INNOVATE - LEARN, SHARE, ACT

Online course on policy and practices for Upskilling Pathways


The online course “Innovate – Learn, Share, Act” aims at deepening the knowledge and fostering the discussion about a recently launched European strategy in adult education: the Upskilling Pathways initiative (UP). The course is part of UP-AEPRO project, which addresses the constant need and interest of adult education trainers and staff, as well as policymakers involved in education policies, to learn more about European developments in adult education and other countries’ systems and innovations.


Through this course you will

  • gain knowledge about the Upskilling Pathways initiative and other Lifelong Learning policies at the European level;
  • acquire new insights based on policy examples and practices from the European adult education sector;
  • improve your understanding on how to implement the Upskilling Pathways initiative at different levels.


Structure of the course and methodology:

The course started on the 6th of May 2019, and it will end the 5th of November 2019. The course is taking place on this online learning platform. You can attend the whole course or individual sessions. The community aspect is one of the strongest elements of the course, so participants are invited to use the platform’s forum to exchange ideas, inputs and proposals.

The course is composed of 4 modules:

  1. Policy overview and European advocacy (6th, 14th and 21st of May) --> RECORDING AVAILABLE
  2. Skills assessment (28th of May, 4th and 11th of June) --> RECORDING AVAILABLE
  3. Tailor-made offers (17th and 24th of September; 1st, 8th and 15th of October) --> RECORDING AVAILABLE
  4. Validation and recognition (22nd of October;  5th and 12th of November)

Each module is structured in 3/5 sessions, with a mix of webinars, forum discussions and self-study.


Participant profile

Adult education trainers and staff; policy-makers involved in adult education.


How to enrol

The study language is English and the training is free of charge.

You can enrol in each module separately. Once you click on the module, first you have to log in or create your account (if you have not done it before). Then you can enrol as a student. After enrolling you will be able to see the full programme of the sessions included in the module. The website will guide you in the process.

Please check in your spam folder for the confirmation email and do not hesitate to contact us should you have any issues with the registration process (eaea-office@eaea.org).


Recognition of participants’ learning outcomes

For each session of each module, participants will receive a learning badge (14 in total). A final certificate is foreseen for participants who will miss maximum one session per module (around 70% of attendance).

Policy overview and European advocacy
UP-AEPRO: INNOVATE - LEARN, SHARE, ACT
Policy overview and European advocacy
Objective of the module:

The module provided learners with an introduction to the Upskilling Pathways initiative from a European perspective, an analysis of the different stages envisaged by the Council Recommendation adopting UP and its impact on national, regional and local policies.


Sessions:

  1. Introductive webinar about the course and the topics of the module chaired by Gina Ebner (EAEA Secretary General), Antra Carlsen (NVL Coordinator) and Sari Pohjola (KVS Communication Officer) - 6th of May (Recording available)
  2. Video interview about the Upskilling Pathways initiative and its principles with Martina Ni-Cheallaigh and Alexia Samuel (DG EMPL, European Commission) - 14th of May (Recording available)
  3. Webinar on achievements and challenges of participation in job-related lifelong learning in the Nordic countries presented by Tarja Tikkanen (Professor in Education at the University of Stavanger and at the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences)- 21st of May (Recording available)


Skills Assessment
UP-AEPRO: INNOVATE - LEARN, SHARE, ACT
Skills Assessment
Objective of the module:

The Module provided learners with an overview of successful methodologies and practices for assessing skills;  helped learners to understand how those can be combined with the Upskilling Pathways initiative implementation at their local / organisational contexts; and explored which role each actor has in carrying out coherent and inclusive policies and practices on the topic.


Sessions:

  1. Video presentation on effective practice in initial assessment by Sue Southwoodon (Learning & Work Institute) - 28th of May (Recording available)

  2. Webinar on using the portfolio approach as an assessment tool chaired by Susana Oliveira (EAEA Vice-President) - 4th of June (Recording available)

  3.  Podcast on inclusive assessment methods for validation of prior learning collected in the framework of the InnoVal project presented by Pauline Boivin (Project and Policy officer at the Lifelong Learning Platform) - 11th of June (Recording available)

Tailor-Made Offer
UP-AEPRO: INNOVATE - LEARN, SHARE, ACT
Tailor-Made Offer

Objective of the module:

During this module we look at practice in tailored learning in Iceland, Portugal, Sweden, UK and more European countries. Through five sessions different aspects are explored: How can tailored-made offers better support low-skilled adults? How can learning offers be a part of local community development?

  1. Tailored and flexible learning offer: a European perspective: This session introduces best practices at European level on how to meet the learning needs of adult learners. - 17th of September, 11:00 CET - RECORDING AVAILABLE
  2. Promoting sustainable development - the role of local partnerships: Exploring the importance of local partnerships in promoting sustainable development and community development; how can education be relevant for community development - 24th of September, 10:00 CET - RECORDING AVAILABLE
  3. Learning from refugees - what do we need to offer?: Introducing a seminar method called “To-Do”, tested during recent years on the islands Bornholm, Gotland and Åland in the Baltic sea - Thursday 3rd of October, 11:00 CET - RECORDING AVAILABLE
  4. Validation of prior learning in Iceland – organisation, costs and benefits Presenting how Iceland works with validation of prior learning. - 8th of October, 11:00 CET - RECORDING AVAILABLE
  5. Implementing the Life Skills approach: Presenting examples of how to implement the Life Skills approach - 15th of October, 11:00 CET - RECORDING AVAILABLE
Validation and Recognition
UP-AEPRO: INNOVATE - LEARN, SHARE, ACT
Validation and Recognition
Objective of the module:
Learners are provided with an overview of validation and recognition methodologies and practices; with an explanation on how those can be combined with the Upskilling Pathways initiative implementation at their local / organisational contexts; and an analyses of which role each actor has in carrying out coherent and inclusive policies and practices on the topic.

  1. Impressions from the Validation of Prior Learning Biennale. Learners are invited to listen to podcasts from the Validation of Prior Learning Biennale, held earlier this year in Berlin. The podcasts are produced by the Nordic Network for Adult Learning (NVL). This session does not include a live webinar.
  2. Experiences in validation - Iceland & Sweden. The session will showcase a system around guidance in Iceland and how the study assocations in Sweden work with validation to reach challenging target groups. This session spans over two weeks, October 29th - November 8th, the live webinar to discuss the experiences will take place on the 5th of November.
  3. Validation in Portugal. Learners will have the chance to get on overview of validation in Portugal from Paula Guimarães, assistant professor at University of Lisbon, Institute of Education, expert on Validation; responsible for the update of the CEDEFOP Inventory. The webinar will take place on the 12th of November.