accepted under the Leonardo da Vinci programme started on the 1st November 2013.
The full title of the project is:
"Partnership for Exchange of experience in Student on-the-job Training".
See as well:
- General introduction to the Students-on-the-Job project
- Public Students-on-the-Job repository
Objectives:
Starting ground : 2 major gaps for trainees/students in VET (Vocational Education & Training):
- The separation between corporate life and higher education remains a strong handicap, and the knowledge triangle integration is too slow.
- The synergies and gateways between ECTS and. ECVET are too weak at present.
New ways of collaboration should be developed based on individual best practices and a shared learning process. The present Leonardo da Vinci Partnership project regroups a first set of partners to exchange practices, experience and field needs in that area to prepare the ground for a wider approach at European level.
Contributions on University-Enterprise cooperation, on student placements, from VET actors, from socio-economic actors and regional developers, as well as analysis of previous LLP outcomes will be a strong basis to go for a more global Students-on-the-job project in a new future.
The project:
Working in a multi-actors system, our partnership involves higher education organisations, students, organisations in contact with enterprises and socio-economic actors, and with European associations in the field of vocational training and supporting quadruple helix approach.
We focus our efforts in these areas:
Multi-Actors Cooperation approach
We work with and through partners and communities on common issues to tackle them with practical and integrated approaches. The members come from different traditions and cultures and this raises obstacles before mechanical transposition of an exercise from one context to another. Even the best practices in a country or region cannot be taken as a blueprint to be applied in development projects of another country or region.
This objective of cross fertilisation of on-the-job training practices will be focused on higher vocational trainings in the subjects of financial institutions, entrepreneurship, public financing, non-profit organisations and human resources. These kind of converging practices prepare the field for another measurable longer objective: realisation of on-the-job training periods of learners in a partner country other than his/her.
This objective of cross fertilisation of on-the-job training practices will be focused on higher vocational trainings in the subjects of financial institutions, entrepreneurship, public financing, non-profit organisations and human resources. These kind of converging practices prepare the field for another measurable longer objective: realisation of on-the-job training periods of learners in a partner country other than his/her.
Recognition of student placement
There is significant mismatch between workers' knowledge and skill levels and actual job requirement in the labour market. The lion share of the shortages falls in the field of professional skills and competences and the remedy can come from innovative vocational trainings.
All the partners started exercises aimed at the most direct cooperation with the job market stake holders: student placements in real job conditions and considering this placements as integral part of their vocational learning paths.
Separately the partners all have tried to evaluate and validate these internships, but not even all the good practices are known by the others. This gave the idea to organise a series of thematic workshops in the partner countries around different aspects of the on-the-job trainings. This exchange of experience will lead to a cross fertilisation of practices and, later on, will end up with learner placements for internships in partner countries, non- existing up to date. This will be facilitated by the direct participation of trainees in the project's workshops and site visits.
The mutual trust generated by the comparison of accreditation techniques and the direct participation of trainees will facilitate their mobility allowing to carry out the on-the-job training sections in another partner country and to make it validate in the original is a real added value of the project.
All the partners started exercises aimed at the most direct cooperation with the job market stake holders: student placements in real job conditions and considering this placements as integral part of their vocational learning paths.
Separately the partners all have tried to evaluate and validate these internships, but not even all the good practices are known by the others. This gave the idea to organise a series of thematic workshops in the partner countries around different aspects of the on-the-job trainings. This exchange of experience will lead to a cross fertilisation of practices and, later on, will end up with learner placements for internships in partner countries, non- existing up to date. This will be facilitated by the direct participation of trainees in the project's workshops and site visits.
The mutual trust generated by the comparison of accreditation techniques and the direct participation of trainees will facilitate their mobility allowing to carry out the on-the-job training sections in another partner country and to make it validate in the original is a real added value of the project.
