elearning_label_training_and_work
Articles
A Virtual Laboratory for the e-Learning Training of Teachers and Trainers<br> <font color= "#888888">
15 January 2003
The European Commission’s elearning Action Plan has identified the potential of elearning and set ambitious targets. However, as the plan itself acknowledges, and a series of reports confirm, there are major barriers to be overcome if this potential is to be realised. Foremost amongst these are the training of teachers and trainers in the pedagogy and application of elearning and the evaluation of the effectiveness of elearning and elearning materials. Evaluative reports have further pointed to the gap between policy and practice.
The initial focus for the iLAB (internet LABoratory) is based on a well-developed constructivist approach to knowledge development and sharing. This is focused on communication, discourse and dialogue leading to shared meanings and the generation of explicit knowledge from tacit knowledge and understandings. The project is also developed around the concept of communities of practice and builds on previous research and projects in activity theory and knowledge creation whilst the software tools build on the Semantic Web developments of the W3C and the MIT.
The project aims to develop dialogical methodologies and partnerships to promote practice-based policy and a collaborative-based query and mutual learning between different sectors and cultures in order to find common European pathways to the implementation of elearning. iLAB is intended as an exemplar and case study in the use of elearning and ICT for European collaboration. It builds on previous attempts to develop ICT based networks by introducing at its centre a dialogical methodology based on activity and participation rather than just Web based information provision.
The major result of the project will be:
· the development of a sustainable and scaleable European virtual laboratory and network of participants in European countries for teachers and trainers in the use of ICT in education and training. The laboratory will bring together experts, policy makers and practitioners from different sectors of education and training.
· the development of recommendations for national policy makers and guidelines for teacher training institutions in two key problem areas associated with the implementation of the elearning action plan – the training of teachers and trainers in pedagogies for the use of ICT, and the evaluation of elearning and elearning materials.
· an innovative methodology using advanced XML based ICT tools and will itself serve as an exemplar for collaborative ICT based learning in Europe.
The methodology of the project demands the active involvement of a broad target group including: trainers of teachers and trainers in elearning; managers and strategic developers in teacher training institutions; policy makers and planners at national, regional and European level; researchers in elearning; curriculum and materials developers; experts in evaluation. These will be drawn from school-based education, vocational education and training, adult and continuing education and university and higher-level education.
The target groups will benefit from both the process and outcomes of the project. The process of dialogical query will be part of the continuing professional development of the target groups (enhancing participation and sustainability of the iLAB). The process will also enable an exchange between those involved in policy making and implementation of elearning policies leading to mutual learning and a sharing of meanings. The outcomes will provide on the one hand policies to enhance the development of elearning and overcome barriers; on the other hand it will lead to the organic development of pilot and practice based projects for implementing elearning practice.
The project will ultimately be of benefit to learners in the form of more effective and efficient practice in elearning and the development of richer learning environments through new curricula and new evaluation tools for elearning.
The European added value lies in the development of an exemplary and innovative virtual laboratory for the implementation of the elearning action Plan. The project has an organic multiplier effect based on activity leading to the sustainable development of powerful new trans-national networks and practice. In order to achieve such ambitious goals the project has developed an extremely innovative methodology underpinned by previous research and pilot activities. The main innovations consist of the methodology and didactic and pedagogic approach to problem formulation and solving and the elearning technologies to be employed by the project. The project will utilise XML web based tools for a Semantic Web between the partners allowing annotation and querying and dialogue based on multi media. The tools themselves will provide a powerful elearning environment for the extended project partner network.
The project is designed as a collaborative European approach promoting activity based exchange and mutual learning, whilst respecting different cultures and sectoral differences and uses innovative elearning methodologies for developing elearning policy and practice.
The project will investigate the questions concerning the use of ICT in teacher training at European, National, Institutional and Practitioner level through the use of an interactive web site employing both CMC (discussion), XML (organisation and design), and multimedia (video case studies). The web site will be a large-scale online experiment wherein the contributions of the participants will form the basis for the development of the outcomes as well as being an outcome in itself, an investigation and evaluation of the effectiveness of trans-European collaboration.
Part of the core focus for this project is the tools being developed for computer mediated communication supported knowledge development. Given that the key aim of iLAB is to develop knowledge through sharing of ideas and meanings, we believe that there is the need to exchange a far wider range of materials. The web site will form the locus for a community of practice for teacher training professionals and institutions. The video case studies will provide an online resource both for professional debate and discussion as well as resources for teacher training development.
