Educational concepts for competences
of the future
The challenges of professional and personal everyday life are constantly changing, things become faster, more unpredictable and more complex. Since 2010, we have therefore been working intensively on the development of innovative teaching methods that transfer knowledge to a new level. This makes learning not only time- and location-independent, but above all individual, intuitive and meaningful in a holistic way.
Our didactic concepts are based on the principle: Whoever is motivated learns more easily. Contents are questioned on their meaningfulness; it is explained what is important and why and practical examples consolidate acquired knowledge. Flipped classroom concepts and inverted learning methods replace traditional teacher-centered “chalk and talk” methods and allow for more intensive repetitions and practical exercises in the classroom. Knowledge is built up in a competence-oriented and practical way, consolidated and repeated again and again. This makes learning not only meaningful, but also much more fun.
However, we do not only work on the mediation of learning content, but also create new content and set our own priorities in the educational landscape and in the integration of people in the job market.
In recent years, for example, we have dealt intensively with the problems of fake news, competence management and the requirements of digital change and industry 4.0.
In our international and national projects, we also contribute to the development of structural capacities and work together with public institutions on the development of education and labour market campaigns.
This is possible because we are constantly working on the further development of our educational concepts, creating framework conditions for new knowledge and being companions for the personal success of our customers. We believe in this and work together with around 250 highly qualified and motivated employees at 5 locations in Austria every day to create the best educational opportunities for our partners.
We have extensive experience in working with a wide variety of target groups and their educational needs – from career guidance for young people and programmes for reintegration into the labour market for specific target groups to complex training programmes for companies and public institutions.
We are proud to have been one of Austria’s leading adult education providers since 1986. An excerpt of our many national reference projects can be found under the following link (in German):
https://www.bitschulungscenter.at/lernwelt/
We take care of our international projects – contact us for inquiries, cooperations or simply because you have a great idea! We are looking forward to an exchange with you:
Team International Educational Projects and Innovation
Team International Department
Management
Michael Kvas
Management
Laura Reutler
Management
Stefanie Gugganig
Team
Jasmin Fischer
Team
Natalie Volkmann
Team
Hannah Helml
Team
Michelle Bachl
Team
Julia Bogensperger
EU projects
Horizons are there to broaden, so we work with universities, schools, companies and associations throughout Europe which want to rethink labour market and social policy and revolutionise learning worlds together with us.
We carry the results of our projects out into the world and help shape change by thinking and working together with as many innovative minds as possible.
In return, our strong network of national and international partner organisations provides us with new knowledge and fresh perspectives for our work and we all go one step further together.
For us it is not about concluding projects, but about realising visions and ideas that change the learning or working world of people for the better.
If you are interested in a possible collaboration, we are happy to provide you with our partner identification form (PIF) below:
Free Learning Materials
On our bit-academy learning platform you will find free learning materials on various topics in the areas of sustainability, digitalisation and inclusion.
Register >> here
The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
CURRENT PROJECTS
At the moment we have dedicated ourselves to these topics:
3L Mindset
LifeLongLearning Mindset
The 3L Mindset project (2022 – 2024) aims to support learners with various limitations to develop a growth mindset, i.e. the curiosity to learn something new.
As part of the project, we are developing various materials to support adult educators in adapting their teaching materials to the target group of learners with a lower qualification level or with a migrant background, and thus to promote the development of such a mindset on the side of these learners.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> 3L Mindset Facebook-Page
AHEAD in VET
mentAl HEalth AmbassaDors in VET institutions
Mental health is, not only due to COVID-19 one of the top agenda points of European politicians. Epidemiologists emphasize the growing relevance of mental health issues with more and more studies indicating that our systems need to adapt and need to deal with these developments. VET institutions are also challenged to adapt their current strategies in order to remain attractive for learners and to support them in their development in the best possible way.
As mental health problems are still a delicate thing and, from a societal perspective still something that people try to conceal, VET institutions in general are not prepared for this. It is necessary to come up with innovative approaches that fill the void of lacking competences. First of all, we would like to make VET institutions aware of the topic in order to be able to establish initiatives in this field. A self-assessment tool will then help teachers and trainers to better assess their competences and find out in which areas mental health competences are still needed. To improve their competences, an e-learning course with a concept for face-to-face training and a MOOC will be made available. Finally, the mental health conference will be held in Belgium to ensure that the project reaches experts and decision makers on a broad scale.
REMCO
Upskilling counselling workers for remote, online services provision
The current pandemic is troubling us all, but for some people it is having lingering effects on their mental health. The disruption of mental health services across the EU is also making this situation worse. Our project therefore aims to overcome possible barriers in online services in a center-centered manner.
