European Initiative for the Promotion of Informal Learning

The Vocational Training Center “South Aegean Training” (KEK ENA) is a private training organisation, established in Kos Island, Greece. KEK ENA is certified by the Ministry of Employment - National Accrediation Center for Continuing Vocational Training (no. 11997-07) and is activated in the fields of vocational training, life long learning, training of employed and unemployed people. It works on the training needs analysis, development of training programmes, delivery of training, evaluation and accrediation. It also implements activities such as researches, studies, action plans, promotion and support of employment, training support of SMEs, etc. The main thematic fields involved are Economy and Administration, Information Technology, Environment, Technical Professions and Tourism.

General description of the organisation:

Asset Technology is a Greek company established in 1997 under the aegis of the Greek Ministry of Development and activates in the fields of Consulting and Training (continuing training, open and distance learning, new qualifications and development of training materials for SMEs, start up businesses and online platforms).

Asset Tec demonstrates an important number of customers which cover various sectors and has formed a wide network of partners, consisting of public organizations, universities, private companies and non-governmental organizations.

Asset works on a regular basis both on the tourism and the training sector, cooperates with specific tourism organisations and companies and has training centres in Chania Crete, Peyki Athens and Kos Island.

Asset, has extensive experience in implementing transnational projects including 10 "Leonardo" projects, and also "Adapt", ESF and "Equal" projects.

Role of the participant organisation in the proposed project:

 The role of Asset Technology in the project is defined as follows:

• Responsible for adapting model, developing materials for Greece and piloting with SMEs and employees
• Active participation in partner meetings
• Conduction of national and international dissemination activities
• Preparation of required contents for project reports

Key staff involved in the project

•  Georgios Kouklakis, Director
•  Stylianos-Manos Andreadis, Project Manager
•  Dimitris Tsamakos, Consultant

General description of the organisation:

EIfEL (European Institute for E-Learning) is an independent, not-for-profit European professional association whose mission is to support organisations, communities and individuals in building a knowledge economy and a learning society through innovative and reflective practice, continuing professional development and the use of knowledge, information and learning technologies. The core staff of 5 people work with a network of over 100 members and partners throughout Europe. Principal activities are centred on competencies, quality in elearning, the ePortfolio and interoperability of learning systems. The Institute is leading the Europortfolio consortium and is a founding member of EFQUEL the European Foundation for Quality in E-Learning. EIfEL has participated as co-ordinator or partner in more than 20 EC-financed projects.

Role of the participant organisation in the proposed project:

EIfEL will be a member of the transnational steering group. It will participate in creating a framework for quality assurance and evaluation. Drawing on its experience of working on learning outcomes, competency frameworks and on the Europass portfolio, it will contribute to the preparation of the EIPIL-PAN model for transfer to other member states and sectors. It will act as joint leader for Workpackage 5, the implementation of the model transfer and of the validation and accreditation methodologies. The Institute will also participate actively in valorisation activities, using its portal and extensive European network.

Skills and expertise of key staff involved in the project

Serge Ravet is Chief Executive of the European Institute for E-Learning (EIfEL). He is also Vice-President of the European Foundation for Quality in E-Learning (EFQUEL). Combining both technological and pedagogical expertise (20 years experience in training and human resources development) with working experience in Europe and the US, he is retained as an expert and a consultant in learning technology projects. He has published books and articles on eLearning, competencies, quality, learning technologies and ePortfolios - "Technology-based Training" (Kogan Page, 1997) "Valider les Compétences avec les NVQs" (DEMOS, 1999); a Guide to e-learning Solutions (2001).

General description of the organisation:

The Social and Economic Training Institute (IFES) is a Romanian foundation that has been functioning since 1996. As a part of the Romanian economic and social environment, we promote the concept of continuous adult education as a defining way to personal, institutional and community development. We offer training and consulting services. IFES has experience in need analysis, in developing of training materials for trainers and trainees, in testing of products and dissemination activities, assessment of professional performance, auditing and consulting for quality. Our institute has its training courses authorized by the National Council for Adult Education so we can offer to our trainees diplomas recognized by the Romanian Ministry of Labour, Social Solidarity and Family and by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research.

Role of the participant organisation in the proposed project

Our organisation’s contribution to the transfer of innovation is as follows:

• Membership of the transnational steering group
• To take the lead for Workpackage 2 in creating a framework for quality assurance and evaluation
• Preparation of the model for transfer to Romania
• To extend and implement both the concepts and implementation of the validation and accreditation methodologies
• Valorisation activities.

