Projects

Ongoing projects

The key objective of the Erasmus Plus project PEN-QM – Sustainable Quality Management – to foster future-proof job skills of HEI learners is to explore ways to provide Higher Education Institution learners, teachers and community with an innovative web-based learning instrument for the practical application of the top 10 Jobs Skills of Tomorrow. The secondary objective is to improve Practice Enterprise activities by developing innovative models for monitoring quality. And lastly, the consortium aims to facilitate greater cooperation between the Practice Enterprise network and HEIs on Quality, Evaluation and Audits. The consortium will work together to update the process of developing innovative models of Practice Enterprise quality mechanisms. The target groups in this project are HEI institutions and any other institution that works with Practice Enterprises.

Project initiator and coordinator:

Vilniaus kolegija

Project number: 2022-1-LT01-KA220-HED-000087134

Project implementation period: 2022-12-012024-11-30


Project INNOSOCIAL – Mainstreaming Inclusive Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship in Higher Education

Goals:

  • to create a basis for the preparation and execution of activities of the InnoSocial project (methodology and guidelines);
  • contribute to the creation of the teaching and learning base necessary for the implementation of the project (programme and learning content);
  • to improve the skills of the academic staff of higher education institutions to conduct training (teacher seminars and pilot training for students);
  • raise awareness among stakeholders about the role of higher education institutions in promoting the integration of inclusive innovation and social entrepreneurship.

Main results:

  • A toolkit for developing and implementing inclusive innovation and social entrepreneurship education.
  • A modular course approved by partners higher education institutions and included in the education system as a separate course or part of existing courses.
  • 25 trained teachers (intensive professional development training, 1 credit).
  • 60 trained students (one semester course).

Project initiator and coordinator:

SPOLECZNA AKADEMIA NAUK (Poland)

Project partners:

Vilniaus Kolegija (Lithuania)

Tetra Solutions Ltd. (Bulgaria)

University of Pavia (Italy)

Fundacja InCREA (Poland)

Project number: 2022-1-PL01-KA220-HED-00089820

Project implementation period: 2022-11-01–2025-04-30


The key objective of the FEMPOWER – Female Empowerment: Leaders of the Future project is to develop and reinforce female leadership skills and empower young women within the innovative work-based learning environment of the Practice Enterprise. The secondary objective is to implement elements into the programme to address gender stereotype expectations and raise awareness of gender-based discrimination in the labour market. The consortium will cooperate to develop a Female Leadership and Empowerment Mini-Course Programme through which young participants, especially female trainees, are more likely to emerge as leaders and understand the realities of the labour market and better adapt to new trends in the recruitment process.

PROJECT CONSORTIUM

PEN Worldwide (DE)

Project No. 101049598–FEMPOWER–ERASMUS-YOUTH-2021-PCOOP-ENGO

Project lifetime: 2022-03-01 – 2024-04-31

More information here: FEMPOWER


„READY FOR NEW REALITIES – THE DIGITAL PRACTICE ENTERPRISE“

DIGIPRAC project aim is to transform current Practice Enterprise learning methodologies into a digital model and adding digital competencies to the learning outcomes, competences and skills that are regularly trained in the standard Practice Enterprise model.

TARGET GROUPS:

  • PE trainees from VET institutions;
  • disadvantaged young people and people with disabilities;
  • VET institutions and organizations using practice based training programs and require remote learning-teaching-models.

PROJECT CONSORTIUM

Project Coordinator:

VILNIAUS KOLEGIJA (Lithuania) www.sl.viko.lt

Partners:

PEN WORLDWIDE EV (Germany) www.penworldwide.org

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE (Denmark) www.ibc.dk

FUNDACIO PRIVADA INFORMINSTITUT PER A LA FORMACIO DE JOVES VERS L’ADMINISTRACIO D’EMPRESES (Spain) www.inform.es

CONNECTIEF VZW (Belgium) www.connectief.be

FZ-ESSEN GMBH (Germany) www.bfz-essen.de

PROJECT OBJECTIVES:

  • To re-evaluate the current Practice Enterprise model and methodology. The project will look at the advantages and challenges of setting up a digital Practice Enterprise and solutions for developing an online environment while maintaining a sense of reality in the classroom.
  • To provide VET learners, teachers, schools and community with a new future-proof digital model of the Practice Enterprise adapting the standard Practice Enterprise model from a mostly physical setting to a digital setting which allows more flexibility when challenges such as pandemics arise as well as to provide more flexibility inside the standard Practice Enterprise setting and increasing inclusion for people that are unable to travel to educational institutions due to geographical reasons or physical challenges.
  • To boost and sustain VET learners’ entrepreneurship skills through the creation of a virtual mistake-driven learning and internationalization at home environment to promote new future-proof digital model of the Practice Enterprise practices at school. While the standard Practice Enterprise model can and will continue, there’s a clear
  • To enrich VET teachers’ pedagogical approaches related to challenge-based learning and new future-proof digital model of the Practice Enterprise promotion in the classroom through the elaboration of a tool to support them in the application, adaptation and transferability of the project innovative web approach.