The central focus of the project is based around improving the quality of teaching, training and learning in Europe remains the professionalisation of teachers and trainers through collaboration.
For further information about the project or joining a focus group contact: Philip Crompton, Institute of Education, University of Stirling, United Kingdom. Tel: +44(1786)467615
This project does not as yet have a public web site.
pc4@stir.ac.uk
The initial focus for the iLAB (internet LABoratory) is based on a well-developed constructivist approach to knowledge development and sharing. This is focused on communication, discourse and dialogue leading to shared meanings and the generation of explicit knowledge from tacit knowledge and understandings. The project is also developed around the concept of communities of practice and builds on previous research and projects in activity theory and knowledge creation whilst the software tools build on the Semantic Web developments of the W3C and the MIT.
The project aims to develop dialogical methodologies and partnerships to promote practice-based policy and a collaborative-based query and mutual learning between different sectors and cultures in order to find common European pathways to the implementation of elearning. iLAB is intended as an exemplar and case study in the use of elearning and ICT for European collaboration. It builds on previous attempts to develop ICT based networks by introducing at its centre a dialogical methodology based on activity and participation rather than just Web based information provision.
The major result of the project will be:
· the development of a sustainable and scaleable European virtual laboratory and network of participants in European countries for teachers and trainers in the use of ICT in education and training. The laboratory will bring together experts, policy makers and practitioners from different sectors of education and training.
· the development of recommendations for national policy makers and guidelines for teacher training institutions in two key problem areas associated with the implementation of the elearning action plan – the training of teachers and trainers in pedagogies for the use of ICT, and the evaluation of elearning and elearning materials.
· an innovative methodology using advanced XML based ICT tools and will itself serve as an exemplar for collaborative ICT based learning in Europe.
The methodology of the project demands the active involvement of a broad target group including: trainers of teachers and trainers in elearning; managers and strategic developers in teacher training institutions; policy makers and planners at national, regional and European level; researchers in elearning; curriculum and materials developers; experts in evaluation. These will be drawn from school-based education, vocational education and training, adult and continuing education and university and higher-level education.
The target groups will benefit from both the process and outcomes of the project. The process of dialogical query will be part of the continuing professional development of the target groups (enhancing participation and sustainability of the iLAB). The process will also enable an exchange between those involved in policy making and implementation of elearning policies leading to mutual learning and a sharing of meanings. The outcomes will provide on the one hand policies to enhance the development of elearning and overcome barriers; on the other hand it will lead to the organic development of pilot and practice based projects for implementing elearning practice.
The project will ultimately be of benefit to learners in the form of more effective and efficient practice in elearning and the development of richer learning environments through new curricula and new evaluation tools for elearning.
The European added value lies in the development of an exemplary and innovative virtual laboratory for the implementation of the elearning action Plan. The project has an organic multiplier effect based on activity leading to the sustainable development of powerful new trans-national networks and practice. In order to achieve such ambitious goals the project has developed an extremely innovative methodology underpinned by previous research and pilot activities. The main innovations consist of the methodology and didactic and pedagogic approach to problem formulation and solving and the elearning technologies to be employed by the project. The project will utilise XML web based tools for a Semantic Web between the partners allowing annotation and querying and dialogue based on multi media. The tools themselves will provide a powerful elearning environment for the extended project partner network.
The project is designed as a collaborative European approach promoting activity based exchange and mutual learning, whilst respecting different cultures and sectoral differences and uses innovative elearning methodologies for developing elearning policy and practice.
The project will investigate the questions concerning the use of ICT in teacher training at European, National, Institutional and Practitioner level through the use of an interactive web site employing both CMC (discussion), XML (organisation and design), and multimedia (video case studies). The web site will be a large-scale online experiment wherein the contributions of the participants will form the basis for the development of the outcomes as well as being an outcome in itself, an investigation and evaluation of the effectiveness of trans-European collaboration.
Part of the core focus for this project is the tools being developed for computer mediated communication supported knowledge development. Given that the key aim of iLAB is to develop knowledge through sharing of ideas and meanings, we believe that there is the need to exchange a far wider range of materials. The web site will form the locus for a community of practice for teacher training professionals and institutions. The video case studies will provide an online resource both for professional debate and discussion as well as resources for teacher training development.
