English - eGUIDE
Transcription
English - eGUIDE
Building a brighter future with work... e G U I D E P ro j e c t A Quality Assurance Framework and related Model of Web Based Assessments for the Guidance of Disadvantaged Job Seekers into Initial Vocational Training. www.eguide-project.net E: [email protected] The e GUIDEE partnership consists of the following organisations: BALLYMUN JOB CENTRE - IRELAND EUREGIO QUALFIZIERUNGS- UND TECHNOLOGIEFORUM E.V (EQT) - GERMANY FUNDACION TOMILLO - SPAIN HEVES COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY - HUNGARY ANTARES - ITALY UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI, CENTRUL DE TECHNOLOGII AVANSATE CTANM - ROMANIA GEMS NI - NORTHERN IRELAND The Project The Leonardo da Vinci Programme (1996 – 2006) The Leonardo da Vinci programme was launched in 1996 and focused on the teaching and learning needs of those involved in vocational education and training. Leargas the Leonardo da Vinci National Agency in Ireland define the Leonardo da Vinci programme as the ‘European Community's Action Programme for the implementation of a Vocational Training Policy. Leonardo da Vinci uses transnational cooperation to improve quality, foster innovation and promote the European dimension of vocational training systems and practices. It aims to develop a European area of co-operation, supporting and supplementing Member States' policies on life-long learning, while fully respecting their responsibility for the content and organisation of vocational training.' (Leargas, 2005) The EGUIDE Pilot Project (2005 – 2007) The EGUIDE project is a pilot project funded under the Leonardo da Vinci II initiative. This is a 2 year project (2005 – 2007) developed by a transnational partnership. The Ballymun Job Centre has been the lead organisation in the partnership with responsibility for ensuing that the aims and objectives of the project were met. EGUIDE Aims The EGUIDE Project had three main aims: 1.To research and develop a Quality Assurance Framework for Guidance into Initial Training 2.To design and develop an E Guidance system consisting of a number of guidance tools, specifically aimed at disadvantaged job seekers/those in and out of low skill employment. 3.To design and develop a web based framework within which the guidance tools can operate. The Quality Framework Why Guidance? Career guidance is often seen as a service relevant mainly to those within a formal educational setting particularly those in upper second level education. However, the wider application of career guidance should not be underestimated. It is a service that is an integral part of any training and education process. For adults returning to the workplace or to education and training, a career guidance process can greatly assist in the making of a well informed decision about the direction that would most satisfy the individual. For many individuals accessing the public employment services, community education, adult education, vocational training etc., the lack of a career guidance process can often mean that uninformed career decisions are made based on the availability of training/education courses. The EGUIDE partnership have argued that career guidance should be the first step in any training/education process particularly for those who may have been disengaged from the labour market in the past. The report of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (2006) recommends that in order to meet the needs of individuals who are not engaged in education/training systems new tools should be developed, information about vocational training/education courses be improved and accessibility for individuals who are not engaged in VET be enhanced. This target group includes people who are unemployed or underemployed, people in and out of low skill employment or absent from the workforce for long periods. EGUIDE proposes to meet some of those needs. Most models of career guidance advocate exploration of the self and the environment and well informed decision making. Many organisations working with individuals disadvantaged in the labour market use career counselling approaches to career guidance such as the models proposed by Parsons (1909), Egan (1975) and Ali & Graham (1996). These models use similar approaches in terms of person centred goal oriented processes. In line with best international practice, the National Guidance Forum report (2007) recommends that ‘the guidance process should be client centred, appropriate and relevant to the needs of the client, balanced unprejudiced and fair’. (Pg.21). In order to meet the needs of individuals accessing guidance EGUIDE has used this approach in the development of the Quality Framework and the Guidance tools. Quality in Career Guidance Although many organisations offer some form of career guidance to disadvantaged job seekers there seems to be a lack of a standardised coordinated approach across the services. As a result the quality of Career Guidance offered can vary. The EGUIDE partnership recognised that this lack of quality was evident not only nationally but also across the EGUIDE partnership. The Leonardo da Vinci programme prioritised quality standards as a need in the vocational education and training sector. European Policy Developments in Guidance argue for improvement in access to guidance services and quality assurance of services in order to achieve the Lisbon Agendas strategy for making Europe the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world (Lisbon Strategy, 2000; Concrete Future Objectives of Education and Training Systems, 2001). The OECD Review of Career Guidance Policies (2002) recommends in its Country note on Ireland that there is a need to develop ‘new and more comprehensive electronic career information products including psychometrically rigorous assessments and information on training and education based on agreed quality standards’ The EGUIDE Partnership reviewed existing Quality Frameworks, which aim to provide a standardised approach in the service sector. However, defining quality in the service sector appears to present its own difficulties. According to Dickens (1994), services tend to be intangible, heterogeneous, and often difficult to separate where the service starts and finishes. Zeithaml, Parasuraman & Berry (1988, 1990) define service quality as ‘the degree to which customers’ satisfaction with a service meets the expectancies they had about that service before using it’. However many clients accessing career guidance services are often unsure of their own expectations in relation quality career guidance. As a result the EGUIDE partnership felt that a framework that provides organisations and practitioners with a series of guidelines and steps would ensure that a good standard of guidance could be delivered. Purpose & Plan EGUIDE Quality Assurance Framework After reviewing quality in career guidance the EGUIDE partnership felt that the use of the European Common Quality Assurance Framework (CQAF) for Quality in VET was an appropriate framework to use particularly if career guidance is the first step in a VET process. Feedback & procedures for change Common Quality Assurance Framework (Technical Working Group - Methodology Implementation Assessment & Evaluation Quality in VET, European Commission, 2004) EGUIDE Quality Career Guidance The partnership also redefined a career guidance process specifically aimed at individuals who were disengaged from the labour market. The EGUIDE Quality Assurance Framework based on the European CQAF aims to ensure that each client receives the same quality standard of guidance irrespective of the approach of the guidance practitioner or the culture of the organisation offering the guidance service. The EGUIDE Career Guidance process is a six step process which ensures that the individual receives a comprehensive supportive service enabling the them to develop self awareness and self knowledge, to understand the world of work and the opportunities available and to make a clear well informed and realistic decision. Promotion Follow up Implement the Career Plan Quality Assurance Framework Decision making Welcome & information service Consultancy Step 1. Promotion Broadcasting the career guidance service to the surrounding community by a variety of means. Ensuring that all individuals who wish to avail of Career Guidance are well informed as to how to access the service Step 2. Welcome and Information Service The client is welcomed into the service and informed of the process and the services provided. A rapport is built between the client and the guidance practitioner. Step 3. Consultancy Tools Tools are used to help the client to become more aware of themselves and their potential. (Interests, preferred style and environment, preferred thinking style). The tools resulting from the EGUIDE project fit into this stage Step 4. Decision making stage After discussions with the client based on outcomes of the consultancy tools the guidance practitioner makes the client aware of the opportunities that are available to them. The client then makes a decision with the support of the guidance practitioner. Step 5. Implementation This stage involves the implementation of the decision making stage and involves making the client aware of the support that is available to them. Step 6. Follow-up This is a two-way process where the client can come back to the service for support and where the guidance practitioner follows the client’s progress by making contact with them. The Web Based Tools The need for appropriate and psychometrically sound web based career guidance tools was highlighted by the EGUIDE partnership. Research carried out at the beginning of the project found that guidance practitioners working with individuals who were trying to access quality employment, education and training, found it difficult to identify commercial web based assessments developed specifically to meet this client group’s particular needs. The areas that were of greatest importance for a career guidance process were Interests, Person-Environment Fit and Cognitive Thinking Style. A bottom up approach was adopted in the development of the tools and the quality framework. This ensured that the client was at the centre of all development and that the tools were built around the individual. The partnership also aimed to demonstrate that the process and web tools have psychometric underpinnings and that the web tools would attempt to measure constructs that would be beneficial in a career guidance process. An online battery of career guidance tools was developed: These tools have the advantage that they… o Are easy to access from any computer with Internet access o They utilise scenario-based animation with voiceovers that overcome literacy issues and motivate by being fun and easy to use o The guidance practitioner has full control of who uses the tools and which tools they use. o All the assessments are preceded by animated introductions that are