TEACH FOR FUTURE - Educational Transformation of Adults through Innovation, Technology and Entrepren
TEACH FOR FUTURE represents an adult education intervention to improve and expand the offer of high quality learning opportunities on innovative educational themes with potential for economic growth, the acquisition and recognition of new skills and attitudes, in accordance with labor market requirements by low-skilled adults so that they respond better to the demands of the current working environment, governed by technology, interdisciplinarity, green transition and transnational cooperation.
Cross-border/international
Romania
Bulgaria
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Romania
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Bulgaria
Member State(s), Western Balkans and other countries: Greece
Romania - Bucharest and ....
Bulgaria - Sofia, Vidin and .....
Grecia - Salonic,.... and.....
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
ERASMUS
Erasmus+, Call 2019, Round 1, KA2 - Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices, KA204 - Strategic Partnerships for adult education
No
Yes
As a representative of an organization, in partnership with other organisations
Name of the organisation(s): The National Association of Public Librarians and Libraries in Romania Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Ioana Cornelia Cristina Last name of representative: Crihana Gender: Female Nationality: Romania Function: Executive Director Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 30, Tudor Arghezi Street Town: Bucharest Postal code: 020947 Country: Romania Direct Tel:+40 758 220 291 E-mail:ioanacrihana@yahoo.com Website:https://anbpr.org.ro/
Name of the organisation(s): Global Libraries Bulgaria Foundation - GLBF Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Spaska Last name of representative: Tarandova Gender: Female Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Executive Director Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 1 Hristo Belchev Str. Town: Sofia Postal code: 1000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 2 465 1076 E-mail:starandova@glbulgaria.net Website:https://www.glbulgaria.bg
Name of the organisation(s): Initiative for Heritage Conservation - HERITAGE Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Evangelos Last name of representative: Kyriakidis Gender: Male Nationality: Greece Function: Director Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 3-5 Anaxagora str. Town: Athens Postal code: 105 52 Country: Greece Direct Tel:+30 21 6700 3325 ext. 301 E-mail:director@heritagemanagement.org Website:https://heritagemanagement.org/
URL:http://teachforfuture.ro Social media handle and associated hashtag(s): #teachforfuture, #strategicpartnership, #adulteducation
The project started from the critical need to train library staff on the use of ICT, Innovation Management & Networking and Entrepreneurship & Leadership and to attract adults to libraries through new activities. The partner organizations have proposed an adult education intervention in order to improve and expand the offer of high-quality learning opportunities regarding innovative educational themes, with potential for economic growth, the acquisition and recognition of new skills, attitudes, knowledge and behaviors in accordance with the requirements the labor market by adults with a low level of training. Grassroots research revealed an acute lack of modern ICT skills, lack of innovation knowledge and entrepreneurial spirit on the part of adults, which goes against the intentions of technological progress and development of modern services of organizations. The project proposed the creation of a transnational and multisectoral network through which 10 facilitators from Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, training multipliers with skills in the 3 areas of expertise, who transferred specialized know-how to heterogeneous communities of adults from the 3 countries, but and from the region. In addition, the adults enrolled in the local sessions in Romania and the respective local participants from Greece and Bulgaria selected to participate in the Mentoring Campus in the field of ICT in Romania had the opportunity to test their skills on the 4 topics (modeling and 3D printing, editing of images, digital marketing, online collaboration tools), and some of them obtained ECDL certificates. The infrastructure created within the project will continue within the 3 centers of excellence, spaces where culture and education intersect with innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, specific education activities for adults will continue to be supported on the 3 thematic areas of TEACH FOR FUTURE project, in a correct ballance between a green, inclusive approach and modern design.
