English
This Project is not specific to Greece. For more details, please visit OpenAIRE Explore.
Link with research outputs.
Please log in first and try again.
Increasing the digital competencies of HR management trainers through Minecraft Escape Rooms
FunderEuropean Commission
Funder Contribution €60,000.00
Funded underERASMUS+ | Partnerships for cooperation and exchanges of practices | Small-scale partnerships in vocational education and training
Project code2022-2-DE02-KA210-VET-000092219
Open Access mandatePublications: NoResearch data: No
Identifiers
Description
<< Background >>We applied for this project to address the profound changes in HR practices brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the rise of hybrid and remote working models. Research highlighted several critical challenges faced by HR professionals, including disengagement among remote employees, inefficient on-boarding processes, and a lack of digital skills to manage virtual teams effectively. For instance, studies showed that companies with engaged employees were significantly more productive and profitable, yet a substantial portion of employees remained disengaged in remote environments. Furthermore, the rapid digitization of HR functions exposed gaps in digital literacy, with many HR managers unprepared for the technical and leadership demands of hybrid workplaces. Despite the availability of digital HR training programs, there was a lack of solutions combining comprehensive training with innovative gamified learning. We sought to fill this void by leveraging immersive technologies, such as Minecraft Education Edition, to create engaging, impactful training tools tailored to the specific needs of HR managers and VET trainers.<< Objectives >>The project’s overall objective was to facilitate the digital transformation of HR management by equipping HR professionals and trainers with the necessary skills to thrive in hybrid and remote work settings. Specifically, the project aimed to:- Develop engaging and interactive training resources that address current digital HR challenges.- Design a hands-on and open MOOC that integrates modules on e-leadership, remote team management, on-boarding, and digital problem-solving skills.- Create a gamified learning environment in the form of escape rooms using the Minecraft Education Edition platform, to reinforce the acquired skills through practical, scenario-based challenges.- Establish a collaborative online community where HR professionals, trainers, and other stakeholders could access resources, share best practices, and foster cross-sector synergies.- Ultimately, the project sought to promote long-term skills retention, increase employee engagement in hybrid workplaces, and ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of businesses adapting to the digital age.<< Implementation >>The project was implemented through a series of interlinked activities designed to address the identified needs and achieve the stated objectives. Key activities included:1. Conducting extensive literature reviews and sector analyses to identify the digital competencies required by HR professionals and validate the findings through interviews and surveys with stakeholders.2. Creating a comprehensive, interactive online course aligned with the DigiComp and EntreComp frameworks.3. Designing gamified learning scenarios using the Minecraft Education Edition platform that simulated real-world HR challenges, such as on-boarding, team management, and problem-solving, to reinforce skills gained in the MOOC.4. Organizing pilot workshops to test and refine the training tools and delivering on-site training sessions to ensure applicability and effectiveness.5. Establishing the HIRER online community to foster collaboration among participants and organizing info days to disseminate project findings and encourage broader adoption of the tools developed.<< Results >>The project delivered a robust set of outputs, including a fully functional remote HR Management MOOC (https://learning-hirer.erasmusplus.website), gamified Minecraft escape rooms (https://hirer.erasmusplus.website/main-outcomes) tailored to HR challenges, and an online community (https://hirer.erasmusplus.website/community) engaging over 500 visitors. Additionally, the project produced comprehensive sector analyses, a validated training framework, and tools aligned with EU standards. These outputs significantly improved digital skills among HR professionals and established a model for addressing hybrid workplace challenges. All deliverables can be found in the project website (https://hirer.erasmusplus.website/) and in the shared Google Drive folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1glnFOWzaE7xhE1T9YotK9bihy-P0CLRH?usp=sharing.The project also produced the website itself as well as translated multilingual versions of the MOOC and Minecraft Games, which also were disseminated in relevantly translated materials such as newsletters and Info graphics.
Partners (3)
Start a new DMP in Loading
<< Background >>We applied for this project to address the profound changes in HR practices brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the rise of hybrid and remote working models. Research highlighted several critical challenges faced by HR professionals, including disengagement among remote employees, inefficient on-boarding processes, and a lack of digital skills to manage virtual teams effectively. For instance, studies showed that companies with engaged employees were significantly more productive and profitable, yet a substantial portion of employees remained disengaged in remote environments. Furthermore, the rapid digitization of HR functions exposed gaps in digital literacy, with many HR managers unprepared for the technical and leadership demands of hybrid workplaces. Despite the availability of digital HR training programs, there was a lack of solutions combining comprehensive training with innovative gamified learning. We sought to fill this void by leveraging immersive technologies, such as Minecraft Education Edition, to create engaging, impactful training tools tailored to the specific needs of HR managers and VET trainers.<< Objectives >>The project’s overall objective was to facilitate the digital transformation of HR management by equipping HR professionals and trainers with the necessary skills to thrive in hybrid and remote work settings. Specifically, the project aimed to:- Develop engaging and interactive training resources that address current digital HR challenges.- Design a hands-on and open MOOC that integrates modules on e-leadership, remote team management, on-boarding, and digital problem-solving skills.- Create a gamified learning environment in the form of escape rooms using the Minecraft Education Edition platform, to reinforce the acquired skills through practical, scenario-based challenges.- Establish a collaborative online community where HR professionals, trainers, and other stakeholders could access resources, share best practices, and foster cross-sector synergies.- Ultimately, the project sought to promote long-term skills retention, increase employee engagement in hybrid workplaces, and ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of businesses adapting to the digital age.<< Implementation >>The project was implemented through a series of interlinked activities designed to address the identified needs and achieve the stated objectives. Key activities included:1. Conducting extensive literature reviews and sector analyses to identify the digital competencies required by HR professionals and validate the findings through interviews and surveys with stakeholders.2. Creating a comprehensive, interactive online course aligned with the DigiComp and EntreComp frameworks.3. Designing gamified learning scenarios using the Minecraft Education Edition platform that simulated real-world HR challenges, such as on-boarding, team management, and problem-solving, to reinforce skills gained in the MOOC.4. Organizing pilot workshops to test and refine the training tools and delivering on-site training sessions to ensure applicability and effectiveness.5. Establishing the HIRER online community to foster collaboration among participants and organizing info days to disseminate project findings and encourage broader adoption of the tools developed.<< Results >>The project delivered a robust set of outputs, including a fully functional remote HR Management MOOC (https://learning-hirer.erasmusplus.website), gamified Minecraft escape rooms (https://hirer.erasmusplus.website/main-outcomes) tailored to HR challenges, and an online community (https://hirer.erasmusplus.website/community) engaging over 500 visitors. Additionally, the project produced comprehensive sector analyses, a validated training framework, and tools aligned with EU standards. These outputs significantly improved digital skills among HR professionals and established a model for addressing hybrid workplace challenges. All deliverables can be found in the project website (https://hirer.erasmusplus.website/) and in the shared Google Drive folder https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1glnFOWzaE7xhE1T9YotK9bihy-P0CLRH?usp=sharing.The project also produced the website itself as well as translated multilingual versions of the MOOC and Minecraft Games, which also were disseminated in relevantly translated materials such as newsletters and Info graphics.