designed to help the client feel comfortable in the animated computer environment. To do this animations are modelled within an arcade game style. o The tools are translated into three languages, English, Spanish and German Tools in this battery include… o Interest Explorer o Personality Discovery Quiz o Cognitive Explorer Interest Explorer The Tool: Set in the Holland Career Interest Typology, 12 animated characters demonstrate their interests based on 6 interest types; Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional.There are two sides to the Interest assessment in that 36 scenarios show everyday interests and 36 show work scenarios. This allows clients that have little or no work experience to respond to situations in every day life and a comparison can then be made to work interests. In all 72 scenarios are shown to the client. Results & Feedback: A separate practitioner online account generates an interest profile for the client. The practitioner then discusses the profile with the client to clarify it and give career advice on the basis of the profile and this discussion. The practitioner manual gives career type suggestions according to interest. Personality Discovery Quiz The Tool: Based on the “Big Five” Theory of personality, this new personality assessment indicates personality preference by asking users to compare how alike their behaviours are to ten animated characters. Each character appears in six different scenarios, based on five personality traits; Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Stress Tolerance. The respondent is shown 60 behaviour scenarios in all. Results & Feedback: A separate online account for use by the practitioner generates a personality profile for the client. This profile is then fed back to the client by the practitioner for clarification and then used to give guidance to the client. The practitioner manual gives suggestions for interpretation to the practitioner based on 20 years of research on the links between outcomes and the Big Five personality traits. Cognitive Explorer The Tool: The Cognitive Explorer consists of a set of Cognitive ability tests that measure a wide range of abilities needed in the labour market. The tests have been developed using the Fleishman Taxonomy of Cognitive Ability and have been set within the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) Framework of Intelligence, the most widely accepted theory of Intelligence. The EGUIDE cognitive tests measure 10 abilities of the Fleishman Taxonomy, these ten abilities fit within 4 clusters of the CHC theory of Intelligence. The abilities measured by these assessments represent a full rainbow of abilities used in employment: Verbal reasoning, Fluid Reasoning, Visual Spatial and Processing Speed. Verbal Reasoning: Higher order language-based acquired knowledge and the ability to communicate that knowledge. Jobs that prioritise these abilities include Human Resources, Customer Service and Sales Visual Spatial Thinking: The ability to perceive, analyse, synthesise and think with visual patterns including the ability to store and recall visual representations. Jobs in which these are important abilities include Photographers, Fashion / Interior Designers, Archaeologists and Planners Fluid Reasoning: The ability to reason, form concepts, and to solve problems using unfamiliar information or novel procedures. Jobs that prioritise these abilities include Coaches / Counsellors, Fire Fighters and Accountants Processing Speed: the ability to perform automatic cognitive tasks quickly. Jobs in which these are important abilities include Machine Operators, Data Entry Workers, Bank Tellers and Lawyers Within each of the ten ability tests there is one example item and eight testing items that become progressively more difficult as the assessment continues. There is no time limit in any of the tests but all of the tests are timed so that feedback can be gained as to how quickly the client can answer the items. Results & Feedback: A separate practitioner online account generates a cognitive profile for the client. The practitioner then discusses the profile with the client to clarify it and give career advice on the basis of the profile and this discussion. The practitioner manual gives career type suggestions according to cognitive preferences. Psychometric Analysis The analysis of the EGUIDE tools is a continuous process of obtaining documentation to substantiate their psychometric properties. The following initial steps have been taken to establish some measurement of the results. o Initial Usability pilot of 20 practitioners and clients o Pilot of 400 people o Internal reliability analysis of all scales o Norms to be created for each tool based on the distribution of scores across the partnership for the 400 individuals that participate in the pilot study, these norms shall also be broken down by specific demographics. o Confirmatory Factor Analysis using Structural Equation Modelling analysis to check the internal validity of the scales o Correlational analysis to look at the between scale validity and reliability o Predictive Validity study: a random sample of clients will be selected in order to track their satisfaction with their decision on the basis of their EGUIDE profile o Mean comparisons to check for differences between norm groups The Future: o Transferability: The EGUIDE Quality Framework and Web Based Tools will directly benefit disadvantaged job seekers in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Spain