By implementing the project we wanted to empower VET students with key financial competences that strengthen their employability, personal wellbeing, and digital skills. Our main goal was to make financial education more engaging and accessible through innovative, gamified learning tools, in particular the GAMI.FI.RE e-learning platform and serious game, which enable students to explore the consequences of everyday financial decisions in a safe environment. To achieve this, we designed learning scenarios around four real-life roles – student, entrepreneur, employee, and agriculturalist – so that learners could practice financial decision-making in contexts relevant to their present and future lives. We also aimed to equip teachers with practical resources – including a toolkit, lesson plans, real-life examples, and training programs – to help them integrate gamification into their teaching and career guidance. Thus the project contributes to the modernization of VET systems, promotes digital transformation, and ensures that financial education is embedded in both formal and non-formal learning. We wanted also to raise awareness among stakeholders and the wider community about the importance of financial literacy for everyday life.
The GAMI.FI.RE. project was initiated to address the urgent need for improved financial literacy and career readiness among vocational education and training (VET) students, particularly those from vulnerable and marginalized backgrounds. Studies across Europe have shown that young people often lack basic financial knowledge, which negatively impacts their ability to manage personal finances, make informed decisions, and succeed in the labor market. Additionally, VET systems in many countries are not sufficiently aligned with current labor market demands or digital transformation trends. Our partnership identified a gap in engaging, inclusive, and innovative educational tools that could empower both students and educators. By applying gamification and digital learning methods, we aimed to create a motivating and accessible learning environment. To meet these needs, we developed the GAMI.FI.RE. e-learning platform with elements of gamification, including an interactive serious game, teacher toolkits with lesson plans and real-life examples, and training programs for VET educators to enhance financial literacy and employability skills.