digital transformation by new skills
belonging to a smart learning community
including vulnerable groups
collaborative learning ecosystems
ICT, Entrepreneurship & Leadership, Management of Innovation & Network Collaboration
The key objectives: the creation of a transnational and multisectoral network of 10 facilitators from Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, IT multipliers (according to the ICDL standard), Management of Innovation&Network Collaboration and Entrepreneurship&Leadership transfered know-how to heterogeneous communities of adult learners from the 3 countries but also from the region, so that innovative learning experiences can generate favorable changes in the level of integration of the three themes in education, with beneficial effects on adults and the professional development of adults. Over than 210 adults from Romania, Bulgaria and Greece (70 per country), library users and librarians benefitted from training with the involvement of experienced facilitators with the support of the 6 intellectual outputs created within the project. 90 adults participated in the transfer of best practices within 3 mentoring campuses, one for each country in each of the three thematic areas (ITC, Management of Innovation, Entrepreneurship&Leadership), consisting of conducting creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship sessions and organized in each partner country according to the proven expertise, by establishing links with experts and key leaders in the aimed areas. The TEACH FOR FUTURE project ensured the sustainability of librarian training in new library services, with a focus on the skills and competencies needed to train the public in e-inclusion and e-governance. In its effort to introduce new technologies to libraries and to explain the advantages of the Internet, ANBPR and its partners have engaged in a strategic partnership with public libraries to develop the skills of librarians, so that they can, in their turn, become mentors and facilitators at the community level. After the completion of the project, the adults, respectively the direct beneficiaries, will apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training mobility in order to materialize and improve their cariers.
The main project objective consisted in improving and extending the offer of high quality learning opportunities on innovative educational topics, with potential for economic growth, the acquisition and recognition of new skills, attitudes, knowledge and behaviors in accordance with the requirements of the labor market by adults with an low level of training, so that they better respond to the demands of the current working environment, governed by technology, interdisciplinarity and transnational cooperation.
Aesthetics and quality of experience - increasing the interest of other libraries/organizations involved in adult education activities to develop similar projects;
- increasing the interest of other libraries/organizations involved in adult education activities to exploit and use the innovative results obtained following the implementation of the project in current training activities;
- increasing concern and interest in offering quality services to adults anchored in current trends;
- changing the attitude of other libraries/organizations involved in adult education activities regarding the use of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship and the need to develop skills.
The TEACH FOR FUTURE project provided the didactic and methodological premises for the future development of new learning programs for adults derived from the 3 main themes of the project (ITC, Innovation Management & Network Collaboration, Entrepreneurship&Leadership), with the possibility of recognizing these skills both in the participating countries as well as in other EU countries.
Intellectual outputs responded to the EU's strategic approach to creating learning tools that include modern training principles and tools validated at European level.
The project cultivated the feeling of belonging to a smart learning community, where ideas are exchanged and individual knowledge is improved by co-creation, interaction and the cultivation of positive behaviors oriented to innovation.
The project contributed to the fulfillment of the inclusion priorities, both by selecting the target group, the theme addressed, the activities carried out and the results obtained. It promoted the principles of inclusion, diversity, equality, gender balance and non-discrimination in the field of adult education and facilitated the democratic access to training activities and mentoring campuses of more than 15% of the direct beneficiaries representing adults from disadvantaged groups (discriminated on ethnic criteria, from rural areas, who have limited opportunities, who have a precarious financial situation, etc.). Throughout the duration of the project, the members of the consortium of partners applied the principle of non-discrimination, equal treatment, gender balance, ensuring non-discriminatory accessibility for all beneficiaries to the activities and results of the project, avoiding any discrimination, exclusion, restriction or preference, regardless of: race, ethnicity, religion, social category, beliefs, gender, disability, etc. The target group targeted 210 adults with reduced skills and 10 employees/volunteers of the partners, recruited from the library network in Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. The project contributed to the development of the skills needed to use ICT (3D modeling and printing, image editing, digital marketing, online collaboration tools), Management of Innovation & Network Collaboration, Entrepreneurship&Leadership. The activities carried out and the results obtained have successfully contributed to the achievement of the general objective assumed, that of expanding and developing the didactic skills of the trainers in the 3 fields, educating adults with reduced abilities and recognizing learning outcomes, through ECDL certifications. Through the mobilities and the strategic partnership between the partner organizations in 3 countries, sustainable learning activities were carried out, contributing to the 2030 Agenda putting in place.