and Germany by enabling the target group to access quality career guidance and to identify their often latent interests, personality preferences and cognitive strengths. This model has transferable properties enabling it to be adapted to meet the needs of individuals and organisations in the areas of career assessment and development, upskilling, training needs etc. It can also be adapted to other sectors including the formal education sector. o Research and Development: The EGUIDE process has identified the need for further research and development into appropriate career guidance tools, appropriate methodologies, and appropriate guidance policy and quality practice that is specifically aimed at the needs of disadvantaged job seekers. o Psychometric Approach: The importance of ensuring that tools developed have robust psychometric properties has been highlighted. This is essential in the delivery of a quality guidance service. The EGUIDE tools provide the individual with a profile that has relevant meaning. The EGUIDE project will continue to promote the psychometric aspects of the tools and to build on the development so far. The Partnership Ireland THE BALLYMUN JOB CENTRE (BJC) is a community-based non-profit making organisation, which provides services to local unemployed people. Since its establishment in 1987, the BJC has developed into a well established and respected community based organisation that responds to the needs of unemployed job seekers and job changers. The BJC continues to assist individuals to make positive changes to their lives by addressing social and economic exclusion and by developing innovative interventions to enable clients of the BJC to overcome the barriers affecting their ability to access the labour market. The BJC conducted research into Quality Frameworks and Guidance Tools. They worked on the development of the Quality Framework to ensure its relevance to the employment services and implemented the Quality Framework into their own Guidance service in January 2007. The BJC led the development of each of the tools in terms of item design and selection and were advised by the partners on the relevance of each item in their own country. They worked with the IT partner to ensure that the tools worked within the web framework and will continue to adapt the tools based on results from the pilot study. Germany THE EUREGIO QUALIFIZIERUNGS- UND TECHNOLOGIEFORUM E.V. (Euregio Centre of Qualification and Technology) is an association of training centres located in the Dutch-German Border Region, called EUREGIO. The organisation started in 1990 as a ‘University Enterprise Training Partnership‘. Today EQT is working in cross-border (INTERREG) and transnational projects (e.g. Leonardo, EQUAL). EQT provides a basis for projects in close co-operation with the project departments of the member‘s training centres. (i.e. transnational contacts, writing applications, research, product development, evaluation). The main regional members are: BBS: Berufsbildungsstätte Westmünsterland Ahaus (Vocational Training Centre West-Münsterland) and ROC: Regionaal Opleidingen Centrum van Twente, Hengelo (Twents‘ Regional Training Centre). EQT has been responsible for identifying the QA practices that currently exist in Germany. With their extensive knowledge of the target groups they have worked with the partnership to develop the QA framework, assist in the development of the EGUIDE model of assessments and have been responsible for the dissemination and Valorisation of the products and learning in Germany. Spain FUNDACION TOMILLO is a private, independent, non-profit making foundation based in Madrid. The objective of the Foundation is to develop support programmes and activities for social sectors that are neglected by private enterprise and for whom public action is insufficient. The Foundation has extensive experience in the following areas of activity, which share an underlying concern for social integration and unemployment: Worker Training and Direct employment, Pedagogy and Economic research. The Foundation seeks to improve the quality of education in the schools and training centres in underprivileged areas of Madrid. Fundacion Tomillo has brought extensive experience in developing innovative training for unemployed and other disadvantaged groups, and expertise in training and methodologies and pedagogic approaches. Fundacion Tomillo has been responsible for identifying the Quality Assurance procedures that currently exist in Spain and has worked with the partnership to develop and adapt existing QA procedures in relation to Guidance in initial training. They have assisted in the design, development, translation and implementation of the web based guidance tools in Spain. They are also involved in the validation of tools and QA framework with a small sample of clients. Hungary HEVES COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY was established 1850 and existed until 1947. In 1988 the Hungarian Chamber of Economy was established. The Heves County Chamber of Commerce and Industry was re-established 1995, by the acceptance of the Chamber-law. Its most important objective is to promote the development and the organization of the economy, to contribute to the safety of business transactions and to the fairness of market attitude, to facilitate the general and common representation of the business units’ interests. The form of the chamber is public corporation, operating on the