21
Ongoing projects
Pathways4employ
period: September 2016 - June 2018
source of funding: Erasmus+ KA2 Strategic
Partnerships
coordinator: Tecnalia
website: http://pathwaysforemploy.eu/wordpress/
Pathways4employ is another project where we used
DigComp to help us define and assess the digital
competences needed in the 21 st century workplace, and
more specifically, those needed by entrepreneurs and
virtual workers (i.e. people working remotely for at least 20%
of their time). We consider these two profiles particularly
interesting because they require more autonomy, while the
flexibility renders them very attractive.
2017 was a core year for the project. In the first quarter of the
year the partners ran a survey among 80+ entrepreneurs,
virtual workers, trainers, SME owners, consultants and
project managers across the EU. We asked them what
digital competences entrepreneurs and virtual workers
need, at what level and for what (which tasks). We analysed
the results and in April 2017 at the second partners’ meeting
in Larissa, we designed the ideal digital competence profile
for entrepreneurs and virtual workers.
In the second half of the year, partners worked on the
assessment modules and the online assessment tool, while
exploring the possibilities to validate digital competences
through open badges, which will be part of the online
assessment system. At the 3rd Partners’ Meeting in October
in Dublin, partners worked on the scenarios and questions
for the online assessment tool.
The beta version of the platform and the online assessment
tool is expected in the first quarter of 2018. The self-
assessment tool will allow anyone who wants to become
(or already is) an entrepreneur or virtual worker to check
if they have the necessary digital competences, to get a
badge for their existing competences, and identify gaps.
And since the test will be based on real-life situations and
scenarios, test-takers will also learn by doing, will discover
that they can do some of their daily tasks better and more
efficiently with different digital tools. Why self-assessment?
Self-assessment tests are one way of assessing the skills
acquired through non-formal and informal learning, which
is gaining popularity. Online self-assessment is easy to
access, and the results can be displayed on different
online platforms through open badges. They help people
to quickly and easily identify the skills they have, and those
they need to improve.
The Pathways4employ consortium is comprised of organi-
zations that share a passion to actively promote IT, entre-
preneurship and virtual worker practices in a positive and
engaging manner.