TEACH FOR FUTURE contributed to increasing access to education for adults, including those belonging to vulnerable groups, by connecting directly with local communities. ANBPR, as a member of the Sustainable Romania Coalition and the National Coalition for Digital Skills and Jobs, promotes the dialogue between the main educational rural and urban "actors", with a role in the civilization and progress of the target audience: librarians, facilitators, teachers, educators or any other promoters of the values of quality education, using as "interface" public libraries in Romania. ANBPR and its partners intensively advocate for the concept of lifelong learning by activating a modern public library system. Thus, the TEACH FOR FUTURE project took important steps to democratize the offer of educational services, based on the principle of adapting them to the current needs of different categories of users, with a special emphasis on services intended for adults. Through this initiative, ANBPR and its partners have enhanced the role of the library and cultural institutions in the 3 countries in radically reducing the number of digitally excluded adults by improving the digital skills of librarians; the involvement of libraries in e-inclusion activities at national and European level and by developing skills, abilities and attitudes appropriate to the current requirements among users of library services. By designing and validating intellectual outputs, adults improved their knowledge, skills and behaviours, acquired access to better employment opportunities, optimize their response to technological change and make progress in internalizing and applying new learning methodologies and practical examples in their work environment. Facilitators, innovation agents and adults trained in the project have become important key resources for the community that will influence other adults to use and integrate technology, innovation and entrepreneurial principles in current activities.
Local level: +10 employees or collaborators of partners or network libraries in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, interested in the training topics, with basic digital skills and good language skills (mother tongue and English), good pedagogical/teaching skills, etc. The participants were facilitators, employees / volunteers / collaborators of the partners or from the library network in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, certified trainers, with pedagogical skills in ICT (Romania), Entrepreneurship&Leadership (Bulgaria) and Management of Innovation&Network Collaboration (Grecia). The 10 facilitators came from: Romania (4 adults), Bulgaria (3 adults), Greece (3 adults). The facilitators created a transnational and multisectoral network and transfered specialized know-how to heterogeneous communities of adult learners from the 3 countries, but also from the region, so that innovative learning experiences generate favorable changes regarding the level of integration of new technologies into education, with beneficial effects on the personal and professional development of adults.
Regional & national level: Each partner country organized local training sessions on ICT, Entrepreneurship&Leadership and Management of Innovation&Network Collaboration for local adults (local trainers in Romania, Greece and Bulgaria trained 70 adults/each country), in total over than 210 people from the 3 countries (Romania, Bulgaria and Greece), +70 from each country, citizens with residence or legal residence in one of the 3 countries, adults, library service users and librarians, from which over than 15% vulnerable categories (roma people, persons living in rural areas, with special needs, unemployed, with precarious financial situation).
European level: The learning experience results was internationally shared through IFLA, EBLIDA, ALL DIGITAL, INELI BALKANS networks, to which ANBPR and/or its partners are affiliated, and also through their own professional networks with thousands of members.
The project introduced an innovative, creative and multidisciplinary approach to training adults in ICT, Innovation&Network Collaboration, Entrepreneurship&Leadership, through short-term mixed training sessions, local in each partner country, complemented by mentoring campuses/creative residencies to practice skills of modeling and 3D printing, exchange of best practices in the field of technology through multi-sensory exhibitions, internationally recognized tests and certifications, mentoring in the fields of Innovation Management&Network Collaboration and Entrepreneurship&Leadership. The project stimulated creativity, multiplied innovative educational models, meeting the needs of technological emancipation and collaborative and experiential learning of adult beneficiaries by integrating innovation into their own processes. By indirectly reaching about 5000 partners / members from library networks in the 3 countries and the EU who were informed about the results of the project and cca 10,000 adults who had access to the 3 Centers of Excellence in Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, the skills acquired during the sessions had a wide multiplication rate.
As a strong added value, the educational activities and the 6 outsatnding intellectual outputs available in 4 languages contributed to the increase of the institutional and project management capacity of all partner organizations, to the development and validation of the specific skills of the trainers and adults.
The 210 adults who benefited from the educational sessions in the 3 thematic areas and the 10 trainers of the ANBPR and its partners became resource persons and innovation agents at the level of library networks in Romania, Bulgaria, Greece. The trainers have the potential to become future training multipliers on ICT, Management of Innovation&Network Collaboration, Entrepreneurship&Leadership and to create, in each of the 3 participating countries, a supportive community in the field of inclusion.
