Although legal systems differ from one EU Member State to another, the law provides a common legal basis for the safety and health of employees. The Directive 89/391 / EEC (Framework Directive) on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work has been implemented in all EU Member States Article 5 of the Framework Directive states that: "The employer must ensure the safety and health of workers in all aspects of work." Work-related stress is often cited as a major concern for managers in health and social welfare. 79% of European managers are concerned about work-related stress, a figure that indicates that stress is a factor for companies as important as accidents at work. The nervousness, irritability and stress influence the working life of an employee to a different extent depending on the sector. The problem areas are those of health (including social security), transport and services. According to European surveys on working conditions and scientific literature, particularly young professionals and workers are at risk from various forms physical and psychological hazards due to stress. As reported by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, stress due to work, are among the most commonly reported causes of illness workers, affecting more than 40 million people across the EU, with a great portion of it being young workers. In this context the BooStress proposes the development of a vocational training package to equip with stress management skills, in the context of heal and safety framework, current and prospect young workers, and build their capacity to address relevant challenges in their work environment. The BooStress training package will be provided in a full digital format based on eLearning pedagogies, work-based online learning, case studies, real market scenarios and collaboration. BooStress will be composed of 4 online training modules covering issues such as: 1. Identify hazards and assess of associated risks 2. Information and training needs of employees exposed to hazards 3. Monitoring of effectiveness of control 4. Positive behavior adaptation and management skills The BooStress and its training accredited partners will secure the recognition of skills and qualifications of BooStress participants based on the EQF, and the ECVET. BooStress flexible digital development will allow easy adaptability in multiple contexts, “enhancing, in this way, the digital integration in learning, teaching and training at all levels” and supporting is sustainability and compatibility with upcoming market challenges. BooStress specifically encompasses the EU 2020 priorities addressing in various ways all the seven policy flagships of EU under the emphasis of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Moreover, it satisfies a number of Erasmus Plus objectives such as: • Support inclusive training initiatives and digital inclusion for all •Open and innovative education, training and youth work, embedded in the digital era •Provide an innovative ICT–based educational practice that will motivate the youth to commit in active learning •Transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications to facilitate learning, employability and labor mobility •Combine higher levels of excellence and attractiveness of training and education with increased opportunities for all, including those at disadvantage •Strengthening key competences in VET curricula and providing more effective opportunities to acquire or develop those skills through I-VET and C-VET The consortium consists of 3 partners from 3 European countries (Cyprus, Spain, and Ireland). BooStress envisions developing close synergies between the areas of work of the partners as one over-arching objective of the project, with common parameters the need for development joint curriculum to improve the stress management and health and safety skills of the EU labor force. Critical support to the consortium, in regard to the implementation, dissemination and exploitation of the project will be provided by wider network of associate partners of the core project partners. Long term benefits for EU and its Citizens -Placing health and safety skills at the heart of the EU Labor Market -Addressing health and safety skills at EU Level offering advanced tools for relevant skills upgrade and accreditations for young workers -Empower stakeholders to use accredited innovative ICT-based educational practices in enhancing people’s entrepreneurial, collaboration, problem solving, and creativity and innovation skills
CONTEXT Work-related stress is often cited as a major concern for managers in health and social welfare. The legislation of the EU [Framework Directive, on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers] expresses the need of the systematic training and support for the new and young employees so they can perform their duties. According to European surveys on working conditions and scientific literature, particularly young professionals and workers are at risk from various forms physical and psychological hazards due to stress. As reported by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, stress due to work, are among the most commonly reported causes of illness workers, affecting more than 40 million people across the EU, with a great portion of it being young workers. OBJECTIVES In this context, BooStress developed a vocational training package to equip current and prospect young workers with stress management skills, in the context of health and safety framework, and build their capacity to address relevant challenges in their work environment. The project overall aim was to upgrade and multiply the opportunities for up-skilling and re-skilling young workers in managing work related stress, via innovative VET tools and pedagogies, accompanied by skills acquisition assessment, recognition and validation methods. More specifically, the project objectives were to: combat low levels of stress management skills among young workers through open and inclusive digital tools, resources and practices; empower young workers to become creators of their own career via soft skills acquisition and maximize their employability opportunities; enhance the development of critical media literacy skills and competences in VET; provide innovative youth and VET pedagogical methods, best practice guidelines, and strategies towards the use of digital tools and innovative learning environments; empower all stakeholders to use innovative ICT-based VET practices and resources in enhancing new skills for youth; provide contemporary methods and tools for assessment of skills acquisition, recognition and validation PARTICIPANTS The consortium consisted of 3 partners from 3 EU countries: 1. CARDET – Centre for the Advancement of Research and Development in Educational Technology (Cyprus): It is one of the leading research and development center in the Mediterranean region with global expertise in project design and implementation, capacity building, and e-learning. 2. FIPL – Future in Perspective (Ireland): It is a private company working in the field of vocational training, adult education, e-learning, digital media and social inclusion. 3. Caminos - Asociación Caminos (Spain): It is a Spanish non-profit association located in Andalucía, which is dedicated to the field of education through opportunities of exchange, development and social inclusion. MAIN ACTIVITIES The BooStress project consisted of 5 main outputs, around which the main activities of the project revolved: 1. Development of the health and safety Skills – youth training Ecosystem and Methodological Framework (eBook) 2. BooStress Curriculum and Toolbox of Key Skills Acquisition Resources 3. BooStress Multifunctional and Interactive Platform - Open educational & training e-resource and Mobile Application 4. BooStress Skills Assessment, Validation and Recognition Tools 5. Infusion of the BooStress Package in the labor market – Adaptation and Policy Package RESULTS AND IMPACT The partners secured the design, development, implementation and multiplication of the aforementioned high quality outputs. By the project completion, partners achieved to create outputs and implement activities/events for: gaining knowledge and awareness on the existing situation and of the needs of young workers in dealing with work-related stress; gaining knowledge and understanding of empowerment measures in social, economic and educational context; the improvement of knowledge, skills and competences in the field of employability and youth. In the long run, the BooStress will contribute to empowering, up-skilling and re-skilling young workers in health and safety skills; infusing the concept and potentials of health and safety processes in the EU economy and mainstreaming relevant policies and strategies; equipping youth and VET actors with contemporary resources, pedagogies, material and tools for skills acquisition assessment, validation and recognition. In addition, we expect BooStress to contribute to placing health and safety skills at the heart of the EU labour market; addressing health and safety skills at EU Level offering advanced tools for relevant skills upgrade and accreditations for young workers; and empowering stakeholders to use innovative ICT-based educational practices in enhancing people’s entrepreneurial, collaboration, problem solving, creativity and innovation skills.