FST VET - Future skills Training

<< Background >>With the FST VET project we aimed to address the growing need for interdisciplinary Future Skills among apprentices in the face of rapid digitalisation and the changing needs of the modern labour market. These changes require not only technical or practical skills, but also critical soft skills such as problem solving, creativity or adaptability. While many VET trainers are experts in their field, they often lack the pedagogical background to teach these essential skills. The FST VET project aimed to address these gaps by developing the FST Online Tool with its innovative, accessible microlearning courses and the supporting activities the FST Curriculum and the FST Guide to equip VET trainers with the skills to become effective multipliers of Future Skills. By fostering collaboration between Austria and Ireland, we also aimed to share best practice and adapt training methods to the evolving needs of the labour market. Ultimately, the project addressed the need to contribute with its results to innovation in VET and to a modernised, future-oriented apprenticeship system to enable both trainers and apprentices to meet the challenges of the modern European labour market.<< Objectives >>The FST VET project aimed to equip VET trainers with the essential Future Skills to meet the evolving needs of the labour market and to act as multipliers. By implementing this project, we aimed to achieve that VET trainers are prepared to integrate in their trainings Future Skills such as communication skills or collaboration skills that were identified as key competences for success in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world of work. Through the development of a tailored curriculum, a practical guide for trainers and an on-demand online tool, the project aimed to provide trainers with innovative, flexible and accessible learning resources. These tools were designed to reflect the realities of apprenticeship training, ensuring practical application and sustainable skills development.In addition, the project aimed to foster an international exchange of expertise between Austria and Ireland, integrating different perspectives into the concrete project results. By equipping VET trainers with the knowledge and tools to teach Future Skills, the project aimed to improve the quality of apprenticeship programmes, promote sustainable career paths for apprentices and ensure alignment with future labour market needs. << Implementation >>The FST VET project implemented the following key activities to achieve its objective of equipping VET trainers with the tools to teach Future Skills:+ ACTIVITY 1 Project management: Project coordination, transnational project meetings, monthly online meetings and a quality management plan ensured high standards for all results.+ ACTIVITY 2 Dissemination: A dissemination plan was created which included regional presentations, try-out sessions and a social media presence to engage our target audiences and promote Future Skills.+ ACTIVITY 3 Curriculum: A curriculum was developed that outlines the project, target group and pedagogical approach based on LifeDesign as well as 10 identified key Future Skills and LifeDesign methods, tailored to the needs of apprenticeship trainers.+ ACTIVITY 4 Guide: A manual with theoretical and practical methods for teaching Future Skills, working with apprentices and using the online tool and curriculum was developed.+ ACTIVITY 5 Online Tool: An online tool was created that offers 17 flexible, on-demand microlearning courses contained in the three modules developed: Module 1: the pedagogical-didactic approach of LifeDesign, Module 2: Top 10 Future Skills and Module 3: the LifeDesign method box. << Results >>The FST VET project delivered impactful results in line with its objectives in German and in English:+ The FST Curriculum: The curriculum provides a comprehensive introduction to the project and concept, an extensive pedagogical framework, detailing the 10 key Future Skills and integrating LifeDesign methodologies to meet the evolving needs of apprenticeship training.+ The FST Guide: The trainer guide provides a practical and theoretical manual for trainers, outlining methods for teaching Future Skills, working effectively with apprentices and using the online tool and curriculum for apprenticeship training in the workplace.+ The FST Online Tool: The tool offers 17 microlearning modules in a blended learning format, providing flexible, accessible training on the pedagogical didactic approach of LifeDesign (Module 1), 10 top Future Skills (Module 2) and the LifeDesign method box (Module 3) for VET trainers.