The overall objective of the project is to improve vocational training (VET) to enable the reintegration into the labour market of unemployed people over the age of 45 who lack digital skills, facilitating their adaptation to Industry 4.0. To this end, we set ourselves specific interconnected objectives. First, to significantly improve the digital and virtualisation skills of VET trainers and teachers, enabling them to use teaching tools and methods in line with the digital transformation. Second, to develop and implement new immersive and experiential teaching methodologies, tailored to the learning needs of unemployed adults. Finally, as a direct objective for the target group, we set out to equip them with the up-to-date and relevant digital skills and competences demanded by the labour market. By achieving these objectives, we hope not only to increase the employability of a vulnerable group, but also to innovate and modernise the vocational training system itself, making it more inclusive and effective in meeting current challenges.
This project arose from the need to adapt vocational training (VET) to the demands of Industry 4.0. We identified a critical digital skills gap, especially among unemployed people over the age of 45 in southern Europe, a vulnerable group with high unemployment rates and at risk of exclusion. The rapid digital transformation of the labour market requires an urgent update of their skills to improve their employability and facilitate their reintegration. Therefore, the project addressed two interconnected needs. First, that of unemployed adults, equipping them with the digital and virtualisation skills demanded by industry. Second, that of vocational training instructors and teachers, who need to improve their own digital skills and learn new, more experiential and immersive teaching methodologies in order to effectively train this group of adults. The aim was therefore to innovate the vocational training system with educational resources and tools that contribute to social and labour inclusion, responding to European priorities on digital transformation and skills development.