The central focus of the project is based around improving the quality of teaching, training and learning in Europe remains the professionalisation of teachers and trainers through collaboration.
For further information about the project or joining a focus group contact: Philip Crompton, Institute of Education, University of Stirling, United Kingdom. Tel: +44(1786)467615
This project does not as yet have a public web site.
pc4@stir.ac.uk
Projects
KIVA
27 November 2002
The project aims at analysing the training and development needs of the personnel in SMEs and their networks and creating a model to meet these needs.
The aim of the project is to solve the following problem: the training and development needs of the personnel in SMEs and their networks in the area have not been systematically analysed. The area does not offer any training or support and coucelling services which would meet the needs.
The project has a wide range of actors and it offers wide-scale and diverse development actions e.g. training, support and councelling services for SMEs in the Kainuu region. A great number of SMEs participate in the project.
The main goal of the project is to solve a model through which the following actions will be implemented:
- a systematic skills mapping survey and analysis of personnel competence and introduction to SMEs of a survey and analysis of their development needs
- development of network model to SMEs operating in the same field
- development of operational model for SMEs practising direct business cooperation e.g. by utilising new technology
- testing of a cooperation model among enterprises which have common interests but which do no practice business cooperation but operate in different fields; testing would involve e.g. mainstreaming of good practices
- development of a training model in order to improve knowledge of language and culture which are needed in networking of enterprises; the training model would be based on individual needs
- testing of a model of social responsibility where entrepreneurs promote their personnel's working life needs in order to improve the quality of work, the participation and commitment of personnel.
In order to find out the development needs of SMEs and their personnel, surveys of development needs and competence needs will be carried out. These will be analysed and on their basis the SMEs will be offered different training, support and councelling services
The project has a wide range of actors and it offers wide-scale and diverse development actions e.g. training, support and councelling services for SMEs in the Kainuu region. A great number of SMEs participate in the project.
The main goal of the project is to solve a model through which the following actions will be implemented:
- a systematic skills mapping survey and analysis of personnel competence and introduction to SMEs of a survey and analysis of their development needs
- development of network model to SMEs operating in the same field
- development of operational model for SMEs practising direct business cooperation e.g. by utilising new technology
- testing of a cooperation model among enterprises which have common interests but which do no practice business cooperation but operate in different fields; testing would involve e.g. mainstreaming of good practices
- development of a training model in order to improve knowledge of language and culture which are needed in networking of enterprises; the training model would be based on individual needs
- testing of a model of social responsibility where entrepreneurs promote their personnel's working life needs in order to improve the quality of work, the participation and commitment of personnel.
In order to find out the development needs of SMEs and their personnel, surveys of development needs and competence needs will be carried out. These will be analysed and on their basis the SMEs will be offered different training, support and councelling services
Projects
Tietotekniikka ja Verkosto tRakenteiden Uudistamisessa
27 November 2002
Its aim is to support enterprises in adapting to structural change and in introducing new technologies.
The project is needed because in the textile, clothing, footware and leather industry there are a great deal of ageing women whose basic training is low and whose information technology skills are deficient. If the project can promote the success of this industry, it will have significance also to national economy.
The target group of the project are the SMEs and their personnel in the textile, clothing, footware and leather industry and young people training for the professions in this field. The objective is to increase technological competence in the recruitment of labour, in product development, in direction and marketing of the production in order to secure employment in the field. A special aim is to increase the ageing personnel's ability and possibility to adopt new contents of work and to trasfer their skills to other generations. The means to provide support to the resources of enterprises and their personnel is active networking in adult training and in basic vocational training. The project will also organise meetings of the network where it will be possible to exchange expertise and experiences in order to strengthen information technology skills and in order to provide more diverse tasks.
The target group of the project are the SMEs and their personnel in the textile, clothing, footware and leather industry and young people training for the professions in this field. The objective is to increase technological competence in the recruitment of labour, in product development, in direction and marketing of the production in order to secure employment in the field. A special aim is to increase the ageing personnel's ability and possibility to adopt new contents of work and to trasfer their skills to other generations. The means to provide support to the resources of enterprises and their personnel is active networking in adult training and in basic vocational training. The project will also organise meetings of the network where it will be possible to exchange expertise and experiences in order to strengthen information technology skills and in order to provide more diverse tasks.
