The Portfolio for Employment (PFE) project aimed to help VET trainees navigate the "new normal" and enter successfully the job market. Its STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES were facilitating job access, proposing learning opportunities to upskill key competences, catering to the needs of VET trainees from all backgrounds, and promoting social inclusion. It also fostered international cooperation, multilingualism, and awareness of European citizenship through Erasmus+. PFE aimed to create a Portfolio with tools to ease job-market entry, adapting the existing resources and developing innovative solutions based on digital education and assistive technologies. The project prioritized gender equality, social inclusion, and outreach to underrepresented groups, ensuring access to employment opportunities for all. By enhancing VET curricula and supporting educators in adapting training to evolving skill needs, PFE was aligning with digital and economic transitions. Sustainability was key by providing all project materials available only in digital form. VET partners across seven countries were willing to collaborate, reinforcing European identity and aligning with Erasmus+ priorities: inclusion, digital transition, and sustainability.
This project emerged during COVID-19, challenging established practices. AI-driven changes in work were starting to reduce job opportunities for VET trainees, making access to employment harder. The PFE project was conceived to equip young future workers to facilitate their job search, listing priority competences that should be developed to facilitate job-market access and providing innovative variable-access interactive learning materials to help their teachers prepare trainees to make job applications. Research across seven countries assessing EU priorities, including the Digital Education Action Plan and European Skills Agenda confirmed a significant digital skills gap, particularly in Belgium, where VET learners face difficulties entering the job market. Surveys with 35 VET providers, educators, and trainees highlighted digital competence as the top priority. 100% of respondents saw value in interactive learning materials to support job applications. PFE aimed to address these gaps with innovative resources aligned with EU employment initiatives. This research enabled the partners to compile a list of challenges facing VET learners concerning competences, job-market access, social inclusion & attitudes towards Europe.