Let's play VET!

Let’s play VET has given its contribution in rethinking the teaching paradigm through an innovative VET methodology that put young VET students at the centre of the learning process in a pro-active way. The innovative methodology has been inspired by the concept of “learning playlists”, meaning a training module constituted by a set of learning experiences that students have to complete to receive a positive evaluation. The learning experiences composing the VET playlists developed in the project were blended, they included innovative E-learning assignments, mobility abroad, study visits, seminars, participation in other local community event or initiatives, production of videos of pictures etc. During the three-year period, the partners identified a series of needs interesting VET systems and learners in the European socio-economic context. Although up to now efforts have been made by the Member States to improve VET offer and its attractiveness, the number of dropouts from education and training, including from initial VET (iVET) is still high. When the project was submitted in 2017, Education and Training monitor report showed that the early school leaving rate in Europe was at 11% against the target of 10% fixed by the Eu2020 strategy. In 2019, the dropout rates have slightly decreased reaching 10.2%, which is still above the target of the Eu2020 strategy: Spain and Italy, two of the countries where the project was carried out, are still lagging behind, respectively at 17.3% and 13.5%. The main focus of the project, thus, was impacting on reducing the rates of early leavers to 10% by 2020.In order to achieve this general objective the project set out 3 specific objectives:-To develop, test and mainstream an innovative VET methodology based on the concept of learning playlist -To increase the attractiveness of VET education in young people, families and the society-To improve the competences of VET providers in tackling early school leaving of young people with a difficult background.The project developed 3 intellectual outputs:IO1: An innovative VET module for the qualification of Graphic Designer based on the concept of learning Playlist; IO2: An E-Learning Platform for hosting VET playlist modules;IO3: Guidelines for the creation of VET Playlists addressed to VET providers. In order to achieve these outputs, all partners were responsible for the implementation of the project according to a management strategy outlined since the beginning of the project itself. 7 transnational meetings were held, each one about every 6 months, to assess the project development and to coordinate activities. Moreover, the project offered to 30 students of the VET providers the opportunity to have 24 days of individual work experience in another EU country, in line with the VET Curriculum tested (Graphic Designer). In 2020, in the last six months of the project, Let's Play VET! had to adapt its management procedures and outputs realization to the restriction imposed by Covid 19 outbreak. Therefore, from April 2020 onwards, all physical activities migrated online: transnational meetings, multiplier events, final events as well as mobility experiences. The expected results of the project linked to the specific objectives were achieved and exceeded:- several innovative VET playlist modules were created and tested (29 playlists and 148 activities)- increased attractiveness of VET for young people and families (students expect to have this methodology applied in their future courses)- increased competences and tools at disposal of VET trainers (teachers and educators have started using the platform in everyday teaching work)- raised awareness in policy-makers on these innovative learning tools which can be used in other fields of education and sectors, to foster the inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities and improve their transition to the labour market- improved integration of key competences and learning mobility in VET curricula Finally, the project has improved the competences of VET providers in tackling early school leaving of young people with difficult backgrounds in different ways: increasing competences in trainers to support young people with difficult backgrounds, increasing engagement in IVET of these young students, and raising awareness in decision-makers about learning playlist as a way to contrast dropout. About 2000 people have benefitted, both directly or indirectly, from the project.