Projects
Tulevaisuus, tieto, teknologia ja terveys (future, knowledge, technology and health)
27 November 2002
It aims at supporting the development and maintenance of the professional competence as well as mental and physical well-being of the personnel through ICTs.
The central target group of the DP are SMEs and their personnel in the fields undergoing structural change in the Pirkanmaa district and in Western Finland; especially employees with obsolete skills and competence or those whose well-being at work or work ability has decreased (e.g. due to handicap).
The fields include metal, machine construction, automation, electronics, textile, footware and service fields. These fields form the backbone of the industrial life of Pirkanmaa.
The central aim of the DP is to improve the possibilities of SMEs to develop their own operations in a comprehensive way. In order to maintain their competitiveness SMEs need to adapt in a flexible way to the demands of the new economy and to the anticipation of the future. This requires that the enterprise sees it as a priority to utilise the net in business actions (e.g. drafting of offers in electric form), to improve the technology skills of personnel with obsolete skills and to improve the wellbeing of personnel. The project will create a model which can be utilised later in corresponding work. The DP combines factors related to the introduction of new technology, to new types of tasks and to the work environment. By adding to the above factors the anticipation of the future, a model will be developed. The model is called 4T and the name comes from the four Finnish words – tulevaisuus, tieto, teknologia ja terveys (future, knowledge, technology and health).
The 4T model means flexible cooperation where each national partner - in its field of expertise - will develop, test and make products out of the methods and tools related to the 4T model. In the model the enterprise and employees will be seen as a whole where competent, motivated and well-feeling personnel is the most important resource of the business operations. The DP aims also to create and use an evaluation model of national and transnational effectiveness. Through evaluation it will be possible to monitor the effectiveness of the 4T model in the development of enterprises and in the improvement of personnel's well-being.
The fields include metal, machine construction, automation, electronics, textile, footware and service fields. These fields form the backbone of the industrial life of Pirkanmaa.
The central aim of the DP is to improve the possibilities of SMEs to develop their own operations in a comprehensive way. In order to maintain their competitiveness SMEs need to adapt in a flexible way to the demands of the new economy and to the anticipation of the future. This requires that the enterprise sees it as a priority to utilise the net in business actions (e.g. drafting of offers in electric form), to improve the technology skills of personnel with obsolete skills and to improve the wellbeing of personnel. The project will create a model which can be utilised later in corresponding work. The DP combines factors related to the introduction of new technology, to new types of tasks and to the work environment. By adding to the above factors the anticipation of the future, a model will be developed. The model is called 4T and the name comes from the four Finnish words – tulevaisuus, tieto, teknologia ja terveys (future, knowledge, technology and health).
The 4T model means flexible cooperation where each national partner - in its field of expertise - will develop, test and make products out of the methods and tools related to the 4T model. In the model the enterprise and employees will be seen as a whole where competent, motivated and well-feeling personnel is the most important resource of the business operations. The DP aims also to create and use an evaluation model of national and transnational effectiveness. Through evaluation it will be possible to monitor the effectiveness of the 4T model in the development of enterprises and in the improvement of personnel's well-being.
Projects
Regional Counselling and Educational Center for Adults
27 November 2002
The project aims atolving the disproportion between the labour market offer and demand through new ways of training.
A region of North Bohemia had been developed till the nineties of the 20th century as a fuel and power supply base of the state. Nowadays, this part of the state is undergoing structural changes of all important life processes. Connected with the above mentioned, social problems such as unemployment which is the highest in the Czech Republic appear.
An inconvenient proportionality of the work force qualification structure in the area is the cause of the problem:
- The unemployed, or the potentially unemployed who are one-sidedly qualified to use declining technologies are not finding equal positions.
- Employers, or potential employers are not finding adequate work force.
Low, one-sided qualification of the employees released mostly from the mining and power supply industries and their concomitant structures put the people into an unequal position on the labour market. The unemployed with long working history and rich experience from a former relatively good post feel discriminated, refuse low paid and unstable jobs, accept social security benefits and wait for a better offer passively.
Solving the disproportion between the labour market offer and demand, the state finances the work and activities of Offices of Labour all over the country at quite great expenses. However, these are not always used optimally. It is caused, as a rule, by absence of some data necessary for decision making about extent and quality of the services provided to the unemployed to support their new assertion on the labour market.