PROJECT RESULTS:

The key result of DIGIPRAC is a future-proof digital model based on the network’s prevailing PE training programme.

Results:

  • Framework & Model for Digital Practice Enterprise DIGIPRAC. A methodological document guiding the development of the further results.
  • DIGIPRAC Resource Guide. Concentrated on developing and creating a digital resource guide on how to implement the DIGIPRAC Practice Enterprise Framework.
  • DIGIPRAC Internationalization at Home Toolkit. To make VET practice enterprises more globally oriented and internationally connected. Digital PE integrates policies, programs, initiatives and a variety of distance learning approaches for increasing PE learners capacities to work in a international environment, offers all learners global perspectives within their programme of learning, whether or not they spend time abroad.
  • DIGIPRAC Collection for Mistake-Driven and Effective Relationships E-learning. Based on „learning by mistakes“ practices in the PE method, taking the best elements of existing tools and methods to implement them in digital PE, as Trial and error, also known as experimentation, is the basis for all discovery and learning.

Funded under Erasmus+ programme: Key Action 2: Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices

Type of activity: KA220-VET – Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training

Project number: 2021-1-LT01-KA220-VET-000033195

Project lifetime: 1/12/2021 – 30/11/2023


Completed projects:


Web learning approach for advancing and sustaining learners’ wellbeing and mental health

Project Title: “Innovative Web Approach for Advancing and Sustaining VET Learners’ Wellbeing and Mental Health”
Funded under Erasmus+ programme: Key Action 2: Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices
Type of activity: KA202 – Strategic Partnerships for Vocational Education and Training
Project number: 2020-1-LT01-KA202-078016
Project Acronym: STAYWELL
Project period is: 1/11/2020 – 31/10/2022, 24 Months

StayWell project aim is to develop an innovative web learning approach for advancing and sustaining VET learners’ wellbeing and mental health through the acquisition of social-emotional skills that would help them study effectively, master their life and enter the job market.

Target Groups:

  • Secondary VET: learners; teachers, educators, trainers and professionals; psychologists and leaders
  • Representatives of organisations promoting mental health and wellbeing in secondary VET
  • Public bodies involved in secondary VET

PROJECT CONSORTIUM

Project Coordinator:

VILNIAUS KOLEGIJA Lithuania

Partners:

PSICHIKOS SVEIKATOS PERSPEKTYVOS VIESOJI ISTAIGA Lithuania
Foyle International Ltd. United Kingdom
KUTAHYA DUMLUPINAR UNIVERSITESI Turkey
EUROPEAN CENTER FOR QUALITY OOD Bulgaria
AKMI ANONIMI EKPAIDEFTIKI ETAIRIA Greece
MEDNARODNA ZVEZA ZA ZDRAVJE MLADIH – INTERNATIONAL YOUTH HEALTH ORGANIZATION Slovenia

Project Objectives:

  • To provide VET learners, teachers and community with a thorough understanding of the factors affecting and skills favouring students’ wellbeing through the development of a pioneering 4-pillar mapping frame of wellbeing;
  • To foster VET learners to get aware, verify and continuously improve their level of psychological, cognitive, social and physical wellbeing through the development of a new to date approach for self-reflect upon the skills, which could help them improve their wellbeing and mental health;
  • To boost and sustain VET learners’ wellbeing skills through the creation of a virtual challenge-based learning environment to promote wellbeing practices at school;
  • To enrich VET teachers’ pedagogical approaches related to challenge-based learning and wellbeing promotion in the classroom through the elaboration of a full-cycle navigation tool to support them in the application, adaptation and transferability of the project innovative web approach.

Project Results:

1, Wellbeing Mapping Frame providing a thorough understanding of the factors affecting and skills favouring students’ wellbeing shaped in a pioneering 4-pillar frame.
2. Wellbeing Skillbox opening up VET learners’ minds about the importance of their mental health and wellbeing and fostering them to discover and continuously improve the skills,
which could help them improve their psychological, cognitive, social and physical wellbeing.
3. Digital Wellbeing Lab creating a virtual challenge-based learning environment for boosting and sustaining VET learners’ wellbeing skills through collaborative work and guided
discovery in the classroom.
4. Digital Wellbeing Lab Navigation Guide equipping VET teachers with a full-cycle navigation tool to apply, adapt and transfer the project innovative web approach.