Due to the new requirements of the online services, specialists face new challenges and tasks for which they were usually only minimally trained in their training. In order to be able to do high-quality, value-adding work remotely, psychiatric care professionals need digital platforms adapted to their needs, support in redesigning meetings, as well as consistent guidelines and protocols for supporting their customers. We meet these needs with a jointly created curriculum, appropriate teaching materials and toolkits, etc. We also provide opportunities to exchange project results at various international events.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> REMCO-Facebook-Page
Women4Green
Women in Power for a Green Economy
The project aims to inspire young women to pursue careers in the future-relevant field of the green economy and provide them with the required knowledge to do so (2021 – 2024).
The Covid-19 crisis has reminded us once again of the urgent need to move towards a “Green Economy”, addressed in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. “Green Economy” is thus the economy of the future. To achieve this, innovations are needed on the one hand, and the workforce must be prepared for the jobs of the future on the other. Green jobs are essential for sustainable development and for women this offers new opportunities.
The results elaborated in the project should thus on the one hand lead to an increasing interest and orientation of young women to take up a green job and thus contribute to gender equality, and on the other hand also to an adjustment in career orientation (increasing inclusion of existing/emerging green jobs, gender-sensitive approach) and in recruiting measures in companies (gender-sensitive approach).
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> Women4green-Facebook-Page
AGE:WISE
Across Generations at Eye Level: Ways to Integrate Seniors by Education
Learning with, from and about each other – and filling the ever-growing gap between Generation Z and seniors with the means of intergenerational learning (IGL) is the major vision of the project AGE:WISE (2020 – 2022)
Through intergenerational learning settings, the scope of action for all members of society can be increased and greater social integration, respect and encounters at eye level can be achieved. But more than just promoting IGL, we want to motivate the elderly to take on the role of teachers and provide them with the needed self-reflection skills and trainer tools to meet this goal.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> AGEWISE Facebook-Page
Fit4DigiLinE
Fit 4 Digital Linguistic Education
The project “Fit 4 Digital Linguistic Education” (2020 – 2023) aims at creating a European knowledge base of digital competences for language educators and providing the European adult educational landscape with a newly developed online assessment tool.
Knowledge of foreign languages and, above all, knowledge of the national language of the country in which people live and work in is fundamental to professional success and social integration in society. Therefore, the project Fit4DigiLinE aims at extending the competences of language educators to enhance their teaching skills. The learning materials produced incorporate the areas of digital, social and personal skills. This project therefore makes a valuable contribution to “Extending and developing the competences of educators and other personnel who support adult learners” in adult education.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> Fit4DigiLinE Facebook-Page
Access2Learn
Skills development for the inclusion of low-qualified adults in blended learning settings
The aim of the project “Access2Learn“ (2021 – 2023) is to address the disadvantage of low-skilled adult learners in terms of access to blended learning opportunities and to support them in developing the cognitive as well as digital competences required for participation in blended learning settings.
Especially in the last few years, more and more training offers have been converted to blended learning. But especially for our target group, these offers are often hardly accessible, because on the one hand, various basic competences for participation are missing and on the other hand, the prejudice that this group of learners is not capable of participating in blended learning offers prevails. The project therefore aims to overcome existing prejudices and to integrate low-skilled learners into this new form of learning in order to ensure equal opportunities.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> Access2Learn-Facebook-Page
bye, Polarity
Thinking beyond Polarity for Europe united in diversity
The project bye, Polarity (2022 – 2024) aims to counteract the increasing polarisation in politics and society through school education and thus empower young people to act as ambassadors for a united Europe.
The division of our world often happens through the formation of polarities. In order to be able to break up static patterns of thinking and to master social challenges of the future, competencies such as cohesion, discourse skills, empathy and diversity as a chance for holistic solutions are needed. On the one hand, young people in particular are very impressionable with regard to polarizing tendencies; at the same time, they can equally have a positive influence on their environment. This is why bye, Polarity focuses on the secondary school level. Through innovative didactic concepts, learning materials and interactive workshop designs, teachers are provided with the appropriate tools to sensitise students to the topic, to teach them key competencies in dealing with polarities and subsequently to empower them to become ambassadors for a united Europe.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> bye, Polarity-Facebook-Page
ReLeCoFa -Regional Learning Communities and Facilitators
The creation of vibrant local, regional and European learning communities
The project ReLeCoFa (2019 – 2022) is concerned with the creation of vibrant local, regional and European learning communities supported by regional learning facilitators.
