Upskill professionals and increase job opportunities through Data Visualisation Skills

The DATAVISUAL project aimed to address emerging needs in the digital vocational education and training (VET) landscape, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project's focus area...

The DATAVISUAL project aimed to revolutionize vocational education and training (VET) by integrating digital solutions and enhancing employability through innovative digital skills. Key achievements included the development of data visualization resources, online training materials, and an open badge certification system. The project focused on updating VET training for the digital era, upskilling professionals in graphic design and data analysis, and increasing the certification of digital skills at the EU level.The primary goal was to innovate VET training through digital means and increase employability. Specifically, the project achieved: Development of innovative digital skills, leading to the creation of data visualization reports and training materials. Advancement of e-learning courses for VET providers, resulting in innovative training materials. Enhancement of VET training through digitalization, producing resources for data visualization and storytelling. Upskilling professionals and the unemployed in the graphic design sector, providing them with relevant training and certification. Increasing digital skills certification at the EU level with an innovative Open Badge system.

The implementation of the DATAVISUAL project encompassed a range of activities across several work packages: Project Management (Work Package 1): Led by MCAST, this involved reporting, operational management, defining a project management handbook, and quality assurance. Communication and Dissemination (Work Package 2): Managed by I-Strategies, it included developing a communication and dissemination plan, creating communication templates and graphics, and maintaining the project website. Visual Report on Big Data Information Design (Work Package 3): Led by Momentum with support from I-strategies, this work package entailed researching and collecting best cases of information design for big data, validating these examples for training, ensuring GDPR compliance, and organizing the cases. Open Webinars on Big Data Storytelling and Visualization (Work Package 4): Managed by MCAST/FLC with content by I-strategies, it focused on content design, courseware development, reviewing content, and disseminating the material online. Open Badge Certification System (Work Package 5): Led by EFCOCERT, it involved defining recognition use cases, setting up and configuring the Open Recognition Infrastructure, and final review and adjustments. These activities were integral to achieving the project's goals of innovating VET training through digital means and enhancing employability.

The DATAVISUAL project yielded three significant outcomes: Visual Report on Big Data Information Design: This report, both written and visual, showcases exemplary practices in Information Design for Big Data Storytelling and Visualization. It serves as a practical learning resource for VET Trainees and Trainers, illustrating effective ways to present big data. Open Webinars on Big Data Storytelling: These webinars, forming an Open Educational Resource, cover crucial topics in Big Data, including dataset preparation, information design, storytelling techniques, tools for data visualization, and the EU Strategy on Big Data. They were designed collaboratively by partners and external experts. Open Badge Certification System: This system provides digital badges as a flexible, agile way to certify competencies in Big Data Storytelling. These badges, which carry secure metadata, can be displayed across various digital platforms, challenging traditional paradigms of competence certification.