🚀 INTERFACE partners unite for agile, interactive learning at the Infographic Design Conference in Ireland.

Key highlights: In-Service Training, Interactive Infographics, MOOC.
Next stop: Online meeting on 25th Aug 2022, followed by a face-to-face in Austria on 7-9th Feb 2023.

Stay tuned for a game-changing approach to vocational education!
🌍 #INTERFACEproject #WorkBasedLearning #EducationInnovation

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The increasing influence of robots and algorithms in our labour markets increases the need for uniquely ‚human‘ skills that computers are poor substitutes for. These include skills such as empathy and adapting to change in complex environments.

Low-skilled workers and apprentices are particularly hard hit by the digital impact. The jobs of low-skilled workers are at risk of being replaced by robots. Low-skilled workers often have to perform monotonous tasks that are cut for cost reasons. It is therefore important that they are characterised by skills that are difficult to replace by computers. This is all the more true as the coronavirus pandemic has led to some job cuts and a strong digitalisation of companies.

But which skills are particularly in demand and guarantee better chances of job security?

Such skills are, for example: problem-solving ability, teamwork, moral behaviour, communication skills, leadership skills, innovation, critical and creative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, intergenerational understanding of relationships and digital competence.

This is where the European Union-funded Erasmus+ project INTERFACE („Using agile, interactive learning environments to promote work-based learning in cVET“) comes in.

On the one hand, the project is concerned with improving teaching in continuing vocational education and training. On the other hand, it supports low-skilled workers and trainees in order to secure jobs on the labour markets. The main aim of the INTERFACE project is to support low-skilled workers and trainees who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic and digitalisation in order to create better opportunities on the labour market.

Further vocational training is intended to enable vocational trainers to recognise and promote transversal skills. The transversal competences are the 10 most sought-after competences by companies and are created as part of interactive infographics linked to WBL contexts.

The 24-month project (funding period 31.12.2021 to 30.12.2023) is coordinated by the University of Paderborn in Germany and represented by Prof. Dr Marc Beutner.

The other seven European partners are: Spectrum Research Centre – CLG (Ireland); Auxilium pro Regionibus Europae in Rebus Culturalibus (Austria); Latvijas Universitate (Latvia), Acumen Training Sp. z.o.o. (Poland); CARDET – Centre for advancement of research and development in educational technology LTD (Cyprus), EEO Group SA (Greece) and Mindshift Talent Advisory (Portugal).

What are the main objectives of the project?

1. To promote the acquisition of transversal competences using alternative
   pedagogical resources in work-based learning environments.
2. Support VET professionals from the education and labour sector in the development of their own develop their own digital and pedagogical skills in order to create interdisciplinary
   create challenging interdisciplinary learning resources.
3. Develop an accreditation model for the validation and recognition of transversal
   competences using micro credentials and digital badges.
4. Create a system for teaching transversal competences within a community of practice.
   community of practice.

Based on the main objectives, the following goals are to be achieved:

Training offer for pedagogical professionals – The training course will support VET teachers in utilising the potential of online learning.

1. However, traditional online learning has not always been able to meet learners‘ needs for accessible, flexible learners‘ needs for accessible, flexible and on-demand WBL learning resources and opportunities.
2. INTERFACE compendium of interactive infographics to develop transversal key competences – the partners will create 40 interactive infographics for each of the following transversal key competences (digital competence, Entrepreneurship, Critical and Creative Thinking, Leadership, Innovation, problem solving, teamwork, work ethic, communication and intergenerational relations).
3. INTERFACE MOOC – MOOCs to present the in-service training course to VET tutors, learners and company representatives to support the transnational exchange of good practice and provide peer support to ensure that a successful training programme can be achieved.
4. In addition, a Community of Practice with 96 VET tutors and 250+ VET professionals will be active through the INTERFACE MOOC. Furthermore 400 learners and employees will work with the INTERFACE interactive infographics in WBL environments to build transversal key competences.

What has already happened?

The project officially started on 31 December 2021, shortly after which the project consortium met for a kick-off meeting online via Zoom. This meeting took place on 9 March 2022 and was hosted by the project coordinator from Paderborn University (Germany). The purpose of this meeting was to give the partners the opportunity to introduce themselves to each other, discuss the project objectives and activities and plan the first tasks for all partners. All project objectives were discussed and debated in detail, including administrative and financial issues such as dissemination and utilisation aspects as well as evaluation and reporting procedures.

What are the next steps?

By the second project meeting at the Spectrum Research Centre (Ireland) in June 2022, all project partners will begin a market analysis. The European industry is diverse, with different sectors, sizes, risks and needs. It needs targeted solutions and not a one-size-fits-all approach. The next meeting should therefore be about specifying the objective and identifying a single professional group to be looked at more closely. Suggestions for the design of MOOCs and interactive infographics in the context of WBL will also be discussed.

Visit our website https://interface.eduproject.eu/ or contact the project partner in your home country directly.

📢 Big Announcement! 🚀 We are thrilled to share the inaugural newsletter of the INTERFACE Project! 📰 Get ready to explore the vision, mission, and goals of our groundbreaking project aimed at revolutionizing vocational education and training in Europe. Stay tuned for exciting updates and insights on our journey towards a brighter future! 💡

#INTERFACEProject #NewsletterLaunch #VocationalEducation #Training #EUProjects

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Using agile, interactive learning environments to promote work-based learning in cVET

INTERFACE will focus on supporting VET teachers and trainers together with in-company trainers and coaches, to identify the skills gaps amongst their students, trainees and employees, use our compendium on innovation CVET resources to build transversal skills and then use micro credentials to recognise these skills in the work-place.

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Can you tell us about the main goals of the Interface project?

Interface: Certainly! The Interface project, funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+, aims to enhance the acquisition of transversal competences in work-based learning (WBL) environments. We’re focusing on empowering vocational education and training (VET) professionals to develop digital and pedagogical skills, creating a framework for validation through micro-credentials, and fostering a community of practice for transversal skills.

Why is the project particularly important now?

Interface: In our evolving job landscape, human-centric skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and digital competence are crucial. The project addresses the challenges faced by low-skilled workers due to digitalization and the pandemic, aiming to provide better job opportunities.

How will the project achieve its objectives?

Interface: We’re offering training courses for VET professionals, creating a compendium of interactive infographics for key competences, and developing a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for wider dissemination. The Interface MOOC will engage VET tutors, learners, and professionals in a transnational exchange of practices.

Can you share any achievements since the project started in December 2021?

Interface: The consortium had a successful kick-off meeting in March 2022, setting the groundwork for collaboration. All partners discussed objectives, administrative aspects, and financial matters. Our next steps include market analysis and refining objectives during our second meeting in June 2022.

What’s next for Interface?

Interface: We’re diving into market analysis, tailoring solutions for diverse European industries. The second meeting in Ireland will focus on specific professional groups, design of MOOCs, and interactive infographics in the context of WBL. Stay tuned for updates on our website or contact our partners directly.

Visit our website: https://interface.eduproject.eu/ for more information or reach out to our partners in your country.

Thank you very much for your time!

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Partners from 8 countries unite for cVET innovation.
Highlights: Welcoming, Introductions, Project Goals. Exciting journey ahead!

Stay tuned! 🌐💼

#INTERFACEproject #cVET #InnovationEU

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