The key message of the project is: “When we share, we win”. The teachers as a target group should be supported in the planning, implementation and follow-up of their lessons by creating networks in the form of regional and European cross-border learning communities.
Click here for more information about the project.
Click here >> ReLeCoFa Facebook-Page
CAR+
CAR Master
The project CAR Master (2022 – 2023) aims to create a uniform European knowledge standard for production managers in the automotive industry.
As a link between management and production, this target group plays an important role in the implementation of innovations in production, which is why a combination of hard skills, soft skills and practical experience is needed. As part of the project, an xLearning platform is being developed to provide production managers with attractive and targeted training in a flexible way in a blended learning setting. The aim is to achieve changes in four key areas of masters’ education: Quality, Innovation, Flexibility and Unification of Requirements.
E-Skills
E-Skills For E-Citizens: Effective Access to e-Services
“E-Skills” (2021 – 2023) is a project with which we want to promote the further development of adults’ digital skills. The goal is to make it possible for everyone to use digital government services without any problems.
In recent years, numerous services offered to the population, in particular many government services, have been digitalised. Therefore, with “E-Skills” we want to contribute to adults being able to develop their digital skills in such a way that they can act without major problems both in their professional environment and, above all, in their private lives. Therefore, within the framework of this project, materials and tools will be created for adult educators to support them in their work with adult learners and to contribute to the further development of adults’ digital competences.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> E-Skills-Facebook-Page
RIVET
Responsibility in Internationalization of Vocational Education and Training
With the project RIVET (2022 – 2024) seven vocational training institutions from six nations have joined forces to undergo a peer review process related to internationalization strategies.
In the project RIVET, the partner organizations will focus on the definition of sustainability criteria in the development of internationalization strategies of VET institutions in order to ensure more responsible environmental, social and governance practices. To this end, the peer review method, which has become increasingly important in VET quality assurance systems, was chosen for the development of the entire project.
IQ-DigitS
Interoperable Qualifications – through the establishment of sustainable, digital credential infrastructure
IQ-DigitS (2022-2024) focuses on the internationalisation and digitalisation of VET and AE institutions’ credentials and certification systems in response to a dynamic and ever-changing global labour market.
The project’s main aim is to support VET and AE providers in their transition to a digitalised, unified certification system. A sustainable, digital credential infrastructure will allow for greater mobility between international AE institutions and, by extension, to a more flexible global workforce which can adapt readily and easily to global market fluctuations.
#NEXT
#Next Generation Shapes the EU’s Digital Society
#NEXT – #Next Generation Shapes the EU’s Digital Society (2022 – 2024) is a project to raise awareness of the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in social, political, and professional life.
The project “#Next Generation Shapes the EU Society (#NEXT)” focuses primarily on fostering the critical thinking, creativity and decision-making skills of young people and youth workers and increasing their active participation in society in terms of shaping and building AI norms to bring society to trust AI and AI-related ecosystems. To achieve these goals, a documentary, a curriculum on teaching soft skills, a toolkit for trainers, an e-learning platform, and policy recommendations will be developed within the project.
CisU
Culture is YOU!
The main aim of the project CisU (2022 – 2024) is to promote cultural awareness among young adults who are facing diverse barriers like long-term unemployment or a lower skills level.
Art and culture are central factors of socialisation and the basis for the development of key competences. But especially young adults with diverse limitations perceive culture as something abstract. Therefore, we want to provide this target group with basic cultural education and show them possibilities of how they can participate in shaping culture. In this way, they can increase their self-confidence and are better integrated into society.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> CisU-Facebook-Page
CLIKC
Content and Language Integrated learning for Key Competences
The aim of the CLIKC project (2021-2023) is to train unemployed people in an innovative way to reduce the duration of their unemployment.
Unemployment is one of the most relevant issues in the European Union. In particular, the duration of each unemployment period poses a threat to the social and economic sustainability of the system. It is therefore crucial to support unemployed people with placement and career services at the earliest opportunity. Education is an important factor in promoting employability. For this purpose, 8 partners from Austria, Italy, Spain, Malta and Belgium are developing and testing an educational catalog and a new online tool that combines 4 innovations (Content Language Integrated Learning and Micro-Learning, Adaptive Learning and Advanced Analytics) and specifically promotes the strengthening of basic personal and social skills.
BLIGS
Blended learning – an innovative gate to success at Folk High Schools and similar institutions
The aim of the project (2020 – 2023) is to change and enrich working methods and styles from traditional learning to blended learning and to make the courses offered by our institutions more attractive. Thereby we want to develop and increase key competences of educators in adult education institutions, which are necessary in a blended learning setting.