General description of the organisation:

The MRS Consultancy Ltd. is based in North Yorkshire, UK and operates across the UK and Europe making full use of new technologies and communications. The business, originally established as a partnership, MRS Associates, has been operating since 1997 with a core staff and a pool of Associates in both the UK and abroad in its extensive European work.

Expertise includes:

1. Business consultancy and support including skills development for small businesses utilising e-learning and e-mentoring with special focus in last three years on the hospitality and tourism sectors.
2. Research, New Product Development and Design with particular emphasis on innovative concepts and practices in learning underpinned by best practice and quality management for SMEs in both UK and Europe. Recent innovative approaches have been in the area of recognition, validation and accreditation of informal learning in the workplace.
3. Research with disadvantaged or “hard to reach” groups such as small and micro businesses, and individuals.

Role of the participant organisation in the proposed project

With its extensive and successful management of other Leonardo projects, it will act as the co-ordinator of this particular project with particular reference to the achievement of the project deliverables and will joint lead with P0 on workpackage 1. It will produce the Project Handbook which has been so successful in ensuring that the other projects have met their targets and that inputs have been truly Transnational. In addition, it will also bring its “troubleshooting” experience to the project should it be required. In addition, as this organisation was the key driver of the original Informal Learning Opportunities project and continues to work as the co-ordinator of post-INFLOW activities through EIPIL in the UK. It is thus the partner who will support the Workpackage 3 lead partner in the transfer of the model and also will ensure that WP6 deliverables are achieved through its previous experience. As an ASET centre it will be responsible for quality assurance of the accreditation.

Skills and expertise of key staff involved in the project

M Smith Simmonds. Prior to 1997, Margaret spent her life in formal education including as Director of Learning Services at a large Further Education College. She has been involved in e-learning and non-formal learning since 1991 and has been actively involved in the creation and development of a large range of flexible learning packages. Margaret has managed 3 Phase 2 Leonardo Da Vinci pilot projects, including INFLOW and is now on the UK LLP Thematic Networking Group 1. She has also been contacted recently by UK Gov regarding its informal learning consultation.

Ruth Thompson has been the financial officer for the 3 Leonardo Projects under Phase 2. In this she has managed to ensure that partners report regularly and that the project is conducted according to the Administrative and Financial Handbook. In this project, she will carry out a similar function, reporting ultimately to P0 Management. She has appropriate book-keeping and business management qualifications to Level 4.

Roy Smith Roy’s career has been primarily involved in developing new businesses and products across a number of diverse market sectors. As such he has been involved in leading, managing – and bringing to fruition – development projects. In recent years working with MRS and with public sector business support agencies he has applied that experience to helping to develop regional businesses. More recently he has been a business mentor in a national Equal project targeting social enterprises as well as co-ordinating a business e-mentoring programme across four member states.

MyKnowledgeMap (MKM) is a rapidly expanding provider of e-learning and personnel management applications based in York. Formed in 2000 the company now provides a range of advanced internet learning solutions including Course design & development, skill assessment, gap analysis, competency management systems, personal records and associated appraisal system, bespoke learning management systems and the mapping of knowledge required for optimum performance by job role.

General description of the organisation:

The MultiKlaster was created in November 2006 as the initiative of the Nowy Sacz School of Business-National-Louis University and SMEs from Malopolska Region. At this time cluster consisting of more than 60 SMEs, employing almost 2000 IT specialists from all Polsih region. The firms associated in the cluster are operating on the so called „creative industry”.Core competencies are as the following: mobile technologies, film, animation, game technologies in education, e- learning, m-learning. The activity profile of the Cluster is concentrated on the three, big fields of applied multimedia solutions and information systems: business, education and entertainment. The wide set of clusters' members competencies enable clusters’ members being involve in any regional, national and international project concentrated on multimedia and information systems in the educational, business and entertainment context.

Role of the participant organisation in the proposed project

• Membership of the transnational steering group
• To participate in creating a framework for quality assurance and evaluation
• To lead on Workpackage 3 which is the preparation of the model for transfer to other member states and to develop specifically for use in Poland
• To extend and implement both the concepts and implementation of the validation and accreditation methodologies
• Valorisation activities

Skills and expertise of key staff involved in the project

Elwira Waszkiewicz

Skills: Self-independence and excellent time and task management, good presentation skills, awareness of multicultural environments. Experience in: applying, running, managing and following up the EU funded projects, networking with European partners, organizing the international and national conferences, contact with media.

Kinga Pawłowska

Skills: Effective time management, multitasking, managing skills, ability to work under time pressure, working in networks. Experience in: consulting and carrying out trainings for SMEs, applying for, coordinating and following up EU funded projects, cooperating with different kinds of private and public institutions, SMEs.