Work Based Learning (WBL) is a modern method which enables experienced individuals to acquire academic knowledge and skills in a vocational context, based on the needs of their career. Achieving an academic degree is possible without leaving or losing the job. The development of competencies and skills plays a vital role in this approach of vocational and advanced training. Adult learners are able to promote and improve existing competencies, knowledge and skills through individual learning.

The project aims to improve the action competencies of actors in Brandenburg in the field of "Work Based Learning" and job-integrated studies through:

• an analysis of "best practice" examples of organizations which already have experiences with work based learning instruments
• offering support services to small and medium sized enterprises for the integration of job-accompanying further trainings into the companies by means of WBL
• the establishment of a topic-related transnational network
• the development of instruments of work based learning management and certificate courses at an academic level, which can be used by companies according to demands
• the conception of cross-company qualification modules on the topic of integrating work based learning into companies
• strengthening the cooperation between companies and universities through close collaboration in training of skilled workers

The primary objective of the initiative is to gain knowledge about the conception of job-integrating study programmes or certificate courses through universities and the implementation of those programmes or courses in small and medium sized enterprises.

With the help of company representatives and associations as well as other local actors, the results will be transferred by means of a closing workshop and a final publication.

England - Middlesex University Higher Education Corporation - Institute for Work Based Learning - www.mdx.ac.uk/aboutus/Schools/iwbl/

• Contact: Professor Carol Costley, head of research at Middlesex University
• Internationally recognised institute for WBL
• Leading provider of work-based learning in the UK
• Research into the promotion of learning at work taking into account organisational, individual and professional contexts
• Creation of higher education programmes, degree courses etc. for people in employment in cooperation with employers and other organisations
• Experience with formal recognition and academic credit for learning that occurs in the workplace

Ireland - Centre for Advanced Professional Studies Ltdl. - Institute for Work Based Learning - www.novalisinternational.com

• Contact: Dr. Andrew Hodgers,
• is a member of the research group at the Institute for Work Based Learning Middlesex University London and one of the founders and directors of the Centre for Advanced Professional Studies at the Middlesex University International Centre
• runs the Irish Centre for Work Based Learning (an international centre of MDX for the expansion of services) and offers WBL programmes and accreditation services

Finland - University of Jyväskyla Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER)

ktl.jyu.fi/en, www.jamk.fi/en/Education/Open-studies/

• Contact: Maarit Virolainen
• Centre for educational research and evaluation in Finland
• Research into the entire educational system from preschool to university, as well as into the links between vocational & academic education and working life

Austria - Fachhochschule Joanneum, University of Applied Sciences

www.fh-joanneum.at

• Contact: Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Johannes Haas
• Established in 1995, offers approx. 40 degree programmes and is in charge of approx. 4,000 students distributed over 3 different campus locations: Graz, Kapfenberg, Bad Gleichenberg
• Only provider of a dual degree programme in Austria since 2002:Bachelor (BSc) “Production Technology and Organization”
• Involvement of and cooperation with the business sector is a precondition for the creation of new degree programmes in order to obtain accreditation

• Project launch: 01 November 201
• Kick-off event: 05 March 2014 à presentation and pictures
• Excursions:
  
  • 10 - 12 March 2014 FH Joanneum (Austria)
  • 31 March - 02 April 2014 Middlesex University Higher Education Corporation, Institute for Work Based Learning (London)
  • 02 - 04 April 2014 Centre for Advanced Professional Studies Ltd, Institute for Work Based Learning (Ireland)
  • 12 - 16 May 014 University of Jyväskylä, Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER)

• Compiling of case studies
• Partners working on case studies
• First transnational workshop: 30 June - 1 July 2014
• Conception of two WBL modules
• Test period for the two modules starting September 2014
• Second transnational workshop and closing event: 16 -17 March 2015

Literature

• Carol Costley, Geoffrey Elliott, Paul Gibbs, Doing Work Based Research, Approaches to Enquiry for Insider-Researchers, SAGE Publications, Great Britain 2010, ISBN 978–184860–678–4
• Karen Hardcare, Barbara Workman, Planning and Reviewing Work Based Learning – A Practical Guide, Libri Publishing, UK 2010, ISBN 978–1-907471-12-4
• Ruth Helyer, The Work Based Learning Student Handbook, Palgrave Macmillan, Great Britain 2010, ISBN 978-0-230-22956-3
• Jonathan Garnett, Carol Costley, Barbara Workman, Work Based Learning – Journeys to the Core of Higher Education, Middlesex University Press, 2009, ISBN 978-1-904750-19-2
• Jonathan Garnett, Derek Portwood, Carol Costley, Bridging Rhetoric and Reality: Accreditation of prior experiantal learning (APEL) in the UK, Biolton Institute of Higher Education Bolton 2004, ISBN 0-907311-13-X
• David Boud, Nicky Solomon, Work-based Learning – A New Higher Education?, SRHE and Open University Press, Great Britain, ISBN 0-335-20580-1
• Reinhardt Schmidt, Developing European Work Based Learning Approaches and Methods (DEWBLAM), Firence 2006

Studies

• Barbara Light und Ernst Andreas Hartmann, Work Based Learning. Promoting Innovation by Work Based Learning (Trendstudie) More

Magazines

• Ruth Helyer; Higher Education, Skills and Work-based  Learning, The journal of the University Vocational Awards Council, Vol. 4, Number 1, 2014, ISSN 2042-3896; More 
• Nationale Agentur Bildung für Europa beim Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (NA beim BIBB), Bildung für Europa, 06/2013, ISSN 1616-5837
• Work-Based Learning in Europe – Practice and Policy Pointers. More

Links

• WACE Advancing cooperative & work integrated education More
• Overview of Work Based Learning in Europe More 
• Work Based Learning: Benefits and Obstacles, European Training Foundation, 2013 More