The Practice Enterprise in Higher Education Institutions

Project Title: “Inclusion of Innovative Work-Based-Learning and Business Partnerships in HEI Curricula Development” 
Funded under Erasmus+ programme: Key Action 2: Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices
Type of activity: KA203 – Strategic Partnerships for higher education
Project number: 2019-1-LT01-KA203-060514
Project Acronym: HEIPNET
Project period is: 1/11/2019 – 31/5/2022, 32 Months

Project aim: To integrate and combine academic knowledge with practical experience in HEI curricula so that students are enabled to develop attributes and employability skills. The Practice Enterprise (PE) concept will be supported, promoted and scaled to curricula of HEIs in the EU and strong strategic links between Practice Enterprises and businesses will be built using work-based learning methodology.

Target groups:
The main project target group: 

  • Trainers/ teachers/practices organizers / HEIs;
  • HEI Students; 
  • Business representatives.

Other stakeholders: Practice Enterprise Central offices, other educational institutions, etc.

Project consortium:

Project Coordinator:

Vilniaus kolegija | University of Applied Sciences (Lithuania)

Partners:

Universitaet Graz (Austria)

University of National and World Economy (Bulgaria)

Universita degli studi di Pavia (Italy)

Klaipėdos valstybinė kolegija (Lithuania)

Pen Worldwide (Germany)

Project objectives:

  1. To improve the PE curriculum/module by updating its content according to the needs of the labor market and the strategy of the educational institution.
  2. To develop a syllabus and manual of reference which can be used for new HE interested in implementing the PE concept and tools.
  3. To strengthen the partnership between universities, their PE and Business world.

Main results:

  1. A manual of reference which will be used for new HE interested in implementing the PE concept and tools.
  2. PE partnership with real business guide for PE trainers (set of innovative pedagogies) and students (set of recommendations, examples, etc.) and companies.
  3. Database for real business companies – online tool. The HEI database will be a new part of existing PE database and will be designed for HEI PEs and business mentors who are interested in engaging in educational-business partnerships. It will increase PE concept awareness and recognition among HEIs and across the business world.
  4. Recommendations for improvements PE module(s)/curricula of different study programs in HE.
  5. Practice Enterprise Concept Memorization Booklet.

All created results in all languages are here: HEIPNET


VET Teacher Skills Portfolio


Project Title: “Developing VET Teaching Skills – Leading the Success of Tomorrow’s Students”
Funded under Erasmus+ programme: Key Action 2: Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices
Type of activity: KA202 – Strategic Partnerships for Vocational Education and Training
Project number: 2019-1-LT01-KA202-060685
Project Acronym: WEDEVET
Project period is: 1/12/2019 – 28/2/2021, 15 Months

The success of Vocational Education and Training (VET) training outcomes is closely aligned with the quality of the teaching and training provided. Therefore, the VET teacher experience is the defining characteristic of the learning experience. The WEDEVET project aims to review the material, related to team building, leadership and influence skills competencies, adapt and to test it in the Practice Enterprise Education system environment.

Target Groups:

  • VET Teachers/Trainers working with PE methodology
  • VET Teachers
  • Other Stakeholders: VET schools, Colleges, HEIs, other institutions with Practice Enterprises

PROJECT CONSORTIUM

Project Coordinator:

LIETUVOS IMITACINIŲ BENDROVIŲ ASOCIACIJA „LIBA“ (Lithuania)

Partners:

OULUN SEUDUN KOULUTUSKUNTAYHTYMA OSEKK (Finland)

EUROPEN-PEN INTERNATIONAL EV (Germany)

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE (Denmark)

Project Objectives:

  • review literature, best practices, development, and implementation of similar initiatives and programs and conduct a gap analysis and needs assessment to promote VET teachers skills with the use of Practice Enterprise.
  • develop material for VET Teachers, in order to foster the development of their competencies, to form the knowledge base-ground of team building, leadership and influence skills.
  • disseminate the created material to relevant multipliers and support its further promotion, implement online activities targeting the wider society in all partners countries, EU and worldwide through various channels.

Project Result:

The VET Teacher Skills Portfolio. The Guide for VET teachers and trainers on how to foster team building, leadership and influence skills and to be able to transfer these skills to students. The project will also work out the material for acquiring management competencies which most teachers may lack.


The Practice Enterprise for Entrepreneurship Education for Youth

Erasmus+ K2 Project “Innovative method to promoting entrepreneurship education to teenagers” (IMPEET).

The aim of the project is to create a simulation practice enterprise model for 12-15 years old secondary school pupils to develop their entrepreneurial skills, social relationships, behavior, to increase motivation to learn and adapting seven INSPIRE preventive strategies against children’s violence.

More about INSPIRE strategies:

http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/inspire/en/

Tasks:

  • To familiarize secondary schools with the practice model of practice enterprise aimed at developing entrepreneurship skills for 12-15 aged pupils.
  •  To equip secondary schools with methodological-teaching material that would help to develop teenager’s entrepreneurial competences while studying and working in practice enterprise.
  • To enhance the adaptation and transfer of innovative aspects of project by providing practical examples of recommendations, strategies and implementation.