Echange of practices
Solutions implemented at one institution can function as generative idea for the others. Translating generative ideas into functional practice requires local re-design and creativity from the adapter. An objective of the project is to stir such kind of practice adaptation among the participating institutions. The main short term objective of this series of workshops is to mutually discover the experience of the VET provider partner institutions in trainee placements at business sector partners as mandatory part of their learning pathways.
ECVET & ECTS
The mentioned evaluation and validation of the placements are being done by different methods, different accreditation procedures. In the higher professional qualifications aimed at in the proposal institutions apply either higher education tools (ECTS) or vocational education procedures (ECVET).
All the partners use one of these approaches and this will give the possibility to compare the procedures and try to close the gap between them.
The use of ECVET and its consolidation with the better known ECTS procedure, even if it is in the restricted case of learner internships, are priorities of the Leonardo programme and badly needed for a coherent education – vocational training policy.
All the partners use one of these approaches and this will give the possibility to compare the procedures and try to close the gap between them.
The use of ECVET and its consolidation with the better known ECTS procedure, even if it is in the restricted case of learner internships, are priorities of the Leonardo programme and badly needed for a coherent education – vocational training policy.
Paving the future
On-the-job learning periods are integrated parts of the learning pathways. Depending on the institution ECTS or ECVET credit points are accorded to these training sections. Disparate patterns in the accreditation principles create obstacles to transnational cooperation. Bilateral agreements on future trainee exchanges for internship will be launched between the relevant partners during the project implementation. This will result in an important asset of the project and for its future deployment.
Accreditation practices of the participating institutions will be presented and discussed during the project's lifetime. This will facilitate the solution of the various problems posed by the transfer and validation of learning outcomes and create mutual trust for the cooperation.
Partners
The Student-on-the-Job project includes a wide range of types of partners and cultures through 13 partners in 5 countries (B, F, GR, HU and P)
- The Partnership has been selected to be representative and to be Multi-Actor as we have:
- Training centres and Vocational Education and Training organisations,
- International NGO,
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
- Entrepreneurs and Employers national association,
- Accompanying service providers,
- The Students-on-the-Job project regroups 7 partners in 5 countries (B, EE, FIN , HU and RO).
- The main coordinator of the project was: BBS - Budapest Business School
- The partners are, by country order:
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MAC-Team aisbl
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www.mac-team.eu
The role of MAC-Team in the project: - coordination and administration at partner level - participation in the organisation of the first event of the project - workshop and meeting - participation in the 5 thematic workshops, presenting case studies/best practices - contribution to the synthesis after the presentations of each workshop in cooperation with the host partner - contribution to the preparation of the synthesis study on internships and their accreditation possibilities - participation in the evaluation and quality assurance activities of the project (lead partner: Hungary) - participation in the dissemination tasks - website, press, etc. (lead partner: Romania). |
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BBS
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The Budapest Business School, one of the determinants of Hungarian business education, has been created as a result of the merger of three colleges of economy of Budapest and the integration of their professional potential. The mission of the school is to train students for business careers in which practical skills- based on theoretical knowledge- are needed.
The role of BBS in the project: - complex coordination and management of the project - coordination and administration in partner level - organisation of the final event of the project - workshop and meeting in Budapest - participation in the 5 thematic workshops, presenting case studies/best practices - making synthesis after the presentations of each workshop in cooperation of the host partner - coordination of the preparation of the synthesis study on internships and their accreditation possibilities (lead partner) - organising site visit to enterprise receiving trainees for internship - preparation of trainees' placements in enterprises of the partner countries - lead of the quality assurance activities of the project - participation in the dissemination tasks - website, press, etc. (lead partner: Romania). |
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BKIK
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The Budapest Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been established in 1850 and is a public corporation of entrepreneurs of the capital city. BKIK represents craftsmen, traders, artisans and other service providers and their general interests via delegates, corporates and leaders elected by them, from the membership.
