Introduction to the toolbox Discovering Competencies – Tools for Your Future

1. Introduction to the toolbox • Discovering Competencies – Tools for Your Future • Training Workshop Athens, 19-20 June 2012 - • Dr. Anja Lietzmann 1

2. Idea of the Toolbox • Developed by Danish, German, and Swedish partners in cooperation with the educational institution GFBM • Toolbox contents: • Definition of competiencies • Potential benefits of competence assessment in general and for the target group of disadvantaged young adults • Quality standards for approaches of competence assessment • Comprehension of successful approaches of competence assessment implemented in these three countries; including procedures, methods, instruments, tools, and guidelines

3. Purpose of the Toolbox • To raise the awareness of the advantages of structured forms of competence assessements • To facilitate the introduction and distribution of competence assessement amongst training institutions and employment agencies in Greece • To be directed to experts working in the field

4. “Competence is the willingness and ability to work creatively and in an organised manner, and to deal with uncertainty and shifting challenges.” (Erpenbeck, Heyse and Meyer) Definition of competencies Competence for autonomous action = • specialised competencies 1) + • methodical competencies 2) + • social competencies 3) + • personal competencies 4) 4

5. Objectives of competence assessment • Vocational orientation, base for vocational training or job placement • Clarification and re-evaluation of personal background, experience, and potentials • Matching person’s interests and abilities with his/her educational and employment opportunities • Preparation for the required steps to reach professional goals • Develop confidence in own abilities and clear objectives 5

6. Benefits of competence assessment • Considers ‚hard‘ and ‚soft‘ skills • Identification and raising awareness of ‚hidden‘ competencies • Doesn‘t only provide an assessment of strengths and weaknesses, skills and experience but also an input towards (new) occupational orientation • Faciliates access to the labour market or professional occupation 6

7. Assessment exercises / demand-oriented methods Standardised tests Documentation and certification Biographical / subject-oriented methods Modular system of competence assessment 7

8. Biographicalorsubject-orientedmethods: Self-review of theparticipant Identifiesoccupationalinterests/goalsandexperience, missedopportunities in order todevelopcareer Enhancesconfidenceandawareness of skills Assessmentexercisesordemand-orientedmethods: Market-needbased Systematicobservationandassessment of individual competenciestowardsrequiredqualifications, knowledgeandskills in a specificworkcontext Measureswhetherparticipantmeetscriteriaforvocationaltraining/joband (ifneeded) identifies still requiredqualifications Introduction to the modular system I 8

9. Standardisedtests: Variety of testsdepending on goals, subject, proficiencylevels Examples: generalknowledge, mathematics/logic, PC skills, languageskills Dokumentation andcertification: Systematicappraoches of documentingassessmentfindings - in thecourse of and/or after theactualassessement Summarisingassessmentfindings in theshape of a certificatewhichisapplicableandadaptable in different contexts Methodscanbeusedseparatelyor in combination Toolbox deliversdetaileddescriptions of examplesfor all methods Introduction to the modular system II 9

10. Applicablefor all types of competenceassessment Essential qualityguidelinesare: Applicability Validity Reliability Appropriateness Inclusiveness Authenticity Assessments: tutorassessment, learner/selfassessment, peerassessement, assessmentbyotherswithinthelearningenvironment, assessmentbyothersexternaltothelearningenvironment Forthetargetgroup of migrantsconsideration of diversitymanagementandlanguage Quality standards 10

11. Overview approaches introduced in Toolbox