basis of the self-government principle: membership is voluntary for the business units. The specific duties of the Chamber include, among other things, the development of business activity and commerce, the collection of information related to the economy, providing information, the elaboration of ethical rules for market attitude, the organization of exhibitions and conferences. Vocational training, master courses and the related administrative tasks are of high importance too. The present number of volunteer members is 1200 organisations, including a large number of companies from the construction industry, automotive industry and printing industry. The Heves County Chamber of Commerce assisted in identifying what QA practices currently exist in the guidance of disadvantaged job seekers into initial vocational training. It has liased with its members to identify employer’s attitudes towards career development in the workplace using tools such as EGUIDE. It will continue to be responsible for the dissemination of the learning and products within Hungary. Italy ANTARES (FORMALLY S3 ACTA) is a small medium enterprise, with a large team of qualified consultants. ANTARES works in the field of enterprise consultancy, socio-organisational research and management training. ANTARES has been involved in several national and European partnerships, showing its ability to manage complex projects, paying particular attention to organisations working with innovative processes e.g. tele-work. ANTARES works with companies and public bodies who are concerned with research in the social and organisational field, analysis of training needs, diagnosis of problems related to work organisation. ANTARES follows with great attention the continuous development of society and it proposes itself as an actor able to help in ensuring that organisations can change with society. It manages all projects by cooperating with the client partner relating its interventions to their specific needs. ANTARES assisted in researching the Quality Assurance practices that exist in guidance within Italy. It played a major role in the development of QA practices with the partnership. ANTARES also assisted in the development of the EGUIDE Tools ensuring that their content was relevant to an Italian population for future translation and will continue to be responsible for the dissemination of the learning within Italy. Romania POLITEHNICA UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST (PUB), founded in 1886, is now the largest technical university of Romania, with about 23000 students, 4000 full time staff (1700 full-time faculty and 2300 research staff and auxiliary personnel), 1800 part-time faculty and 900 postgraduate students, preparing doctoral theses in 90 engineering science specialties from 12 faculties. The Centre for Advanced Technologies (CTANM) is a research and training unit with financial and functional autonomy inside PUB, acting with close links with the Manufacturing Eng. Dept. and with over 10 other departments from PUB. The CTANM’s funding is mainly realised through research and training contracts, with Romanian or foreign beneficiaries, by national, European or international projects. Through its activity, the Centre supports the international cooperation and the European and regional integration programs. CTANM is the IT partner in this project offering their experience in the development of Web based frameworks within which EGUIDE QA and tools operate. Northern Ireland GEMS NI is a local employment initiative primarily focused on providing access to employment with businesses situated within the Gasworks and Laganside sites. Through a one-to-one integrated and flexible approach it aims to build relationships between employers and the local community to help job seekers obtain and maintain worthwhile jobs. GEMS became operational in 2002. Each GEMS client is provided with a tailor-made service to meet his or her specific needs. These services include: Careers Guidance – including education and training advice and support, Personal Development – building confidence and addressing barriers, Assistance with Job Applications and Curriculum Vitae, Interview Skills Preparation Job Search Skills, Links with local employers through the GEMS Job Matching Service Assistance with Aptitude Test – preparation and practice, “With the support of our collaborative network we aim together to establish effective working relationships with key employers to maximise the potential for our clients to access employment opportunities and learning placements”. GEMS has been be responsible for identifying the QA practices that currently exist in the UK. With their extensive knowledge of both target groups and Quality Assurance and Guidance, they have worked with the partnership to develop the QA framework, assist in the development of the EGUIDE model of assessments and is responsible for the dissemination and valorisation of the products and learning in the UK. For more information on the EGUIDE Quality Framework and Web Based Tools please contact: Nuala Whelan Assistant Manager [email protected] Ian Clifford European Project Officer [email protected] Ballymun Job Centre Ballymun Town Centre Dublin 11 T: + 353 1 8667000 www.bmunjob.ie Building a brighter future with work... EGUIDE Project development: EGUIDE Partnership co-ordinated by the Ballymun Job Centre Animation work: Prickly Pear productions: www.pricklypearproductions.ie Design work: STUDIO www.studiodesign.ie