Die Strategie für das Lebenslange Lernen ... - EUROlocal

66
TRANSITIONS, INTERLOCKING AND PERMEABILITY OF EDUCATIONAL DOMAINS
Cross-border learning – Learning Regions Werra-Meißner / Hersfeld-Rotenburg (Hesse)
Summary of the “PLUS portfolio” presentation
I. Problem
When young adults leave school and look for a job, their
school reports often only inadequately describe their personal
achievements and strengths. And yet it is important
for both school-leavers and training companies that the various
areas of competence and skills of relevance to future
careers are documented.
II. Solution approach
Under the umbrella of the Learning Regions programme,
the network task force "Vocational Orientation and Qualification
of Young Adults" has developed a portfolio which can
play a key role in helping applicants obtain apprenticeships
and jobs in local industry. The State Education Authority
(Schulamt), schools, representatives of chambers, the
employment centre, companies and bodies providing nonschool
education are working together in the network to
develop this instrument.
In the portfolio, students from 7th grade upwards, irrespective
of the kind of school they attend, have their
achievements and strengths confirmed on prepared forms –
particularly in terms of out-of-school activities. A profile of
the strengths of each student is created, documenting
achievements from a broad range of areas of the individual's
life, and not just academic results.
Major companies certify participation in placements,
company tours, projects or Girls Days with a brief assessment,
and craft businesses, associations and public education
funding agencies now also have the chance to confirm
the special achievements of students on a standard credit
form. Special achievements at school, such as work as class
spokesman/woman or successful participation in projects,
are also documented in the so-called PLUS portfolio.
In this way, an “application folder” is created. It can help the
school leaver embark on his or her professional career and
accompany the “lifelong learning” process.
Representatives of the network are introducing the PLUS
portfolio in appropriate school years; the responsible teachers,
such as those for labour studies, supervise the portfolios during
lessons. In this way, the students comprehend the
importance of these documents for future applications.
Secondary and intermediate secondary school pupils, in
particular, can supplement school reports by documenting
extracurricular achievements which are often proof of soft
skills.
Recruitment staff can use the PLUS portfolio in addition
to application documents and assess applicants not just on
the basis of academic achievements but also on personal
skills. At the same time, young adults become more aware of
their own strengths and in this way develop greater self-confidence.
Another advantage – both for applicants and companies
– is the standardised way of documenting achievements.
This guarantees maximum transparency and comparability.
III. Outlook
The portfolio has already been well received by local industry,
something that is attributable in part to the close cooperation
with the chambers. We aim to cooperate with even
more schools and establish the portfolio in the region in
such a way that it helps as many young people as possible to
find a job or work placement.
www.bildung-hrwm.de