European Quality Assurance for in company learning mobility (for apprentices)

"Background / objectives The EQAMOB project aimed at designing, implementing and disseminating a coherent quality assurance framework and related tools for” in-company learning mobility “of apprentices. Building on their experience in learning mobility and on the results of the existing EuroApprenticeship “label”, EQAMOB project partners identified two main issues to support and facilitate the development of ""in company leaning mobility”: first, analyse the possibility and propose a common quality assurance process, second facilitate and encouraging companies to participate to high quality learning mobility schemes. Target groups:•Organisations involved in apprenticeships and work-based learning schemes, at all levels, in the six European partner countries;•Members of EuroApprenticeship and other networks Outcomes Members of the Euro Apprenticeship network benefit from quality assurance guidelines and tools, which they can use to improve the quality of their mobility projects. Entering into the “awarding process” as “awarding bodies” will give them access to an awarding toolbox and to communication and marketing tools. These tools facilitate the cooperation with companies, help them to mobilise and motivate companies to take an active part in the mobility organisation and quality assurance. Hosting and sending companies benefit from the label and communication tools directly addressed to them: they are acknowledged as providers of high quality “European apprenticeship”.Apprentices and other IVET trainees will indirectly benefit from the improvements in quality of the mobility pathways, increased attractiveness, and better recognition of learning mobility outcomes. Organisation of the project The project was organised around three content-oriented clusters: Cluster 1: Quality assurance in learning mobility for apprentices Leaders: IDAN, IFA• IO1 - Concept paper “Quality assurance framework for learning mobility in apprenticeships”• IO2 - Guidelines and tools for introducing and implementing quality assurance Cluster 2: Marketing and communication towards companiesLeaders: VOKA, AOCDTF• IO3 – Marketing strategy & tools & communication tools Cluster3: Awarding system & label Leader: UNISER• IO4 – Awarding toolkit (Compendium about labelling processes and label items) Regional Council Auvergne and GENCAT were in charge of the logo development and produced tutorial videos IO5. The project did undergo for all clusters 4 different phases (PREPARATION, IMPLEMENTATION (production), DIFFUSION (test) and FOLLOW-UP (sustainability) during 36 month. APCMA was in charge of the project and budget monitoring & evaluation and the coordination of two transversal clusters: Dissemination and sustainability. APCMA published all the outcomes of the project on the Euro Apprenticeship website and coordinate the label process after the end of the project. Dissemination & test Eight national and one European multiplier event were organised. Multiplier events served for dissemination but also for collecting feedback about the tools from potential users. In addition test awards were organised with companies. All partners also communicated about the project at various occasions during the project life time and afterwards. Impact & Sustainability The main impact was the beginning of the creation of a community of practice about quality assurance within the Euro Apprenticeship network and the extended certification of companies: the EAS label were delivered to more companies with a better local, regional or national visibility. As an indirect impact, measurable only in the future, we are confident that the awareness of mobility organisers and companies about the quality assurance will also lead to improvements of the “in-company learning mobility” pathways. This will lead to a better involvement of companies in the designing, implementation and evaluation of learning mobility, which should lead to a better matching process and foster competence development. Members of Euro Apprenticeship will be able to refer to a clear concept of “in-company learning mobility” as well as to a shared quality assurance framework and integrate the label into national quality and awarding processes: the best training companies are awarded, integrate the label into existing label processes used by companies, integrate in future ERASMUS + projects)."