The project aimed to improve the capacity of the VET education for regional development (RD)at the EU level, by finding the best combination of bottom-up approaches and leadership that involved teachers, trainers and learners in a strategy and top-level direction. The objectives targeted 1. Development of an e-learning platform dedicated to innovation in the RD sector to better support major economic, environmental and social changes and to place RD VET in a better position to respond to future developments through innovation 2. Strengthening the capacity of the VET in the RD field by incorporating innovation and digitization 3. Defining an own path of innovation and digitization for the VET system in the RD field, a suitable system for the interested parties and for learners, employers and VET providers 4. Developing an innovative training methodology and defining learning strategies for new teaching and learning pedagogies in RD education 5. Development and validation of training materials with content grouped into 3 modules; content validation by 130 VET trainers, and RD staff 6. Improving the educational skills of at least 24 employees from 8 partner organizations, by developing and conducting a joint short-term staff training
The project aimed to incorporate innovation and digitization to create a more flexible environment and a modern and high-quality VET to expand access, to shape the way in which the students learn, the efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of training materials, the way in which the skills acquired by the students are recognized and validated. VET is in unprecedented change, but there is great potential for innovation and digitization to support a high quality and better performing VET system. The aim of the project was also to equip the target group with new skills, mainly in the field of regional development, VET trainers and VET institutions that want to include in their portfolio the results of the project. The need to implement the project was based on the fact that the partner organizations during the Covid-19 crisis were not prepared to provide online courses dedicated to regional development staff, as they had not previously prepared an e-learning platform, and staff and trainers did not have digital skills to run such programs. The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the need to accelerate the VET staff and to develop innovative solutions to be able to offer quality VET education at a distance and in a hybrid format.