About

The App.Mod.E project proposes an integrated scheme for the development of entrepreneurial mindset, skills and competences by students that are doing their apprenticeship.

Objective

The project plan combines the need to promote apprenticeship training and acquisition of vocational skills needed in the labour market, with the need to support the development of entrepreneurial skills. Apprenticeship periods in enterprises normally focus on specific vocational skills and soft personal and employment skills. The trainers in both VET institutions and in companies do not have the knowledge and skills to include entrepreneurial skills into the learning design of apprenticeships. The App.Mod.E provides methodological support and practical tools to trainers to design apprenticeship programmes, incorporating into their learning outcomes entrepreneurial competences, in parallel with the acquisition of specific vocational skills.

Innovation

The apprenticeship model for the development of entrepreneurial mindset and skills uses an innovative methodology of problem-based learning, including gamification elements. The methodology is based on a real problem and challenges that the company faces and the apprentice has to find a solution to respond to that challenge. During the process, the apprentice needs to develop a strategy, organise and plan her work, find the resources needed, ensure the collaboration of his/her supervisors and colleagues, make decisions, solve problems and deliver results of a certain quality. The whole process uses gamification elements like constrains in resources or time, achievement badges, incentives, extra resources etc. The gamification elements provide motivation and engagement to learner to complete the mission successfully.

VET-company partnerships

The project intervention includes also the creation of VET-company partnerships underpinned by a quality assurance framework and a Memorandum of Understanding. The project supports the creation of networks between Vet organisations and companies at local level that work together to promote entrepreneurial education in apprenticeships. The result of this work is actual networks in the partners’ locations and in addition a guide for the creation of such partnerships in other locations.