The organisation presenting this project together with the Office of Labour in Most and other associated project partners came to a notion of how to reach an effective level of cooperation. They are planning to focus on a problem-solving task of the following relation: EDUCATION- QUALIFICATION – EMPLOYMENT, which appears to be the principal problem of the companies and work forces adaptability to the changing conditions of the labour market.
The project is relevant to a priority No. 2 of the Ústí Region Development Program: Development of the human resources, social care and labour market.
The project solves the task of a regional educational and counselling center creation. Such a formalized institution together with its associate partners will be able to contribute to employment increase and its improvement in the region.
The project mainly focuses on building up a system enabling to integrate all means and power necessary to find and bring to realization new approaches which will lead to improvement of the labour market qualification structure and work force flexibility.
Specific objectives and goals:
Organization:
To build up a development partnership, including international partners, which can successfully participate in the problem – solving process of structural insufficiency on the regional labour market.
To create a multi-functional institution that will deal with unemployment in the given region, and will provide its clients with connected services.
To reach added value of the planned activities through rationalization
Education:
To improve and increase employability of the clients who will participate in the programs provided by the centre. This should be reached by the clients´ targeted education and motivation to find a job so as their competitiveness and position on the labour market were strengthened.
To enrich and improve the lecturers´ and trainers´ knowledge, competence and skills.
Methods:
To form methodical procedures taking in account the clients´ individual needs. Most importantly it is necessary to consider people who are disadvantaged or discriminated on the labour market.
To establish and apply an evaluation system for continuous improvement of the provided services.
An inconvenient proportionality of the work force qualification structure in the area is the cause of the problem:
- The unemployed, or the potentially unemployed who are one-sidedly qualified to use declining technologies are not finding equal positions.
- Employers, or potential employers are not finding adequate work force.
Low, one-sided qualification of the employees released mostly from the mining and power supply industries and their concomitant structures put the people into an unequal position on the labour market. The unemployed with long working history and rich experience from a former relatively good post feel discriminated, refuse low paid and unstable jobs, accept social security benefits and wait for a better offer passively.
Solving the disproportion between the labour market offer and demand, the state finances the work and activities of Offices of Labour all over the country at quite great expenses. However, these are not always used optimally. It is caused, as a rule, by absence of some data necessary for decision making about extent and quality of the services provided to the unemployed to support their new assertion on the labour market.
The organisation presenting this project together with the Office of Labour in Most and other associated project partners came to a notion of how to reach an effective level of cooperation. They are planning to focus on a problem-solving task of the following relation: EDUCATION- QUALIFICATION – EMPLOYMENT, which appears to be the principal problem of the companies and work forces adaptability to the changing conditions of the labour market.
The project is relevant to a priority No. 2 of the Ústí Region Development Program: Development of the human resources, social care and labour market.
The project solves the task of a regional educational and counselling center creation. Such a formalized institution together with its associate partners will be able to contribute to employment increase and its improvement in the region.
The project mainly focuses on building up a system enabling to integrate all means and power necessary to find and bring to realization new approaches which will lead to improvement of the labour market qualification structure and work force flexibility.
Specific objectives and goals:
Organization:
To build up a development partnership, including international partners, which can successfully participate in the problem – solving process of structural insufficiency on the regional labour market.
To create a multi-functional institution that will deal with unemployment in the given region, and will provide its clients with connected services.
To reach added value of the planned activities through rationalization
Education:
To improve and increase employability of the clients who will participate in the programs provided by the centre. This should be reached by the clients´ targeted education and motivation to find a job so as their competitiveness and position on the labour market were strengthened.
To enrich and improve the lecturers´ and trainers´ knowledge, competence and skills.
Methods:
To form methodical procedures taking in account the clients´ individual needs. Most importantly it is necessary to consider people who are disadvantaged or discriminated on the labour market.
To establish and apply an evaluation system for continuous improvement of the provided services.
Projects
Integration Programme for Unemployed
27 November 2002
It aims at strengthening cooperation between metallurgical companies, labour offices, potential new employers, training institutions, etc. to create networks of experts commited to solving problems.
The main objective of the project is to minimize negative impacts of the Czech steel industry restructuring in the Moravian-Silesian NUTS 2 region. In this region more than 90% of the Czech steel industry capacities is concentrated. The social impacts of the restructuring process should be minimized by coordinated efforts and services of the Employment agencies, Labour offices and cooperating partners aimed at individual services for employees of the steel companies who are endangered by redundancy and to disseminate the innovative project results to other groups of unemployed and other sectors and regions in the restructuring and transformation process.
