Creating pathways for skills transfer in the
construction sector
Leonardo da Vinci pilot project: 2006-2008
Promotor: Chamber of Commerce of Bedfordshire, UK
Website:
http://www.leonardoskills.com/
Benefits of transnational placements for employers do not only refer to
competence development of future employees. Other benefits include valuable
multi-cultural experiences and a potentially further internationalizing labour
force, getting an international touch within the company and promoting new
impulses, ideas and knowledge of new markets. Moreover, the possibility of
students to bring in new approaches and new (working) methods, the improvement
of language attainment of staff, a greater cultural awareness and technical
understanding, and the increase of the profile and attractiveness of the
particular sector may lead to the development of adults’ competencies on the
labour market. Potential benefits may also concern addressing skill shortages
in particular sectors or regions and the transfer of (new) technologies and
know-how….
If there are so many
benefits for the employee and the employer to work abroad, why is the mobility
of skilled workforce so low?
Besides personal,
legal, financial and administrative barriers, one of the most important barrier
seems to be the lack of recognition and transparency of skills and competences.
The Leonardo da Vinci
project Pathways for Skills Transfer (PFST) offers a
contribution for the improvement of transparency of qualifications in the
construction sector.
It provides a model
to identify and overcome existing barriers to the transferability of vocational
qualifications for men and women workers, encouraging the free movement of
skilled workforce in the construction industry.
Research data will
enable the acceptability of qualifications from Poland and Hungary to be
compared with the needs of employers in Western Europe and measured against
best practice.
With the developed
tools, such as the European Matrix for the description and comparison of
working activities, training gaps and additional training needs can be defined
for people whose qualifications cannot be recognized across the EU member
states.
To find the tools and more
information about the project, please check out the project website of the
Pathways for skills transfer project. http://www.leonardoskills.com/