BACKGROUND & CHALLENGES Blockchain is a technology innovation that is revolutionising industries/public sector and driving economic change on a global scale by reducing the cost of transactions and the time lapse of working through intermediaries. The demand for blockchain related skills (such as communicating the merits of blockchain technology and delivering practical blockchain technology solutions for businesses) in the ICT sector evolves quickly, making continuous professional up-skilling and development of such core competences essential. Still, the blockchain related skill needs of ICT professionals are not sufficiently covered by existing VET programs and apprenticeships; relevant VET provision is insufficient in quality and quantity, fragmented and infrequent, not adequately addressing the emerging training needs of ICT professionals. OBJECTIVES BLISS aims to tackle this challenge by delivering a modular curriculum and OERs on the applications of blockchain technologies, seeking to facilitate the acquisition of skills/competences, required to understand, work with and manage blockchain projects. BLISS objectives are to: 1. Strengthen key transversal competences for ICT professionals, namely initiative & entrepreneurship and updated digital skills, by designing a comprehensive and up-to-date training course in blockchain technology applications. 2. Introduce modern training delivery methods and innovative open access pedagogical resources, enabling learners to acquire and self-assess blockchain related skills, and VET providers resources and methods to integrate in their training offerings. 3. Facilitate the integration of blockchain skills requirements into the EU certification and standardisation schemes. THE BLISS PARTNERSHIP The partnership comprises 6 organisations from 6 countries, from the world of VET, the ICT sector, technological research, as well as learning innovation experts. UCBL and UT lead research activities in innovative technologies, being also experts in the design/delivery of ICT courses. Business Training and TELESIG bring the expertise in the design/delivery of VET programs covering the entire spectrum of Information and Communication Systems. AICA represents occupational needs and workplace realities at national and EU-level, working with the wider ICT sector to develop standards and qualifications (e.g. e-Competence Framework). EXELIA is an expert in R&D and delivery of innovative ICT-based methodologies (e.g. MOOCs). ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY - Analysis of current and future skills and knowledge needs to develop updated and tailored to occupational needs, blockchain related learning outcomes. - Development of the structure of a curriculum on the technologies and practical applications of blockchains. - Creation of pedagogical materials to be offered as Open Education Resources. - Development, testing, and delivery of Vocational Open Online Course (VOOC) infrastructures on blockchain technology applications, promoting the adoption of innovative practices in VET. - Involvement of key policy makers & stakeholders for the validation of BLISS units of learning outcomes as well for supporting the integration of blockchain skills into the European e-Competence Framework. - Sharing and validation of outputs with multiplier events, inviting target groups to uptake BLISS results and to act as further disseminators. RESULTS & IMPACT The BLISS project is expected to have the following results and impact: - VET world and occupation validated learning outcomes for training provision in the different technologies and practical applications of blockchains for ICT professionals (to reach 500 VET providers). - Formal VET learning units and VET integration guidelines (to reach 500 VET providers). - Pedagogical resources for blockchain technology applications, offered as OERs (to reach 30000 learners & 500 VET providers). - BLISS Vocational Open Online Course (VOOC) infrastructures & content on blockchain technology applications for ICT professionals (500 learners). - A Blockchain Skills Certificate Supplement to pave the way for the integration of blockchain skills into certification schemes (to reach 500 VET providers). - A sectoral position paper to support decision-making and promote the incorporation of blockchain skills requirements into the European e-Competence Framework (50 stakeholders reached). - Three demonstration workshops and three national information days to promote project results and validate all developed educational resources (420 participants). POST-PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY - Uptake of project materials and OERs from relevant VET providers across the EU. - Participation of a growing number of initial and continuous VET learners in courses based on project outputs. - Expansion of the strategic partnership towards a network of collaborating VET and sector stakeholders, including in-house training centres, large VET providers, and ICT companies
Blockchain is a technological innovation that has recently gained substantial prominence in most EU sectors. Consequently the provision of relevant VET offerings is insufficient in quality and quantity, fragmented and infrequent, not adequately addressing the emerging training needs for ICT professionals. There is a scarcity of training programmes and courses on distributed ledger technology, especially if looking at European dimensions and a need to address existing skills mismatches, resulting from the dynamic penetration of blockchain technology across all sectors of the EU economy (incl. banking, accounting, auditing and government services). BLISS aimed to tackle this challenge by delivering a modular VET course and OERs on the technologies and practical applications of blockchain to empower ICT professionals across the EU with updated digital knowledge, skills and competences required to understand, work with and manage blockchain projects. In particular, project objectives involved: 1) Enhancing the labour market relevance of VET for ICT professional to address blockchain skills needs, 2) Introducing modern training delivery methods and innovative open access pedagogical resources, enabling learners to acquire blockchain skills related to blockchain technology and applications, and 3) Facilitating mutual recognition of the developed learning outcomes across the EU. The partnership comprised 6 organisations from 6 EU countries, from the world of VET, the ICT sector, technological research, as well as learning innovation experts. UCBL and UT lead research activities in innovative technologies, being also experts in the design/delivery of ICT courses. Business Training and TELESIG bring the expertise in the design/delivery of VET programs covering the entire spectrum of Information and Communication Systems. AICA represents occupational needs and workplace realities at national and EU-level, working with the wider ICT sector to develop standards and qualifications (e.g. e-Competence Framework). EXELIA is an expert in R&D and delivery of innovative ICT-based methodologies (e.g. MOOCs). Main project activities involved: analysis of current and future workforce training needs to develop updated and tailored to occupational needs, on the technologies and practical applications of blockchain and, development of modular learning units for a comprehensive VET programme in blockchain skills and applications, development of pedagogical resources and assessment tools to be offered as Open Education Resources, development, testing, and delivery of a Vocational Open Online Course on blockchain skills and applications, promoting the adoption of innovative practices in VET, involvement of key policy makers & stakeholders for the endorsement and mutual recognition of BLISS units of learning outcomes, sharing and validation of outputs with multiplier events, inviting target groups to uptake BLISS results and to act as further disseminators. The BLISS project led to the following results and impact: VET world and occupation validated learning outcomes for training provision in blockchain skills and applications for ICT professionals. Formal VET learning units and VET integration guidelines. Pedagogical resources and assessment tools for blockchain skills and applications, offered as OERs. BLISS Vocational Open Online Course on blockchain skills and applications for ICT professionals. A Blockchain skills certificate supplement to lay the ground for the establishment of a certification scheme for blockchain related skills. A position paper to support decision making on VER & skill development policies & promote the integration of blockchain skills into the e-Competence framework. Three demonstration workshops and three national info days to promote project results and validate all developed materials. Finally, long term benefits of the project involve: the uptake of project materials and open educational resources from relevant VET providers across the EU, participation of a growing number of initial and continuous VET learners in courses based on project outputs, expansion of the strategic partnership towards a network of collaborating VET and sector stakeholders, further maturing & development of national and EU VET policies targeted to the occupation influenced by BLISS recommendations, and cross border certification of skills acquired.