The specific objectives of the EQUAL project will be to help in:
- development of partnership cooperation of relevant institutions with the employment agencies and to developm new instruments supporting integration of redundant employees and unemployed on the labour market;
- activation of redundant employees and unemployed to improve their skills and search for new job on the labour market with the assistance of complex and user-friendly services;
- development of a complex information and communication system supporting all activities within the project including information on the project development and results, information on labour market analyses and forecasts and information on relevant services for project partners and public;
- realization of labour market surveys and individual contacts with potential employers and development of new programmes and services focused on improvement of chances to find new job for as much of redundant employees as possible;
- creation and development of a broad and efective network of external suppliers of services for redundant employees - clients of employment agencies - including retraining, consulting and recruitment agencies in order to improve their ability to integrate on the labour market;
- development and dissemination of the methodology of the employment agencies and professional capacity of their and external advisors and lecturers including effective transfer of know-how relevant to solution of social impacts of the industrial sectors restructuring and transformation of the regions from the European Union countries;
- development of institutional capacity able to assist in identification and implementation of projects in the field of human resources development and to negotiate with potential donors in fund-raising including structural funds of the European Union.
The specific objectives of the EQUAL project will be to help in:
- development of partnership cooperation of relevant institutions with the employment agencies and to developm new instruments supporting integration of redundant employees and unemployed on the labour market;
- activation of redundant employees and unemployed to improve their skills and search for new job on the labour market with the assistance of complex and user-friendly services;
- development of a complex information and communication system supporting all activities within the project including information on the project development and results, information on labour market analyses and forecasts and information on relevant services for project partners and public;
- realization of labour market surveys and individual contacts with potential employers and development of new programmes and services focused on improvement of chances to find new job for as much of redundant employees as possible;
- creation and development of a broad and efective network of external suppliers of services for redundant employees - clients of employment agencies - including retraining, consulting and recruitment agencies in order to improve their ability to integrate on the labour market;
- development and dissemination of the methodology of the employment agencies and professional capacity of their and external advisors and lecturers including effective transfer of know-how relevant to solution of social impacts of the industrial sectors restructuring and transformation of the regions from the European Union countries;
- development of institutional capacity able to assist in identification and implementation of projects in the field of human resources development and to negotiate with potential donors in fund-raising including structural funds of the European Union.
Projects
Acuipesca: the Spanish Fishermans and the ICTs
27 November 2002
The project aims at knowing the impact that the loss of fishing-grounds may have on the employments in the sector and the contribution that may cause the introduction of the ICTs.
The Acuipescaproject is structured round the carrying-out of a Strategic Plan for the fishing and aquaculture sector that is divided into two main levels of operation:
· actions that improve the adaptability of the companies;
· actions that improve the adaptability of the workers.
As we have already pointed out, the heterogeneity of the problems that we find in the fishing and aquaculture sector is the result from the territory specifications, from the kind of subsector and from the groups of workers who use the different productive units. This fact, joined by the eligibility requirements that regulate the Equal call, have motivated the project, and specifically Action 2 to be formed by 7 stages:
· determination of the key factors;
· actions in favour of the structures and systems;
· acquisition of equipment and elimination of architectural and communication barriers in favour of the people;
· adaptability actions in favour of the people;
· acquisition of equipment and elimination of architectural and communication barriers in favour of the companies;
· adaptability actions in favour of the companies;
· dissemination of good practices.
The first of the stages (stage 1) must lay the foundations of the good practices to be transferred between territories and groups which have been the target of investigation and development of active policies in their benefit, and it must allow the identification of new actions to carry out in the framework of the present Equal proposal as well as in the design of the recommendations on policies and actions that the governments and entities with responsibility in the sector will carry out in the future.
Stages number 2, 3 and 5 will be the facilitating stages, following the eligibility criteria, the material and human resources needed in order to develop the project properly. In this case, we must stand out the staff training and specialised agents and the acquisition of the equipment and support to the investment for the development of the information society.
Finally, stages 4 and 6 will be developed once the activities and tasks to be carried out have been identified and endowed with content and once the needed facilitating elements have been disposed. These two stages form the main focus of intervention of the present Equal regarding the "adaptability actions in favour of the workers and companies".