Effect of BKIK goes beyond its members; it represents larger power as the totality of the members and its results are fruitful for all the entrepreneurs and the whole economy. Its objectives are based on meanings and expectations of the members representing entrepreneurs of the capital city. BKIK provides services willingly to its membership. BKIK plays an important role in helping undertakings of the central economic region in market access and in upgrading environment of undertakings to EU-level. BKIK organises trainings and presentations for its members. We delegate committee members to professional exams. BKIK accreditates vocational training places as well. |
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NPO
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The main objective of NPO Lean Enterprise Estonia is to provide training and consultancy in the field of operation management and lean thinking. Its goal is to raise competitiveness, profitability and productivity of Estonian industry through introduction of Lean Thinking and development of production management systems.
Lean Enterprise Estonia's team has a long practical experience in areas of Production Management and Lean Thinking. Lean Thinking has developed from Lean Manufacturing which in turn has roots in Toyota Production System. If one does not have experience in production management and does not know the practical aspects of it, then one cannot be a good Lean Thinking teacher. Why? Because such person is a pure theorist that has learned techniques of improvement, however does not know the subject of improvement. In addition to strong practical skills Lean Enterprise Estonia's team knows the theory well – of both Operation Management and Lean Thinking. Practise is good. However, experience shows that the management of production without a strong theoretical knowledge will not give desired results. The field of Operations Management gives strong structured understanding of how production and service companies are performing. Additionally continuous research in Lean Thinking area allows us to continuously improve our performance. NPO Lean Enterprise Estonia's team consists of professionals that have strong theoretical base and wide practical experience. They continuously develop their knowledge in Production Management and Lean Thinking fields, and they are certified Enterprise Estonia (EAS) consultants. |
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LUAS
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Lahti University of Applied Sciences (LUAS) is a multidisciplinary centre of expertise (higher education institution) with 5,000 students and 220 full-time teaching staff. LUAS is an active research & development & innovation (R&D&I) organisation promoting entrepreneurship and small business development.
During the year 2010 it had 52 ongoing R&D projects out of which 19 were partnerships. The total volume of R&D work in 2010 was 5.6 M€ out of which more than 60 % was through R&D projects. LUAS has carried out and administrated dozens of EU-funded projects (including Structural Funds, Erasmus, Leonardo, Equal, Interreg, Central Baltic, ENPI, and Tacis projects). LUAS is a forerunner in developing inspirational learning challenges, boosting entrepreneurial behaviour and intentions, and promoting pre- and business incubation activities. The strategic focus in Lahti area as well as in LUAS is in design, environment and innovations. LUAS manage the most successful project 'Entre Akatemia" with the key concept of mentoring: the transfer of silent knowledge and insight from more experienced entrepreneurs to students.
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BBU
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The Babes-Bolyai University [BBU] is a public higher education institute to promote and sustain the development of specific cultural components within the local, regional, national and international community. BBU includes 21 faculties, offers 248 study programmes and has more than 53,000 students (incl. more than 1,600 students in Lifelong Learning programmes and more than 8,500 students in distance learning programmes).
The Lifelong Learning Center [LLC] provides assistance, consultancy and flexible learning for partners who want to improve and up-date their skills, abilities and competences, in order to be competitive in the knowledge society. The Distance Learning programmes aims to develop and sustain education programs using resources specific to e-learning. |
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APM
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The Employers and Craftsmen Association [ECA] or [APM] in Romanian is an independent, not for profit, legal entity for the establishment and development of private firms and independent entrepreneurs. ECA is a representative employers' organization in the North-Western part of Romania, with more than 1,200 SMEs as members.
ECA offers vocational training courses, thus promoting an entrepreneurial culture in the SMEs sector. It's a member of the Regional Pact for Employment and Social Inclusion in Cluj County. ECA is a member in the project: "Center for Promotion of Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development" which has as main objective the development of entrepreneurial and managerial skills of young, women, and certain categories of well-trained professional but temporarily unemployed. |
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