Duration
30 months
General approach/description of the project
EASYMetal aims at fostering mobility between training schemes and sub-schemes at the interface between preparation for vocational training and dual vocational training in the German vocational training system by creating transparency and recognition of partial qualifications.
EASYMetal will develop procedures to facilitate the transfer and recognition of units of learning outcomes between different training schemes and sub-schemes within the preparation system. By using units of learning outcomes as ‘vehicles’, learning achievements on both sides of the interface become comparable and can be related to one another.
The project suggests different models, describing procedures to implement ECVET at the interface between prevocational and vocational system. The models range from schemes with high standardized features to schemes with low standardized features.
The expected outcomes are
- Models of implementing ECVET at this interface – indicated by an increase in transparency and developed methods of recognition of learning achievements.
- and, referring to the German partners: A better understanding of ECVET and related chances for young people.
Target group
Students in the transition system between school and vocational education and training. Occupations in the field of metals technology, e.g. plant mechanic, industrial mechanic, tools mechanic, metal worker are covered.
Dissemination
The project will publish an information document for companies on ECVET; and an information document for chambers on pre-vocational education and ECVET.
The final national dissemination event will take place in June/July 2013.
Transfer And Accumulation
Credit transfer is aimed at in the form of recognition of knowledge, skills and competences acquired in the prevocational system in the vocational system – one unit or several units (Progressively accumulating learning, formalising achieved learning outcomes).
The assessment is envisaged as a means to enhance transparency and to create trust in learning results between training providers and the competent institutions. Knowledge, skills and competences are assessed by a written test (knowledge), a working plan (competences), a work sample (skills, competences and social behaviour), and an oral test (competences). On this basis, the EASYMetal project develops a recommendation to improve transparency at the interface between pre-vocational training and vocational training in Germany. This process happens in cooperation with Hessian the Chambers of Crafts and Hessian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which are the competent institutions for companies and training providers, and are also members of the advisory board of the project. The recommendation will consider the existing VET-regulations in Germany.
Units of learning outcomes
EASYMetal built on substantial work carried out in the context of the DECVET initiative. Four units of learning outcomes have been built, relating to seven qualifications of the metal sector trained in the ‘dual system’. The identified learning outcomes were derived from the respective training regulations applied at company level and from the curricula applied at vocational schools (dual system). The starting point was to look at the first year of training of these seven qualifications of metal industry and to identify similar learning outcomes. In a second step of defining the units, complete work tasks were designed. Each unit describes complete work tasks, representing a working process beginning with the subtask of ‘Information and Planning’ to ‘Execution of Work’, and ending with ‘Control and Evaluation’. Concrete learning outcomes were allocated to all of these sub-tasks in the working process, e.g. ‘Information and Planning: Gathers work sequences from technical drawings and puts them in a reasonable order for later completion.’
To describe these different learning outcomes of the working situation the team used the EQF descriptors ‘Knowledge’, ‘Skills’ and ‘Competences’ and identified active verbs to describe each learning outcome. Finally, for each learning outcome test criteria are allocated to (a), support the learning venues to organize the learning process, and (b), to make the results of the learning process more comprehensible and transparent for companies.
ECVET Points
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Consolidation of partnerships in formal agreements
There will be constant cooperation of the project with national representatives of competent institutions; however, there is no formal agreement on that.
With the help of the European partners, the project will also arrange different meetings between competent institutions of Germany and our European partners.
Partnership
Lead Partner:
Institute for Vocational Training, Labour Market and Social Policy (INBAS GmbH)
National Partners:
- Educational Institute of the Employers' Federation of Hesse e.V. (BWHW)
- Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB)
- Chamber of Crafts Rhine-Main (HWK)
The consortium consists of relevant institutions at the national level to make sure the developed solutions are in line with the framework of competent institutions and are practicable at national level.
International Partners:
- The Danish Centre for the Development of Vocational Education and Training, Part of the Metropolitan University College (Metropol), DK
- Eduser Consultancy Services Co. (EDUSER), TR
- Lechner, Reiter & Riesenfelder Social Research OEG (L&R Social Research), AT
The international partners from Austria, Denmark and Turkey will ensure enrichment of developed procedures by European best practice and consultation;compatibility of project solutions at European level; and sustainability of the developed cooperation between decision-makers at the European level.
Furthermore, European transnational companies will be involved to ensure practical viability.
Lead organisation contact details
INBAS GmbH
Dr. Petra Notz
Herrnstrasse 53,
Offenbach 63065, DE
Phone: +49 69 2722411
Website
http://www.easymetal.inbas.com/
Final Project Report
Consult the article on the project EASYMetal in the DIscussion paper published by the German Institute for Vocational Education and Training
ECVET and its opportunitiies for companies
EASY Metal - Reflections on the use of a MoU in the national context
Project presentation on assessment as held at Rome seminar 26 April 2012
EASY Metal Newsletter No. 3
EASY Metal Newsletter No. 2
EASY Metal Newsletter No. 1
Consult article on the projects' approach in the 7th issue of the ECVET magazine
Example of a Unit of Learning Outcomes for basic qualification in metal industry as designed by EASYMetal
Consult the EASYMetal presentation on their approach to the design of units of learning outcomes as made during the 8th pilot projects seminar in September 2011