In this framework the transnational intervention will also be developed together with three fishing and aquaculture DP's from Denmark, France and Italy. The DP's from Denmark and France have already formalised a transnational co-operation agreement with the DP Acuipesca and this agreement will be formalised with Italy in brief.
· actions that improve the adaptability of the companies;
· actions that improve the adaptability of the workers.
As we have already pointed out, the heterogeneity of the problems that we find in the fishing and aquaculture sector is the result from the territory specifications, from the kind of subsector and from the groups of workers who use the different productive units. This fact, joined by the eligibility requirements that regulate the Equal call, have motivated the project, and specifically Action 2 to be formed by 7 stages:
· determination of the key factors;
· actions in favour of the structures and systems;
· acquisition of equipment and elimination of architectural and communication barriers in favour of the people;
· adaptability actions in favour of the people;
· acquisition of equipment and elimination of architectural and communication barriers in favour of the companies;
· adaptability actions in favour of the companies;
· dissemination of good practices.
The first of the stages (stage 1) must lay the foundations of the good practices to be transferred between territories and groups which have been the target of investigation and development of active policies in their benefit, and it must allow the identification of new actions to carry out in the framework of the present Equal proposal as well as in the design of the recommendations on policies and actions that the governments and entities with responsibility in the sector will carry out in the future.
Stages number 2, 3 and 5 will be the facilitating stages, following the eligibility criteria, the material and human resources needed in order to develop the project properly. In this case, we must stand out the staff training and specialised agents and the acquisition of the equipment and support to the investment for the development of the information society.
Finally, stages 4 and 6 will be developed once the activities and tasks to be carried out have been identified and endowed with content and once the needed facilitating elements have been disposed. These two stages form the main focus of intervention of the present Equal regarding the "adaptability actions in favour of the workers and companies".
In this framework the transnational intervention will also be developed together with three fishing and aquaculture DP's from Denmark, France and Italy. The DP's from Denmark and France have already formalised a transnational co-operation agreement with the DP Acuipesca and this agreement will be formalised with Italy in brief.
Projects
La Selva coopera
27 November 2002
To improve adaptability in SME's and in workers of the region of La Selva through the use of the ICTs.
The cooperation strategy is nowadays essential to front the globalization of economy, specially for the SME's, whose possibilities to survive depend on the ability to cooperate not to compete with others in the same sector or in complementary sectors. The same is for the territory, whose competitiveness will depend on the ability of economic and social agents to cooperate. Aware of these problems we propose with this project to promote cooperation among the different agents of the region in order to find at the local and regional level as well as in the european level the right relationships to cooperate efficiently looking for new opportunities for the region and specially for their inhabitants.
The chief activities will be: cooperation to improve innovation, using of Ntics, new ways of management and work organization among SME's and their workers and to strenghen business associations and to develop NYE, access to training and the sustainable development of the region.
One of the most important characteristics of the region of La Selva is the existence of SME's that during the last years have become the economic foundation of the region. They represent more of 80% of the total and more of 70% of workers.
The business world of the region presents a bundle of structural problems. Among them are: the small size of businesses, lack of international activities, a low technological level and lack of financing. In La Selva exists a low development of business'cooperation in comparison with other regions and specially referred to SME's.
In front of this we have a labour market with a low level of activity, a high level of women unemployed, that is the double of the men'one; an excessive level of seasonal and rotation employment due to tourism sector and low level of education of the total labour force.
All these factors show us a region with a business and productive structure quite breakable that depends on SME's with rare capacity for adapting to changes because of their low level of incoporating the new technologiesto their processes, a limited acces to training and human resources with low qualifications.
This kind of labour market requires a serie of actions in which all the economic and social agents compromised themselves in order to look for solutions to the problems that affect and will continue affecting an important population sector and the competitiveness of the region.
The chief activities will be: cooperation to improve innovation, using of Ntics, new ways of management and work organization among SME's and their workers and to strenghen business associations and to develop NYE, access to training and the sustainable development of the region.
One of the most important characteristics of the region of La Selva is the existence of SME's that during the last years have become the economic foundation of the region. They represent more of 80% of the total and more of 70% of workers.
The business world of the region presents a bundle of structural problems. Among them are: the small size of businesses, lack of international activities, a low technological level and lack of financing. In La Selva exists a low development of business'cooperation in comparison with other regions and specially referred to SME's.
