June 2022 – RenovUp

Multiplier Event in Greece

On June 16th, 2022 was held the Greek Multiplier Event disseminating the results of the RenovUp project in Athens.

The overall aim of the seminar was to present to the research results of IO1 and IO2 to a wide spectrum of participants (representing the construction industry and VET stakeholders), as well as to share the next steps to be undertaken for IO3 and IO4.

The Greek RenovUp Multiplier Event took place in the context of PEDMEDE’s General Assembly in order to exploit the current development of the project as well as to engage as much members as possible in the project.

IO1 and IO2 results were birefly presented at a transnational scale but it was chosen to focus more on the Greek national context and how these results are applied to it. Training paths, evaluation grids and Open Badges which designed during the project were also described to the participants.

In the end, a Q&A session was organised in order to allow participants to discuss the different topics tackled during the event, and the exchanges focused mainly on training paths as well as the current state of VET in Greece, and how the tools may be adapted to the practice of Greek trainers and companies.

The necessity to build trust between external evaluators and construction workers on site has been highlighted, but participants also admitted it will be difficult to do so. Indeed, there seems to be a lack of connection between VET stakeholders and the construction industry in Greece, putting several obstacles in the implementation of the evaluation grids of work situation on site.

Agenda Greek Multiplier Event

00A. RenovUP_IO1_A3a Work situations Corresponding skills_Final Report_GR

00A. RenovUP_IO1_Transnational Report Final_GR

01. RenovUp General Project Presentation_GR

01A.-IO2-A2.-RenovUp-Open-Badges-Final-Report-GR

1.1. IO3. Preparation of teachers trainers – Operational model V2_GR

07.-IO2-A2.-Open-Badges-for-RenovUp-Methodology-GR

10.-RenovUp-Didactic-tools-for-the-professionalisation-of-site-managers-and-team-leaders_Final-Report-GR

IO3 IN SHORT_GR

Multiplier event in Poland

On June 9th, 2022 in Warsaw, a multiplier event disseminating the results of the RenovUp project took place in Poland.

The overarching aim of the seminar was to present to a wider audience the achievements of the almost two-year-long cooperation of the ERASMUS+ project partnership.

During this Polish multiplier event, the following achievements of the RenovUp project were presented and discussed:

The specificity of projects involving the renovation of buildings and its impact on the competences expected from site managers and foremen. Presentation of research results in Poland in comparison with other Partnership countries (IO1-A1, IO1-A2);
Model of professionalisation of site managers and foremen based on work situations on construction sites (IO1-A3, IO2-A1); and
Preliminary assumptions for the implementation (testing) of a model for professionalisation of site managers and foremen including an element of competence development of teachers/trainers (IO3, IO4).

The participants were representatives of the construction sector – both the economic sector (employers involved in repair and construction works) and vocational education sector (representatives of 4 vocational schools educating in construction professions). Moreover, the discussion was joined by representatives of industry associations (Konfederacja Budownictwa i Nieruchomości; Stowarzyszenie Specjalistów Robót Wykońowych; Izba Przemysłowo-Handlowa), research institutions (IBE), government administration (Ośrodek Rozwoju Edukacji) and other institutions involved in the development of competencies of the renovation and construction sector employees. Taking advantage of the presence of representatives of partner institutions from Hungary (National Federation of Hungarian Building Contractors ÉVOSZ) and Cyprus (Education and Information Technology Centre EDITC), we also invited them to the debate. In total, the seminar was attended by over 30 people. Representatives of the Polish National Agency of the Erasmus + Programme (FRSE) were also present.

The seminar participants were impressed by the ambitious goals of the RenovUp project. They agreed that work-based learning, in the broad sense of the term, is in Poland (and elsewhere) still just a buzzword, often not confirmed in the everyday reality of vocational education and training. Changing this state of affairs requires the continuation of comprehensive and complementary actions already initiated in our country, including: 1) overcoming the resistance of Polish teachers and trainers to improve their competences (especially directly on construction sites); 2) subsidising Polish vocational schools so that they can afford to purchase and use modern materials and tools in their school workshops; and 3) creating industry-based competence improvement centres, which provide a substantive, tool, methodological, material base for workers active in the labour market. The RenovUp project can be another step in the right direction!

In conclusion:

The research carried out under IO1 was appreciated; and
The proposed model for professionalisation of construction workers (especially the element of competence development of teachers/trainers through observation of work on construction sites) was considered very valuable and desirable, but difficult to implement in current Polish conditions.

Agenda