Project Coordinator: “ Simulith” centre, Vilniaus kolegija/University of Applied Sciences, Lithuania.

Partners:

Kauno r. Garliavos Jonučių progimnazija, Lithuania
Europen – Pen International EV, Germany
Friedrich Frobel Schule, Germany
Istituto Comprensivo Panfili Serafini-Lola Di Stefano Sulmona AQ, Italy
Istituto Don Calabria, Italy

Target groups:

  • 12-15 aged pupils
  • Teachers of secondary schools
  • Other interested persons and organizations (school community, pupils’ parents, network of practice enterprises, etc.)

Results

4 intellectual products will be created:

  • Practice Enterprise’s Competencies Framework
  • Handbook for Practice Enterprise Trainer in Secondary Education
  • Practice Kit for Student
  • Final Practice Enterprise Model for Students aged 12-15.

Project number: 2018-1-LT01-KA201-046977

Project lifetime: October 2018 – September 2020

More information here: http://sl.viko.lt/projectsimpeet/


 The Practice Enterprise for Leadership Skills Development

Erasmus+ K2 Project “Flexible Educational Tool For Leadership Development“ (FETLED)

More about FETLED Project here: https://liba.lt/leadership-skills-development

FETLED project aims to review the material, related to leadership and management competences, adapt and test it in Practice Enterprise Education system environment.  The research work will be done – which core leadership competences could be developed focused on during the PE training. The catchy and engaging way for examining the nature of leadership competences, with great attention to awareness of socially responsible business. That comes from the fact that a people in VET training system are young people and they have less opportunities to gain knowledge in this field compared to those coming from Higher education system.  Also, PE methodology in VET schools can help to get the “Europe 2020 strategy“ objective related to early school leavers, it will help to decrease the number of dropouts, will have the effect of increase the attractive of VET school system, both to students and teachers.

Target groups:
Trainees, working in PE (VET students).
Project will also involve:
Trainers working with PE methodology (VET teachers).
Indirect target group:
Parents, VET schools.

Project Coordinator:

LIETUVOS IMITACINIŲ BENDROVIŲ ASOCIACIJA „LIBA“ (Lithuania)

Partners:

BULGARIAN CENTRE OF TRAINING FIRMS (Bulgaria)

FUNDACIO PRIVADA INFORM-INSTITUT PER A LA FORMACIO DE JOVES VERS L’ADMINISTRACIO D’EMPRESES (Spain)

EUROPEN-PEN INTERNATIONAL EV (Germany)

Project objectives, with references to outputs and results, are to:

* review the literature, best practices, development and implementation of similar initiatives and programs and conduct gap analysis and needs assessment to promote entrepreneurship and leadership skills, with use of Practice Enterprise.

* develop material for trainees, in order to foster the development of leadership competences, to form the knowledge base-ground of being socially responsible person, to improve level of skills for employability and new business creation.

*disseminate the created material to relevant multipliers and support its further promotion, implement online activities targeting the wider society in all partners countries, EU and worldwide through various channels.

Result: Practice Enterprise Leader SkillBox. The guidance for Trainee how to acquire leader abilities while working in the Practice Enterprise. The product in four languages (EN, LT, ES, BG) can be found here: https://liba.lt/leadership-skills-development/

Project No. 2018-1-LT01-KA202-047026

Project Lifetime December 2018 – January 2020


Reducing Early School Leaving with Practice Enterprise

Erasmus+ K3 Project „Reducing Upper Secondary ESL with Practice Enterprise“ (RUSESL).  

Working Together to Reduce ESL

The project partners aim to study, design and create a Practice Enterprise model that will contribute to the development of social, ICT and entrepreneurial skills in upper secondary students of 16-19 years old with a high risk to be early school leavers. The outcomes of the project are to be applied on a European and international scale.

The proposal consists of an innovative educational path including the acquisition of language, ICT and social skills to help to increase the self-esteem of students and to and encourage teamwork and cooperation. Through the simulation of a real-world business environment, to increase management and administrative skills; build entrepreneurial mind-sets and stimulate innovation and creativity.

More information: https://www.rusesl.info/

The RUSESL project consortium consists of 9 partners from Germany, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria and Lithuania.

Project Partners:

Project Coordinator
EUROPEN-PEN International e.V., Germany

Partners
Fundacio Inform, Spain
Istituto Don Calabria, Italy
Bulgarian Centre of Training Firms, Bulgaria
Lithuanian Practice Enterprise Association, Lithuania

School Partners
Escola Tècnico Professional Xavier, Spain
ITES Roberto Valturio, Italy
SOU Asen Zlatarov, Bulgaria
Vilnius Tourism and Commerce School, Lithuania

Project No. 2018-1-LT01-KA202-047026

Project Lifetime January 2018 – January 2020