Aspire Evaluation and Review Feedback

Aspire Evaluation and Review Feedback Imogen Slater, Rinova Ltd July 2011

Following the recent evaluation of the Aspire project and the subsequent partner meeting in Denmark in May 2011, it is a good point at which to review the work that has been going on since November 2009...

Main areas of progress reported by the Aspire Partners: • Research – related to specific parts of the work • Development of the competency framework and toolkit • Testing • Using Rise-up intranet for communication, collaboration, information, sharing ideas and practice, etc • Dissemination

Partners reported range of benefits to their individual organisations, including: • Improved communication – internally and externally • Using Aspire assessment tools • Transferring methods and tools to other organisations • Formalising and unifying systems for observations, training assessment, etc • Networking

What Partners have said about their project and resulting impacts • The partnership is foundational to the project and it is the melting pot from which the ideas and the work emerge.

• The meetings are very intensive and a huge amount is done collaboratively during this time.

• Partners then return to their various countries with sets of tasks that they focus on until the next meeting point.

• During this time they support each other remotely, for example through the intranet.

The following comments give an idea of the full scope of impacts that are already being recorded, plus highlight some of the issues that are faced by the creative non-formal learning sector.

Partner Comments It is “very productive and co-operative” It “consolidates individual organisational practices plus incorporates multiple perspectives thereby strengthening the products.”

“Yes, it has a big impact! We are really improving our policy on the guidance of trainers and the European partnership gives our organisation more opportunities. For example, we are going on an exchange to London next week with our young people, we are going to advise more organisations that work in the creative and informal learning sector about how to coach and accredit their trainers.”

Partner Comments (2) “Where language may have created barriers, clearer communication has improved” “For the young people, their horizons have most definitely been widened. Their outlook on life and career is much broadened” “We share good practise” “The partnership is working well together despite several partner having key difficulties due to the current economic downturn and changes in government/legislation affecting the sector.”

Partner Comments (3) "The European dimension has brought better understanding of EU countries and their practices especially related to learning provision” “the individual visits by EU partners to London have been useful to build more understanding and synergy” “the regular/intensive tutor observations/feedback sessions linked to the EQF have enabled the training team to develop in their working practices and learners have gained from this development. The trainers are keen to be involved in the project and excited about the prospect of having an accreditation that could be recognised across European and improve their chances of employment within the EU.”

Partner Comments (4) “Opportunities for the Chocolate Factory model (i.e., developing a sustainable creative hub towards regenerating an area) across EU member states have increased due to publicity of the Aspire project at a European level” “The Aspire project gives our organisation the chance to professionalise and because of the European aspect it also gives our organisation more ´body´ in conversations with other partners/politicians/etc.”

“There is a deep lack of knowledge in our area about Leonardo Programs, and EQF so very few people (and of course not any politician) is able to understand what Aspire is doing. We have found that the content of Aspire is high-levelled in terms of European development and procedures.”

Next Steps (1) There is still a lot of work to be done, both within the remaining months of the project and beyond.

Partners cite the following aspirations‌

Next Steps (2) “to work for the European validation/accreditation of the students within the creative sector in the non formal/informal training.” “at the end of the project our organisation needs to be ready to implement the toolkit. After this project we find that we need to continue building the European network.”

“The recognition of informal learning in the formal educational system is a matter of great concern and the translation of real/life expressions to EQF is an important challenge that we will pursue, specially because creative, innovative and entrepreneurial competencies are key/competencies in our time.”

Next Steps (3) Final conference in London on Monday 10th October 2011 For more info, go to www.euro-aspire.com or email info@euro-aspire.com