Innovative character: a) the approach to the educational process for adults (methods and tools) b) the nature of the intellectual products created by the consortium c) thematic interactions with previous projects (it is complementary and brings added value to previous interventions in ICT, Entrepreneurship & leadership and Management of Innovation&Network Collaboration) carried out by partners in other project consortia (eg e-Skills for e-Inclusion). Appearing as a critical need to adapt to the new requirements of the labor market, the project proposed a series of new teaching methods and techniques, based on the alternation of learning means for adults. Through short-term training events dedicated to training multipliers in the 3 reference fields, but also through local training sessions, based on new techniques and interactive materials designed to contribute to the development of the creativity of the participants, the project managed to involve over 500 adults (of which over 15% are vulnerable) in this complex process of competence development in the field of ICT, Innovation Management & Network Collaboration and Entrepreneurship & Leadership. Another new element was represented by the Mentoring Campuses component. In these creative residencies assisted by mentors, adults were guided to create audio-video concepts, creative descriptions and 3D exhibits/mock-ups, fusions between various media on certain given themes. 1 competition was organized on 2 themes - Entrepreneur 3D and 3D for Life, in which adults involved in Mentoring Campus activities participated, who created models produced on different media. The organization of the Entrepreneurship & Leadership Mentorship Campus led to the creation of a virtual learning ecosystem where adults worked alongside mentors and representatives of the local business environment, in mixed groups, focused on professional counseling activities for the business area, the creation of entrepreneurial experiences.
The innovative intellectual outputs created within TEACH FOR FUTURE integrated the following characteristics: they were co-designed (involving different interested parties in the realization), replicable (allowing reproduction in other countries), scalable (allowing adaptation to an ever-increasing number of adults from different regions and countries), effective (providing a valuable set of attitudes, skills, knowledge and behaviours).These intellectual outputs have been published online on the websites of the partnership consortium members, so that as many adults, adult trainers and interested organizations as possible have access to this material. The working methodologies, the Guidelines and the curricula have been designed in such a way that they can be adopted by any organization involved in professional training and adult education in the ICT field, regardless of the country or region from which it originates. Through the accredited ECDL Center within ANBPR, the TEACH FOR FUTURE intellectual outputs were disseminated in the network of public libraries in Romania, Greece and Bulgaria, and through the network of ECDL certification centers in which ANBPR is a part, the intellectual outputs became accessible in over 800 of ECDL test centers at national level (Romania), including about 300 educational units from the whole country, but also about 24,000 ECDL/ICDL testing centers globally. Interested centers are now able to adopt and implement the intellectual outputs in order to develop IT skills in different geographical areas and on different segments of specific audiences. As an innovative interactive learning method, the Mentoring Campuses rolled out within the project, have proposed an interdisciplinary way of knowledge transfer, in order to deepen the theoretical and practical knowledge of business, cultivating of skills, personal capacities and modes of behavior in real situations of business, real values fo the current labour maket.
The methodology was focused on the objectives, on a continuous evaluation process and quality assurance and dissemination of the results: - STRATEGIC ANALYSIS & SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION - understanding the methods, approaches and tools used to promote the acquisition of skills on ICT, Management of Innovation&Network Collaboration and Entrepreneurship&Leadership. - CURRICULUM DESIGN - the design of adult education methods that include both the expertise of the consortium members and the expertise of other entities recognized in the field. - INTELLECTUAL RESULTS & SUPPORT MATERIALS - the intellectual products produced and learning support materials for trainers and trainees were based on the integration of the best practices and case studies in the field, in order to optimize the teaching/learning process and the training results. - PILOTING & TESTING OF INTELLECTUAL RESULTS - in 3 countries (Romania, Greece, Bulgaria) with the participation of over 500 adults. Methods used: interactive presentation, demonstration, group discussions, practical exercises. Methods used: interactive presentation, demonstration, group discussions, practical exercises.
ICT: The learning was carried out dedicatedly based on the validation of the concepts learned together with the facilitators. The participants individually solved the tasks received.
Innovation Management&Network Collaboration: The methodology aimed at familiarizing students with the notions, concepts, typology and structures specific to innovation management, allowing them to learn the collaborative work specific to innovation activities, skills through which they can initiate, develop, promote and integrate innovation projects and innovation in current activities.
Entrepreneurship&Leadership: Facilitators addressed the practical testing of the skills acquired by adults in the local sessions, thus guaranteeing the acquisition, verification and deepening of entrepreneurial knowledge, personal capabilities and behaviours.