In front of this we have a labour market with a low level of activity, a high level of women unemployed, that is the double of the men'one; an excessive level of seasonal and rotation employment due to tourism sector and low level of education of the total labour force.
All these factors show us a region with a business and productive structure quite breakable that depends on SME's with rare capacity for adapting to changes because of their low level of incoporating the new technologiesto their processes, a limited acces to training and human resources with low qualifications.
This kind of labour market requires a serie of actions in which all the economic and social agents compromised themselves in order to look for solutions to the problems that affect and will continue affecting an important population sector and the competitiveness of the region.
Projects
Afstandleren in de Callcenter-sector
27 November 2002
The project aims at realizing vocational training in the Callcenter business by distance learning sistems giving specail atention to the multicultural aspect and the gender gap.
The Callcenter business (Customer Service Centers) is expanding and getting an international character. The use of modern communication technology, as e-mail and internet, together with the existing telephone, demands a more standardized vocational education method and qualification structure.
Objectives of the DP are to realize in a number of EC-countries identical vocational training and examination. For this purpose an identical qualification structure has to be developed. Education and examination will be by a distance-learning system. Special attention will be paid to the mulicultural aspect and the gender gap, as vast numbers of female employees will be involved.
Objectives of the DP are to realize in a number of EC-countries identical vocational training and examination. For this purpose an identical qualification structure has to be developed. Education and examination will be by a distance-learning system. Special attention will be paid to the mulicultural aspect and the gender gap, as vast numbers of female employees will be involved.
Projects
Virtual Training Centre in Information Technology
27 November 2002
It will provide reliable and critical e-learning resources in IT to help European SMEs to benefit from the transfer of innovative technology know-how to improve and add value to their software and systems development capability, and thus to remain competitive in the European market.
The project address one of the critical obstacles that SMEs face by providing easy and affordable access to reliable and critical IT training in a virtual environment. It will establish pan-European telematic channels to develop, test and disseminate an integrated training service on common hardware and software platforms, and to make the resulting materials available to SMEs through easy-to-use virtual systems (via internet) with a high level of interaction and at low cost.
VINCITECwill provide for:
-an integrated training service in a truly virtual environment easily accessible and affordable to geographically dispersed SMEs;
-an added-value and interactive training service narrowing the gap between the bulk of ITC information available today and what SMEs require to know, learn and manage in relation to ITC, to remain at the forefront in a competitive market;
-a training service addressing the critical management and process driven issues (such as Software Process Improvement) that are of utmost importance to any SME that is working in a software and systems-intensive environment.
VINCITEC will achieve the following objectives:
-Draw up a four-years business plan to cover the roll-out of the product and to demonstrate the market viability of the proposed venture;
-Define a product prototype, based on the market analysis and market definition. It will demonstrate the key products and services that will be developed throughout the VINCITEC lifecycle;
-Implement the integrated version of the product in four languages (English, Spanish, Italian and German) and to test the interoperability and stability of VINCITEC with the end-users before the market validation phase;
-Demonstrate the viability of VINCITEC in a commercial, trans-European context;
-Create an improved first version of VINCITEC as a result of the demonstration;
-Establish market awareness and find appropriate consortium members for the deployment phase.
VINCITECwill provide for:
-an integrated training service in a truly virtual environment easily accessible and affordable to geographically dispersed SMEs;
-an added-value and interactive training service narrowing the gap between the bulk of ITC information available today and what SMEs require to know, learn and manage in relation to ITC, to remain at the forefront in a competitive market;
-a training service addressing the critical management and process driven issues (such as Software Process Improvement) that are of utmost importance to any SME that is working in a software and systems-intensive environment.
VINCITEC will achieve the following objectives:
-Draw up a four-years business plan to cover the roll-out of the product and to demonstrate the market viability of the proposed venture;
-Define a product prototype, based on the market analysis and market definition. It will demonstrate the key products and services that will be developed throughout the VINCITEC lifecycle;
-Implement the integrated version of the product in four languages (English, Spanish, Italian and German) and to test the interoperability and stability of VINCITEC with the end-users before the market validation phase;
-Demonstrate the viability of VINCITEC in a commercial, trans-European context;
-Create an improved first version of VINCITEC as a result of the demonstration;
-Establish market awareness and find appropriate consortium members for the deployment phase.