eWBL. High-quality work-based learning in an online environment

The project Work-Based Learning in an Online Environment (eWBL) aims to upskill educators in higher education (HE), including lecturers, trainers, and administrative staff, on how to design and deliver high-quality digital work-based learning (eWBL).

Being embedded in authentic work environments, work-based learning (WBL) is a powerful pedagogical tool to foster work readiness and employability of graduates. As the work environment is increasingly shifting to online and hybrid formats, making work-based learning effective in this new environment has become an urgent need for educators across the EU.

The project explored how 25 high-quality WBL providers across Europe have dealt with the pedagogical and technological challenges associated with the transition from WBL to eWBL, and the solutions they have devised. The investigation resulted in frameworks and replicable models, a toolkit, open educational resources (OERs), capacity-building activities, and events that will help train those involved in WBL provision in HE.

The ultimate goal is to boost the work readiness and employability of graduates. The project specifically focused on how work-based learning competencies could be fostered in the absence of a physical environment; this specific need was addressed by developing frameworks, tools, and guidelines that could be used by educators in HE (lecturers, trainers, and administrative staff) to deliver high-quality eWBL.

Together with Ca' Foscari University of Venice, FGB was responsible for carrying out the research in Italy in the first phase of the project,  as well as for the data analysis, compilation, and drafting of the initial synthesis report. In subsequent stages, FGB supported activities such as reviewing the developed content and reference research (framework and toolkit), adapting the capacity-building programme to the Italian context, and delivering it to professionals from Italian HEIs.

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