SKILLSBRIDGE: Opetuksen linkittäminen vastaamaan työllistymisen tarpeita alalla

By implementing the Skillsbridge project, we aimed to significantly enhance the employability and career readiness of vocational education and training (VET) students in the games industry. Our pr...

By implementing the Skillsbridge project, we aimed to significantly enhance the employability and career readiness of vocational education and training (VET) students in the games industry. Our primary goal was to bridge the skills gap between educational outcomes and industry requirements, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the specific skills and competencies demanded by employers. We developed an innovative online application for students to assess their current skills and identify areas for improvement, aligning their capabilities with industry standards. Additionally, we aimed to empower students to create effective portfolios that showcase their talents and attract potential employers or clients. Another major objective was to foster essential 21st-century workplace skills such as self-regulation, communication, resilience, and teamwork, integrating training modules to help students develop these soft skills. Our ultimate goal was to enhance the overall quality and relevance of VET education, increasing student engagement and motivation to better prepare them for the modern workforce.

We started with a needs assessment with 57 participants (inc students, educators and employers) in order to identify gaps, strengths, and opportunities in the academic preparation for careers in the game design and development fields. We developed an innovative online platform that allows students to assess their current skills and identify areas for improvement, aligning their capabilities with industry standards. This platform also included resources for creating effective portfolios, showcasing students' talents to potential employers or clients. We developed a series of training modules focused on developing essential 21st-century workplace skills such as self-regulation, communication, resilience, and teamwork. The platform was piloted and evaluated with 106 VET students, resulting in a short recommendations document aimed to provide actionable insights for VET institutions, employers, and policymakers. Additionally, we organised a transnational and online progress meetings, and number of dissemination events which attracted 91 stakeholders from out side the project partnership. These activities ensured comprehensive coverage of all project aspects leading to successful project outcomes.

The project centred on developing an online application (accessible at https://app.skillsbridge.eu/) that facilitates personalised learning pathways, with a focus on interdisciplinary soft skills, in order to boost VET students’ employability or ability to be self-employed. The application's core features; a gap analysis system, tailored skills plans, and an online course, allow students to align their skill sets more closely with industry requirements, by assessing their own skills and skill levels vis-à-vis proposed industry expectations. While the app caters to the diverse needs of individuals in the creative field, with a focus on the game design and development industry, the lessons learnt throughout the project extending beyond the creative industry to encompass broader vocational fields across various industries. The application was underpinned by a needs assessment with 57 participants (inc students, educators and employers), the piloting of the app itself with 106 VET students and the administration, collection and analysis of data during a post-piloting evaluation. These outputs further yielded a short recommendations document aimed at provide actionable insights for VET institutions, employers, and policymakers.