The interdisciplinary approach and the creative exploration of new educational fields places the project in the area of innovative and transformative interventions, by generating a mental and didactic paradigm shift in teaching adults, centered on initiative, co-creation, collaboration and experiential learning, assisted by mentors highly qualified. Taking into account that the rapid evolution of technology, the economic models and structures of today's society need to apply substance transformations (new entrepreneurial principles and integrate digital technology and innovation into their own processes) to remain relevant in the market and to adapt to change. In order to meet these needs, the TEACH FOR FUTURE project proposed "equipping" adults with appropriate skills, in order to promote a sustainable and high-quality employment of the labor force. The project contributed to solving the global problem regarding the lack of digital skills, Entrepreneurship & Leadership and respectively Innovation Management & Network Collaboration by improving and expanding the offer of high quality learning opportunities regarding innovative educational themes with economic growth potential, the acquisition and recognition of new skills, attitudes, knowledge and behaviors according to the requirements of the labor market by adults with a low level of training, so that they better respond to the demands of the current work environment, governed by technology, interdisciplinarity and transnational cooperation. Both the target group and the training topics, as well as the activities, results and indicators of the project had in mind the expansion and development of the trainers' teaching skills in the 3 fields, the education of adults with reduced skills and the recognition of learning outcomes, by ECDL certifications at the ANBPR Testing Center. So, the project was a great generator of a positive change and benefits in terms of knowledge for adults, partners and community at large.
The TEACH FOR FUTURE project is completed (34 months of implementation).
Some quantitative results: -1 international network (consisting of 10 facilitators in the fields of ICT, innovation management & network collaboration, entrepreneurship & leadership) established -10 ECDL certified multipliers in the field of technology - 6 organized mobility flows (3 for trainers–10 trainers x 2 mobilities/partner, 3 for adults x 20 mobilities/partner) + online activities (due to the pandemic) - 400 tests and 400 simulations supported by multipliers and adults - 210 adults with reduced skills educated in the field of technology (3D modeling and printing, image editing, digital marketing, online collaboration tools), innovation management & network collaboration, entrepreneurship & leadership -Over 210 adults from the 3 countries (Romania–78, Bulgaria–70, Greece–294) trained in the local centers of excellence -90 adults from Romania, Bulgaria and Greece attended the innovation demonstrations associated with the mentoring campuses - 3 mentoring campuses (camps assisted by mentors) in the 3 fields (IT&C, Management of Innovation, Entrepreneurship&Leadership), creativity and innovation development events held -1 multi-sensory exhibition (with audio-video concepts, creative description and 3D exhibits/mock-ups – a fusion between various media) opened within the center of excellence in Romania -1 contest with multi-sensory concepts held and judged in Romania - 90 adults involved in the transfer of best practices - about 30 in each participating country: Romania/Greece/Bulgaria. -6 intellectual products created and disseminated (the innovative methodology for training ICT trainers for adults, the curriculum for teaching Innovation Management & Network Collaboration in adult training, the curriculum for teaching Entrepreneurship & Leadership in adult training, the trainer's manual for running mentoring campuses, the e-Innovator guide , the e-Entrepreneur guide) etc.
The TEACH FOR FUTURE beneficiaries have improved their skills, knowledge and behaviors regarding ICT, Management of Innovation&Network Collaboration and Entrepreneurship&Leadership, being able to apply them in their current activities. The modern, necessary and recognized skills facilitated by the project increased their chances of success on the labor market. As a result of the involvement in the educational activities, some of the participants certified their ICT skills, thus gaining an important competitive advantage. The project also facilitated access to quality education in the fields of ICT (3D modeling and printing, image editing, digital marketing, online collaboration tools), Innovation Management&Network Collaboration and Entrepreneurship&Leadership, for people from disadvantaged groups (over 15% of direct beneficiaries). The adult learners of the project acquired additional knowledge and skills to use technology creatively, to integrate innovation into current processes and developed their entrepreneurial and leadership skills. In addition, they improved their linguistic, transversal, critical and creative thinking, teamwork skills, change management. The participants disseminated the information about the results of the project to other adults as well. Beneficiaries from libraries improved their skills, activities and methods of approach used in current activities, thus favorably influencing the quality of library services and becoming more competitive, flexible and adapted professionals to the new requirements of the labor market. In order to recognize and validate the learning results of the participants in the In order to recognize and validate the training results of the participants in the learning activities, the partners provided for the issuance of Europass Certificates for all flows of participants involved in training activities (short-term and mixed), both for the facilitators from the 3 countries, as well as for the adult beneficiaries.
