Global programme: ERASMUS+
Specific programme: KA3 Support for Policy Reform - Forward looking cooperation projects
Call: 2017
Project number: 590202-EPP-1-2017-1-NL-EPPKA3-PI-FORWARD
Duration: 36 Months (1/1/2018 - 12/31/2020)
Project Manager: EADTU
UNINETTUNO Scientific Leader: Maria Amata Garito
UNINETTUNO Project Manager: Alessandro Caforio
Website: https://e-slp.eadtu.eu/
Summary
This project will address the implementation of short learning programmes as a main part of continuing education/continuous professional development and lifelong learning policies. It concerns all European Qualification Framework (EFQ) qualification levels (from foundation to postgraduate levels), since longer and changing careers increase the needs of learners and stakeholders. SLP qualifications will correspond with the EFQ. The project will have an input in discussions on the renewed EQF (New Skills Agenda). Online/blended SLPs are flexible and scalable to serve large numbers of learners, which is necessary to close the knowledge and skills gap in Europe (Modernisation Agenda).
The project contributes to the Modernisation Agenda as SLPs will increase the potential of European HE institutions to fulfil their role in society. SLPs will support continuous professional development and LLL. SLPs also keep innovative knowledge and skills of workforce up to date. As SLPs are more scalable and flexible they can rapidly respond to needs in the wider economy, for a wider group of students and can better anticipate on careers of tomorrow than degree programmes.
Description
This project is about forward looking, forward thinking and forward acting with regard to the integration of SLPs in higher education systems. It starts with identifying the concept and position of SLPs in higher education systems, analysing European, national and institutional policies and looking for a consensus on SLPs as a structure responding to the needs in the economy and society at large. In this concept, SLPs respond to mismatches and gaps in knowledge/skills and needs for personal development. Online/blended SLPs are flexible and scalable and enable universities to serve large numbers of learners. It connects with the Modernisation Agenda as SLPs will increase the potential of European higher education institutions to fulfil their role in society and contribute to Europe's prosperity.
It will raise the capacity of universities with patterns of good practices and guidelines with regard to pedagogies, technologies, organisational support and business models for these innovative courses and curricula. It will create an expert pool to enlarge this capacity by on site seminars for university leaders and teaching staff (CPD). It will develop guidelines for collaborative curricula and mobility in order to increase the scale and impact of SLPs internationally based, on pilot studies. As suggested in the Modernisation Agenda, online/blended SLPs as conceived in this project will use flexible, innovative learning approaches and delivery methods to improve quality while expanding student numbers, to widen participation to diverse groups of learners, and to combat drop-out. It will exploit the transformational benefits of ICTs and other new technologies to enrich teaching, improve learning experiences, support personalised learning, facilitate access through distance learning, and virtual mobility. It will also empower leadership and staff by on site seminars.
The project will deal with issues on the
recognition of SLPs and their compliance with the (renewed) EQF as well as with quality assurance and accreditation procedures, recognition practices vary between countries. The project will contribute to aligning recognition across countries. The partnership takes up the invitation of the EC to collaborate in reviewing EFQ for a better understanding of qualifications which is a condition for a better use on the labour market. Moreover, it will contribute to recognising SLP qualifications as building blocks in wider degree programmes (bachelors, masters).
Objectives
The project objectives are:
- Defining the concept and position of SLPs as part of HE-systems and of policies for CPD and LLL, responding to needs of the economy and personal development
- Developing institutional policies, strategies and frameworks for the development and delivery of flexible and scalable SLPs in Europe, keeping pace with the size and diversity of needs of employers and employees and as an opportunity for learners to fit study programmes to their time horizon
- Empowering university leadership and staff for curriculum and course design, QA and recognition for SLPs complying with the EQF
- Developing guidelines for collaborative SLPs and related mobility, enriching the content and quality of SLPs and raising their European outreach, scale and cost-effectiveness
- Designing next steps for change towards systemic and sustainable institutional, governmental and EU policies and strategies for continuous education, mainstreaming SLPs as a specific area of university provision, next to degree education and open education.
UNINETTUNO Role
UNINETTUNO will contribute to all teh Work Packages. In particular:
WP1 Management
Implement own financial management; Support management/reporting activities to the project leader; Participate in all project & online meetings; Comply with project management & contractual; Compile and report key performance indicators to coordinator
WP2 Concept and role of SLPs in European HE
Contribute to the investigation and analyses of needs at Macro level for SLPs of learners in employment with longer and changing careers, seeking to update knowledge and skills, not in need of a full degree. Contribute to compendium - guidance best practices;- integrating in portal
WP3 Institutional Policies for SLPs
Contributing to analysis of institutional policies, strategies, plans and current SLP offerings, including business models. Institutional profiles are drawn and compared. Developing change theories and optimization actions towards systemic and sustainable institutional strategies for continuous education and SLPs will be designed in a blueprint document.
Contribute to compendium - guidance best practices;- integrating in portal
WP4 Curriculum and Course design in SLPs
Offering expertise on curriculum development and on a benchmarking framework for innovative curricula and courses design for SLPs. Identifying and analysing patterns of good practices. Contribute to compendium - guidance best practices;- integrating in portal
WP5 Recognition issue with regard to SLPs
As partner contributing to the description of how the EQF is applied in the partner’s country in practice with regard to SLPs, including the possibility of integrating SLP-credits in larger qualifications.
Identification and alignment of quality assurance and accreditation practices for SLPs in the partner’s institutions and own country.
WP6 Pilots on the collaborative SLPs and related mobility
Implementation as pilot partner and testing the concept of flexible SLPs, principles of curriculum and course design and recognition, and specific formats of curriculum and course collaboration and related mobility. This will lead to models and guidelines for the collaborative development and delivery of SLPs. Contribute to compendium - guidance best practices;- integrating in portal
WP7 Empowering European universities with regard to SLPs
Sharing expertise and latest developments on the E-SLP portal.
WP8 E-SLP Portal
Contributing to the SLP portal development at all four stages
-Validated basic prototype of the SLP portal
-Three periodic improved releases of SLP portal by expertise on the subject and available short learning programmes.
WP9 Recommendations to national government and the EU on continuous education, CPD and SLPs
Generating national, regional and institutional awareness and impact on opportunities offered by SLPs in continuous professional education, CPD and LL-Learning.
WP10 Quality Assurance
Provide input to the definition of standards/indicators for quality assurance; Set up the quality assurance board together with WP leader; Provide input to quality assurance system; Cooperate with WP leader in compiling feedback & data for the performance indicators and feed them into the Project Management Cockpit; Support WP leader in monitoring open development process; Full compliance with all quality management procedures
WP11 Evaluation
Provide input to evaluation framework & impact assessment methodology; Collect data for the key performance indicators and provide the data to the work package leader; Full compliance with evaluation procedures
WP12 Dissemination and exploitation
Develop Focus Exploitation & Sustainability Strategy for development and uptake of SLPs; Support all dissemination activities through activation of own network; Support to promote the E-SLP; Invite participants to and participate to surveys and at the final conference. Provide input to sustainability and exploitation strategy; Bring in associate partner and stakeholders for mainstreaming & multiplying project outputs at local/regional/national level; Support all exploitation activities through activation of own network.