Curriculum

15 Sections
74 Lessons
Lifetime

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MODULE 1: Problem identification and definition in the field of VET
Understand well the inquiry of the company or the society (social innovation), translate it into research and evaluate it taking into consideration existing resources and possible results. Develop specification documents for the inquiry.
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MODULE 2: Review and understand existing researches and good practices relevant to the applied research in vet assignment
Identify and study relevant research including best practices that are relevant to the applied research in VET assignment.
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MODULE 3: Design the appropriate applied research methods
Design appropriate applied research methods to generate specific recommendations for VET research assignments. Design of data collection tools.
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MODULE 4: Implement data collection (Interviewing skills)
To be able to explain, understand, and explore research subjects' opinions, behaviour, experiences, phenomenon, etc.
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MODULE 5: Experimentation (ensuring practices to respond to the inquiry)
To be able to pilot test the results of the research, to evaluate and to update them if necessary.
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MODULE 6: Αdaptability and flexibility
Adaptability and Flexibility in the field of vet competence involves the ability to understand and research different industries, which entails recognizing each sector’s unique needs, methodologies as well as challenges. It also means handling various research projects by managing and executing them with a versatile approach, adapting focus and methods according to each project’s needs and demands. It entails adapting research skills to applied research, demonstrating the ability to convert theoretical knowledge into real-world solutions. In essence, adaptability and flexibility in applied research in VET entail working across various fields, tackling a range of challenges, and applying skills in practical and impactful ways.
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MODULE 7: Ethics in research
Ethics in Research in VET context is about being able to recognize and maintain ethical standards that will help ensure that the research is conducted in a way that respects human rights. Accuracy in research helps to ensure that research findings are credible and trustworthy.
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MODULE 8: Collaboration with different vet stakeholders
This module aims to provide an understanding of the importance and strategies of collaborating with various stakeholders in Vocational Education and Training (VET). It focuses on identifying key stakeholders, engaging them effectively, and utilizing tools and technologies to foster collaboration. Through case studies and best practices, participants will gain insights into successful VET-enterprise and community partnerships.
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MODULE 9: Use technology to better understand what needs to be improved
“Use technology to better understand what needs to be improved” in the field of vet is about not only being able to use reliable and accurate source of data, such as web analytics, surveys, and feedback, in order to gain a better understanding of what needs to be improved; but also demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies to strategically implement them in research and educational practices.
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MODULE 10: Use digital/social media services for research
The ability to approach and understand how to develop an applied research through the use of digital and social media services, as well as to identify and use the most appropriate digital tools and promote a critical interpretation of the use of AI-based digital services for applied research in VET assignment.
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MODULE 11: Improve curricula and methods based on the results of the applied research in vet
Applied research plays a key role in testing and refining different teaching methods to enhance both teaching and learning. In Vocational Education and Training (VET), applied research not only identifies effective educational approaches but also uncovers potential improvements in various professional fields. By applying research insights, this module aims to support the development and continuous improvement of curricula across different sectors, ensuring that VET programs remain relevant and aligned with industry needs.
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MODULE 12: Develop student capabilities, in particular creative thinking, problem solving, self-direction
The ability to approach, understand and solve concrete problems is fundamental to introduce applied research into VET training. It is a valuable and not trivial competence that requires the teachers the ability to stimulate their students and guide them in solving problems, even complex, through the use of creative thinking and practical exercises such as project work on real problems, design thinking workshops, or hackathon. Through the comparison with the concrete case and the elaboration of possible solutions, the students develop critical sense and analytical skills that enhance the proactivity and the good predisposition to solve the problems, they learn to manage themselves in working groups with a win-win approach, meeting deadlines, managing available resources and negotiating with other members of the working group.
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MODULE 13: Build innovative entrepreneurial practices
Innovative entrepreneurial practices in vocational education and training (VET) are crucial for equipping students with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly changing job market. As traditional industries evolve and new sectors emerge, VET programs must adapt to provide learners with practical, forward-thinking competencies. By integrating entrepreneurship into VET curricula, students are empowered to think creatively, solve problems, and seize opportunities, fostering a culture of innovation. This approach not only enhances individual career prospects but also drives economic growth by nurturing a new generation of skilled, enterprising professionals capable of leading and adapting in dynamic industries.
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MODULE 14: Create and manage hubs and innovation ecosystems
The purpose of creating and managing hubs and innovation ecosystems in applied research in Vocational Education and Training (VET) is to promote collaboration between educational institutions, research centers, and businesses. This aims to develop innovative solutions and enhance students' skills to meet the contemporary needs of the labor market.
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MODULE 15: Use digital/social media tools and communities of practice for dissemination
The ability to approach and understand how to promote the results of an applied research and/or project through the use of digital and social media tools, as well as to reach potential partners for future projects, through methodologies and techniques for effective critical curation, creation and sharing of digital learning resources.
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Session 1: Introduction to Adaptability and Flexibility

Learning Objectives:

Understand the concept of adaptability and flexibility in the context of VET
To be able to explain the need of adaptability and flexibility when conducting applied research.

Start the session by watching the 3-minute animated video, titled “Resilience: Anticipate, Organize, Adapt”. This video will engage you to the concepts of adaptability, flexibility and resilience, prompting you to reflect on their essence and significance in various contexts. The video highlights how being adaptable, flexible and resilient can positively impact handling challenges and change. [Video Duration: 03:01 min.]

Activity
Following the video “Resilience: Anticipate, Organize, Adapt”, which illustrates a series of challenges and how being adaptable and flexible helps overcoming them, you are invited to complete the accompanying worksheet, which consists of two questions, designed to deepen your understanding of adaptability, flexibility and resilience. This activity will prompt you to reflect critically on the concepts presented in the video, explore their significance and will prepare you for their practical implementation.

NEARVET_C6_LR3_Video Analysis_Worksheet

After completing the worksheet designed to encourage reflection on adaptability and flexibility, you should now understand how these concepts help overcome unexpected and challenging situations. Next, we invite you to read the following guide on “Change Management.” This guide will explore how adaptability and flexibility are not only relevant to change management but also form an integral part of successfully navigating and implementing change. Understanding the synergy between these elements is crucial for managing change effectively in personal and professional contexts.

NEARVET_Change Management_C6_LA1

Now, please read the following PDF document, which delves into the importance of adaptability and flexibility as essential skills in research within Vocational Education and Training (VET). This nine-page document outlines the concepts of adaptability and flexibility, highlighting their main differences. The document emphasizes the relevance of adaptability and flexibility to the VET sector, focusing specifically on Applied Research in VET. It compares the implementation of these two concepts within a general context and within Applied Research in VET, providing real-world examples of how they are applied. Furthermore, the document explores the VET domain by breaking it down into three key areas: the business sector, research, and individuals, demonstrating how adaptability and flexibility are implemented within each of these domains. The objective of the document is to clarify the meaning of adaptability and flexibility in the context of VET, explain how these concepts are implemented, and illustrate why they are important.

Having read the two documents about Adaptability and Flexibility and the theories that underpin these concepts, it’s time for you to complete the following mini-quiz. This quiz is designed to assess your comprehension and the knowledge you’ve acquired up to this point on the concepts of Adaptability and Flexibility as skills, emphasizing their implementation within VET domain.

Adaptability & Flexibility in Applied Research in VET_C6_LA2

NEARVET MOOC

Curriculum

Session 1: Introduction to Adaptability and Flexibility

Elena Grilli

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