Launch of Mobile App and E-Learning Platform

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October 2021 – The LEADER project partners officially launched an e-learning platform and a mobile application to support young people in developing their soft skills. Both of these tools are a reflection of the most recent shift in skills demanded by global industries.

In addition to increased technical competency, employers are seeking candidates with developed non-technical skills, traditionally known as soft skills. These skills refer to abilities that relate to how one works and interacts with other people and include: communication, empathy, teamwork, creativity and many more. Through the LEADER project, seven educational and entrepreneurial organisations based in Denmark, Malta, Romania, Spain and the Netherlands, teamed up to develop appropriate tools for the benefit of young people, improving their chances for professional success.

Based on the initial identification of the Top 10 Soft Skills for the Future of Work, 50 training activities suitable for both in-classroom and in-company training were pooled and made accessible for free, for both trainers and trainees, on the following, an easy-to-use e-learning platform.

In addition, a serious game called the ‘LEADER Game’– available as a downloadable mobile application on both Google Play and App Store – have been developed to facilitate the implementation of these training activities. Interested trainers and trainees operating in the vocational educational and/or entrepreneurial spheres are encouraged to make use of these tools in order to acquire new personal and professional strengths.

Speaking on behalf of Friesland College, the entity which has led the project consortium over the last two years, Paula Bijvoets stated that the tools that have been developed do not simply contribute to the development of soft skills, but also emphasise how important these skills are. She affirmed that “In combining learning with elements of serious gaming, the tools take on a nature that is instructive, but also fun to use. Our teachers and trainers are extremely happy with the LEADER tools and their ability to be used both online and offline. It’s a win-win, for the participants as well as for the facilitators!”

Unlock your soft skills to win the career game, today!

Access to E-Learning Platform from here.
Download LEADER Mobile App on your iOS device from here.
Download LEADER Mobile app on your Android device from here.

 

Empowering Students Today, To Be the LEADERs of Tomorrow

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June 2020 – The LEADER partnership, comprising of seven European organisations operating in the vocational educational and/or entrepreneurial spheres, announced the recent launch of its project website. Leadertheproject.com is now serving as a one-stop-shop for students as well as academic/in-company trainers to learn more about the project and access the resources which are currently being developed to promote soft skills development. These include a soft skills curriculum for European students in Vocational Education and Training (VET), a train-the-trainer guidebook and ultimately, a serious game which is expected to complement more traditional forms of teaching and training.  At present, the game developers are interviewing a selected sample of students to assess their needs and demands and ensure that they stand to benefit from the real-world, decision-making scenarios which will be featured in the digital game, demonstrating how specific skills work in different situations.

As the partner organisation responsible for the project’s dissemination actions, the Malta Business Bureau (MBB) was tasked with the development of this website and e-learning platform. The MBB’s Chief Executive Officer, Joe Tanti, stated that, “As an organisation that has the interests of the business community at heart, it is important for us to contribute to initiatives that support the education and training of our future industry leaders. Students, academic tutors and industry trainers have a lot to learn from one another and should always find time to consult one another and work collectively”. He thanked the LEADER partners for the time and energy which they are investing in the implementation of this project, and especially acknowledged the sterling work conducted by MBB Executives Sarah Abdilla and Marija Elena Borg in the setting up of this user-friendly platform.

The LEADER Project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, is led by Friesland College (the Netherlands) in collaboration with Technical Education Copenhagen (Denmark), Malta Business Bureau (Malta), Spektrum Educational Centre Foundation (Romania), CEBANC College (Spain), Inqubator Leeuwarden and 8D Games (the Netherlands).

Introducing LEADER Project: Helping Develop People Skills

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November, 2019 – Seven organisations based in Denmark, Malta, Romania, Spain and the Netherlands have just launched LEADER, an Erasmus+ project aiming to support students in Vocational Education and Training (VET) to develop appropriate ‘people skills’, allowing them to take control of their careers.

‘People skills’ refer to the competencies needed to communicate, cooperate and work productively. In most competitive job markets, employers do not only look for technical ability and specialist knowledge. Instead, they seek candidates who can become leaders, and leadership itself depends on both technical and ‘people’ skills. Exposing students to a comprehensive skill-set thus increases their chances for professional success.

Training in ‘people skills’ is, however, far from straightforward as these competencies tend to be complex and vary from one situation to another. This is where the students’ motivation becomes an increasingly important factor, coupled with the employed training method and delivery.

For this reason, LEADER has set out to develop an innovative serious game which will help VET students acquire insight into their qualities and allow them to develop the skills required to occupy a rightful place in the labour market. The LEADER game will include real-world, decision-making scenarios demonstrating how specific skills work in different situations.

In addition, educators and trainers will also be trained to make sure they are well-equipped to teach ‘people’ and leadership skills. A strong and thorough research will be undertaken to make sure the LEADER project meets the criteria of both VET students and employers in business.

The LEADER Project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, is led by Friesland College (the Netherlands) in collaboration with Technical Education Copenhagen (Denmark), Malta Business Bureau (Malta), Spektrum Educational Centre Foundation (Romania), CEBANC College (Spain), Inqubator Leeuwarden and 8D Games (the Netherlands).