The importance of work based learning as crucial part of the VET systems in all European countries is widely recognised and without any doubt. There is also no doubt that the interpretation of what is high quality WBL is totally different in countries, regions, systems and businesses. Nevertheless there is also no doubt that offering a high quality work based learning approach in companies is of highest priority and completes in fact a high quality VET system of a region or country. Already in 2012 the European Quality Assurance in Vocational Education and Training has published a guideline on how to develop and improve quality in WBL with the suggestion of 6 core building blocks DESIGN, IMPROVE, RESPOND, COMMUNICATE, TRAIN, ASSESS (https://www.eqavet.eu/EU-Quality-Assurance/For-VET-Providers/Building-blocks). However, several years after their development and publication we clearly have to admit, that these approaches from the VET theory, research and planning work still have troubles to really enter the world of business and get properly implemented or followed on business reality level. This has something to do with the much more complex world of businesses and companies providing different forms and complexity of WBL processes than they are so far reflected in the guidelines and approaches for quality assurance in WBL. On the other hand this has certainly something to do with the form and complexity these guidelines are provided which in most of the cases do not meet the “language” and business reality (needs). To improve and ensure the quality of work based learning systems in companies it is first needed to properly assess the quality status, develop improvement potentials on crucial levels and monitor their implementation. All this should be done in a way which is coherent with the needs, requirements, values and “language” of businesses – this is the WBL-Q project. In front of the overall project aim of the WBL-Q project which is the significant improvement of quality in work based learning processes in businesses and companies, the project partnership has defined three subaims which are forming the basis for the expected project results: 1) Implementation of an investigation research to identify relevant and feasible quality criteria reflecting the broad variety of work based learning (large and smaller companies, production and service/public sector, degrees of maturity of the WBL systems etc.). 2) Development of a web based self evaluation tool for quality in work based learning in the own company / business / institution. The self evaluation tool should allow the WBL responsible staff to assess the own WBL processes and their quality. At the same time the tool allows to compare the own scores and values against valid benchmarks (according to size, target sector, maturity level etc.) as well as the deduction of improvement potentials. Moreover the tool provides the user with concrete suggestions for improvement, the next steps to do as well as information about who will be able to support and help the organisation during this process. In addition to this a stresstest-function should be added to check how future prove the own WBL system is against some future trends in VET (e.g. demographic developments, digitalisation trends etc.). 3) Development of a handbook for WBL responsible persons in companies on how to implement and operate the web based self evaluation tool and channel feedback results into concrete (EQAVET based) improvement actions. The results expected for the WBL-Q project are: IO1: Investigation research: In all partner countries interviews and questionnaire based activities will be performed to speak to WBL responsible and trainees in companies to find out the relevant and crucial quality indicators for quality in WBL. IO2: Development of a web based self evaluation tool: the partnership will then be defining the criteria as well as their operationalisation in a webbased self evaluation tool In a transnational learning and teaching activity (LTTA) the self evaluation tool will be tested with min. 2 representatives per partner country concerned with WBL issues. IO3: Handbook: “Ensuring Quality in Workbased Learning – Self Evaluation and Continuous Improvement”: Besides the self evaluation tool itself the partnership will develop a short handbook for WBL responsibles which on one hand should act as a guideline for the implementation and application of the self evaluation tool together with concrete steps and improvement support for the own WBL system. The envisaged target group of the project are WBL responsible persons in companies e.g. managers, foreworkers, shop stewards, social partners, labour market experts, VET centres, VET managers, VET trainers but also the broad group of learners in work based learning settings in companies. The partnership of the project consists of 7 organisations from 6 European countries (AT, DE, IE, ES, SI and HU).
The main objective of the project is the development, testing and broad implmentation of a self evaluation and assessment tool for quality in workbased learning on company level. Based on a thorough analysis of quality criteria and influencing factors as well as existing approaches for quality assurance in VET (such as the EQAVET model) the project partners developed a comprehensive online self evaluation and assessment tool which looks at different quality layers and criteria along the priorities of EQAVET. Together with the development of the assessment tool the partners also aimed to provide further knowledge and training to workbased learning responsibles in companies and stimulate the discussion about quality in workbased learning in general.
The WBL-Q was planned and implemented in front of the ongoing discussions around the quality assurance in VET and especially in workbased learning offers in VET which have gained huge importance over the last years. The identifcation and application of suitable quality assurance models / methods to organisations offering workbased learning and training appears to a crucial requirement since these offers are not made by specific training organisations but companies and institutions on the labour market which normally follow different economic targets than offering education and training. Out of this reason the support of these companies, businesses and organisations to offer high quality, relevant and targeted workbased learning is seen as an important contribution to raising quality in VET overall. Nevertheless the orientation towards companies and businesses as "VET providers" requires a totally different approach, highly practicable and relevant solutions in the business environment. To reflect these business realities together with applicable and practicable quality assessment and assurance methods forms the background of the WBL-Q project.