The consortium consisting of folk high schools and educational institutions from 6 European countries (AT, PL, FI, ES, FR, DE) wants to adapt the applied methods to the changing realities of the 21st century, so that everyone, regardless of age, place of residence or wealth, has equal access to learning opportunities and thus equal educational opportunities.
CABIT
E-Cargo Bike Riders Initial Training
Contributing to the battle against climate change by helping to facilitate more sustainable ways to move freight across short distances and reduce CO2 emissions in cities is the strategic vision behind the project CABIT (2020-2022).
Currently a movement is growing to replace traditional types of haulage with e-cargo bikes which will make a significant contribution to air quality and reduce noise pollution. But at the moment, riders are not required to have any kind of driving licence, and they do not receive any standardised training for using these bikes. Therefore, the objectives of this project are to identify the competences required by e-cargo bike riders as well as to develop a training toolkit to meet the needs of riders, and also the needs of the companies and municipalities which are involved in the use of e-cargo bikes for delivering commercial light goods.
TestU
Online – free portal of tests for education
The creation of a free multilingual open source platform is the overarching goal of the project “TestU Online – free portal of tests for education” (2021-2023).
The project consortium, consisting of 5 European partner organisations (AT, DE, SK, LT, PL), is engaged in the development of an e-learning platform, which enables the creation of various quizzes, tests and exercises in a simple and fast way, thus providing free access to education and training, especially in language teaching.
Train2Sustain
Train to Sustain – developing capacity to teach sustainability in VET
The project „Train to Sustain – developing capacity to teach sustainability in VET” (2020–2022) aims at developing vocational education and training (VET) teachers’ and trainers’ skills to guide their colleagues and students in the subjects Sustainability, Circular Economy and Lean combined in an innovative way.
Nowadays it is very important to raise awareness and develop competences for preventing environmental and climate-change challenges. By developing a high-quality training package, we aim at building capacity and confidence of teachers and trainers in teaching sustainability and circular economy combined with Lean principles in innovative ways. Our goal is to provide all students with valuable knowledge and skills on these topics by the time they graduate.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> Train2Sustain Facebook-Page
VAMOOC
The Virtual Assistant´s MOOC
The project VAMooc aims to create a MOOC and related resources for vocational education and training (VET) learners and entrepreneurs on how to work as a Virtual Assistant, considering the skills and knowledge to develop as well as the entrepreneurship skills specific to such jobs.
The outcomes of this project will support VET providers in the adaptation of their training offer to changing skills needs (in particular business skills and entrepreneurship), green and digital transitions (by developing trainees’ digital skills and providing new perspectives for learners and trainers into possible career paths). The course will be designed for people in training as well as active professionals, to create or improve an existing activity.
COMPLETED PROJECTS
Makers+
Training Modules for Industry 4.0
The aim of the MAKERS+ project (2019-2022) is to develop and disseminate training modules that focus on competences used in manufacturing laboratories (Fab Lab) and maker spaces with an industrial 4.0 applicability.
The following topics will be covered in the training: (1) Manufacturer & Manufacturer Interior Culture, (2) Craft & Materials, (3) Documentation, (4) 2D Design (CAD), (5) 2D Cutting Machines CNC (Laser + Vinyl), (6) Milling (Precision + Milling), (7) Electronics 1 (General, Development Board), (8) Electronics 2 (Design, Milling, PCBS), (9) Programming, (10) 3D Encryption (CAM) and (11) 3D Printers.
ICD-4TVET
Interactive Curriculum Development for Technical Vocational Education and Training
The project InVET (2018-2020) focuses on knowledge transfer related to information about industry 4.0.
The main goal of the project is to create a knowledge base with core information about the industrial revolution. All information will be transformed into learning materials. The main target group are learners in vocational education and training.
Wear(e)able
Best dressed sustainably
The central concern of the project Wear(e)able (2020-2022) is to create awareness among young people for a sustainable use of clothing, as well as to point out concrete alternatives for action.
The intended impact of the project is to initiate a wide-ranging debate on plastic in clothing and the fast fashion phenomenon, and to provide as many young people as possible with the means to contribute to this development.
Click here for more information about the project.
Click here >> Wearable Facebook-Page
Empower4Employment
Empowering The Employabilities of Low-Skilled and Low-Qualified Adults in Home Care Sector
The project Empower4Employment (2019 – 2021) deals with the shortage of skilled workers in the field of home care for people who need help.
