The CR.E.ATE project aimed at strengthening the capacities, competences and resources of VET in order to effectively address the transition to digital education and learning, enhancing and promoting the use of ICT in order to initiate a continuous improvement process of educational, pedagogical and work preparation approaches, and developing specific competences and methods for teachers/trainers oriented to a use of technological and digital resources more coherent with the new needs emerging both from young people (demand) and the labour market (supply). The project wanted to develop a virtual learning environment, open and participative, accessible and inclusive, highly motivating and emotionally attractive that would bring out the creativity and talent of young people by strengthening the collaboration/cooperation between VET providers, enterprises and stakeholders. The Create 4.0 project aimed to be innovative in integrating the digital methodologies of augmented education and digital story-telling to be developed within a state-of-the-art Digital Educational Ecosystem characterised by a student-oriented approach.
The needs and motivations behind the CR.E.ATE 4.0. project proposal are to be found in the following factors - the digital inadequacy of VET in terms of technical support and fast connections available to VET students and the lack of adequate skills of trainers in the use of digital tools for teaching. - The effects of the pandemic crisis between distance learning, loss of learning for students and increased educational inequalities for the most vulnerable students have had less access to digital educational tools. - Digitalisation and technological change are also perceived by the business system as worrying challenges for SMEs, which show a shortage of qualified personnel (only 35% of European workers have basic digital skills - Digital Skills for all Europeans, 2019). - Across Europe, although the VET sector continued to provide opportunities and support students in their careers, it was characterised by a poor image in society by persisting perceptions of low quality and non-positive career development prospects.