Nowadays, problem solving skills play an important role in coping with complexity and change in today's society (European commission, 2018). These skills can respond to the growing needs of individuals to develop personally and handle obstacles and change. Problem solving skills apply prior learning and life experiences, with the look for new opportunities to learn and develop. The aim of ADDET is to develop the employability and problem solving skills and competences of VET students. For that aim, the project will develop an apprenticeship model for students in upper secondary and higher VET schools, based on the design thinking methodology as well as problem-based learning. The specific objectives of the project are: To develop problem solving competences and design thinking mindset for upper secondary and higher VET students through an apprenticeship model To develop problem based learning through an apprenticeship model that will follow a design thinking methodology To support VET trainers by developing a trainers’ guide addressed to trainers in VET schools and companies that will apply the apprenticeship model and will design, support and evaluate the apprenticeship programme. To create VET-company partnerships, experiment and validate the apprenticeship model To spread the idea of problem-based learning in apprenticeship by organizing seminars for trainers in VET schools and companies that are interested to apply the apprenticeship model. The project will produce three core intellectual outputs that are: IO1. Apprenticeship model for the acquisition of problem solving competencies and design thinking mindset. The apprenticeship model will consist in the development of a sustainable business solution, based on real problems of the company that host the apprenticeship. The apprenticeship will use problem-based learning methods to keep the students engaged. The apprenticeship model will include theoretical foundation and guiding principles for the design, implementation and evaluation of apprenticeship programme. The apprenticeship programme will be based on open-end real problems that the company faces. With the support of trainers, the apprentice will formulate realistic and viable business solutions to address the problems. The apprenticeship will also use the processes of design thinking methodology in order to adopt solution focused strategies. IO2. Trainers guide In order to support the design, implementation, management, evaluation and validation of the apprenticeship model, the second intellectual output is a guide for trainers, in VET organisations and companies. The guide will prepare and train trainers from VET providers and companies to apply the apprenticeship model and to integrate innovative learning approaches (problem based learning and design thinking). The guide will also include successful stories from the piloting of the model, as well as instructions, suggestions to enhance the apprenticeship programme among new coming enterprises. IO3. VET – company partnerships guide The third intellectual output of the project will focus on the creation of partnerships between VET providers and companies for the successful implementation of the apprenticeship model. The guide will present practical support for the creation of partnerships, benefits for companies and VET centres, practical steps and guiding principles for the establishment of a partnership for apprenticeships and lastly quality assurance principles of a VET-company partnerships. The direct target groups of the project are VET trainers and companies involved in apprenticeship programmes, yet, the final beneficiaries are students enrolled in upper secondary and higher VET schools and centres. The partnership consists of 7 partners: CEIG from Romania, ZBB from Germany, KISMC from Bulgaria, APDNE from Turkey, IDEC from Greece, CESIE from Italy and Magenta from Spain. The project is designed to have an impact at local/regional/national and european levels. ADDET will contribute to the promotion of apprenticeships and the development of networks and partnerships between VET organisations and companies. ADDET will also contribute to the promotion of apprenticeships at EUropean level.
The main objective was to develop employment and problem-solving skills and competencies of VET students who do their internships at schools, companies and organizations. The specific objectives were: - the implementation of quality internships -developing the competences of the trainers for the implementation of quality practices, which focus on the development of skills - the application of innovative methodologies It has proven to be very useful in developing problem-solving skills and design thinking for upper secondary students and the importance of transversal skills for young people, for their access to the labor market. By implementing the project, we wanted to strengthen the partnership, improve international cooperation, gain new experiences in VET. VET students in schools are still inexperienced and do not have enough skills for the labor market. So we wanted to improve students' skills through more creative thinking, competent and digital, social and empathic skills. The design thinking approach for apprenticeships has a great potential to to achieve a successful collaboration and apprenticeship model to improve the labor market situation.
The reform in VET has been appreciated as a way to produce solutions for global problems,by increasing the development of problem-based learning through an apprenticeship model that will follow a design methodology.We have all been and are always interested in exploring new learning methods and technologies to improve the skills of students/teachers in VET and thus to react to changes in the needs of companies accordingly.We address: -project staff:new skills,knowledge of trainers,experts in design thinking as a problem-solv process and approach for creativity and solution development -the target groups:the employability of students and the need for companies to adapt to market;the needs of apprentices regarding the lack of problem-solving skills;developing problem-solving skills and a design mindset for upper secondary and upper secondary VET students through an apprenticeship model;support for VET trainers by developing a trainer's guide for trainers in VET schools and companies -stakeholders:awareness of the impact and effectiveness of apprenticeship and design thinking as a model and approach to problem solving It is about:students,trainers,teachers,VET schools,the entire educational community;companies;NGO,local organizations