The project takes up this challenge and follows the goal of promoting the employment opportunities of low educated adults in the home care sector. A handbook for the determination of skills and competences, a training curriculum and a job matching platform are thereby groundbreaking for the fulfilment of the project goal.
FIVE
Future Improvement of Vocational Education
The aim of the FIVE project (2019-2021) is to raise awareness and appreciation of vocational education and training and to improve the attractiveness of vocational education and training.
The consortium consists of five vocational training centres working with low-skilled and unemployed people. During the project we will summarise the vocational training experience of the partner organisations and find out how to improve the training process and teaching techniques. The end result of the project is the development of a plan to improve vocational training.
SHARE THE BADGE
Support open education and the recognition of competences acquired through all types of learning
The main priority of the SHARE THE BADGE project (2019-2021) is to support open education and the recognition of competences acquired through all types of learning (formal, non-formal and informal) through an open digital process (Open Badges) in order to provide good (work-related) opportunities for all, including those without diplomas or certificates.
The project will provide these organisations with tools to better understand the learning pathways within their organisation how to link badges to these learning pathways. This will enable them to improve their target group’s learning.
B-SAFE
Web security and personal data protection
The B-SAFE project (2018-2020) aims to improve Internet safety and disseminate important information, such as responsible use of data on the Internet, identity theft, control of one’s own digital footprint and much more relevant background information.
The consortium will provide the European education landscape with innovative non-academic training with content on web security, personal data protection/GDPR in line with INDUSTRY 4.0.
Click here for more information about the project
Click here >> B-SAFE Facebook-Page
CUVID
Curriculum Video
The aim of the CUVID project (2016-2018) was to develop an interactive video application platform for young people to connect them directly with potential employers, to increase the employment rate among young people and to better qualify young people with self-presentation skills via video in order to increase their employability.
The vision behind this is to create a video self-presentation platform that gives young people the opportunity to attract recruiters with their personality. Special tutorials developed during the project help young people to create an impressive and useful application video and profile.
FAKE OFF
Fostering Adolescents’ Knowledge and Empowerment in Outsmarting Fake Facts
The project FAKE OFF (2018-2020) deals with the topic of media competence in youth work – especially in connection with Fake News.
The aim is to raise awareness about deliberate disinformation and to enable young people to recognise and avoid spreading “fake news”. The didactic concept developed in the project, the APP and the training manual for pedagogical staff support this process.
Click here for more information about the project.
Click here >> FAKE OFF Facebook-Page
Inter.comp
Intercultural competence in VET for wood, metal and vehicle industry
The thematic focus of this project (2016-2019) is the development of learning content that can help VET professionals and mentors to improve their intercultural competences.
The aim is to ensure a high quality level of training for young migrants and thus to promote their integration into the labour market. The consortium of vocational and adult education institutions from Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria has bundled experiences and identified special challenges for teachers/mentors in the training of these target groups.
INTRO 4.0
INTROduction to the industrial revolution 4.0
The project INTRO 4.0 (2017-2019) focuses on the development of a new online knowledge database and in particular on the collection of all relevant information, links etc. on the 4th industrial revolution.
It aims to establish an interactive European knowledge platform with the potential to standardize the information on innovations that INDUSTRY 4.0 offers across Europe.
InVET
INDUSTRY 4.0 for VET
The project InVET (2018-2020) focuses on knowledge transfer in relation to information around Industrie 4.0. The main goal of the project is to create a knowledge base with core information about the industrial revolution. All information will be transferred into learning materials. The main target group is learners in vocational education.
Click here for more information about the project.
Click here >> InVET Facebook-Page
QMS4VET
Integration of Learning Outcomes into Quality Management and Harmonization of
Quality Standards in Vocational Education and Training in Europe
The project QMS4VET (2018-2020) investigates the topic of quality management systems in educational institutions (mainly vocational schools).
In this project, six project weeks will be carried out in which the individual quality management systems (QMS) of the partner organisations will be examined and analysed in detail. At the end of the project, the results will be summarised in a QMS toolkit to support vocational schools (and other educational institutions) throughout Europe in implementing or improving QMS systems.
Our project partners
Weitere News
KICK-OFF-MEETING – “CLIKC”
AGE:WISE – PROJECT OF THE MONTH!
EPALE Conference 2021
KICK-OFF-MEETING “TestU”
KICK-OFF-MEETING “CABIT”
TPM Wear(e)able
Merry Christmas 2020
Learning Teaching Training Event – Wear(e)able
Kick-Off: AGE:WISE
Kick-Off: Fit4DigiLinE
