In VMA, Iceland has a catering department and in the local area are two large companies specialising in this sector. The companies are lacking butchers and have asked to introduce butchery into the curriculum for students. One of their staff members has been learning to become a teacher. 

Companies need competent and skilled workers who possess skills that are needed in their working life. In this case, a specialist from Kjarnafæði (one of two big food companies) came to VMA and taught students in the catering department to cut bones from a lamb spine. It was also an opportunity for students to be taught in the workplace.

Preparation

VET Provider
The VET Provider should get to know the needs of the labour market in the area through research and connecting with employers. The VET Provider must liaise with the employer to organise a schedule of teaching which is flexible to the employer and students.

Employer
To support the VET Provider, an employer could identify a specialist member of staff who has the personality and desire to teach students. Teaching can be carried out in the workplace with sufficient planning.

Students
Be prepared to travel to the employer and learn skills in the workplace.

Implementation

VET Provider
VET Provider must support the employer teacher as they are new to teaching and may not have all the teaching skills to deliver the curriculum.

Employer
Provide the environment and resources to be able to deliver the teaching and liaise with eth VET Provider in the logistics of students entering the workplace in terms of health and safety, domestic arrangements for breaks and refreshments etc.

Students
In this example, the subject was to take the bones out of a lamb spine and make it presentable both for the eyes and mouth. Students were allowed to use their kind of spice and oil on it. When everything was completed, they sold it to other students and teachers in the school.

After the event

VET Provider
Review the success of the collaboration and work together with eth employer teacher and VET Provider teachers to ensure the curriculum is covered fully. Gather feedback from students to ensure that the experience was beneficial and review with the employer to see if improvements are needed.

Employer
Provide feedback to the VET Provider on student progress and achievements. It is also important to support the employee teaching the students to reflect on their development should this be a more permanent arrangement.

Students
Provide feedback on the success of the collaboration, what went well and how the experience could be improved if needed.

Recommendations

Invest time and money to make good collaboration with the companies in the area. Listen to the needs of the labour market and together we can make competent and skilled workers for the future.

The growing shortage on the labor market and the shortage of people in healthcare, hospitality, construction, and logistics is a current problem. Lelytalent responds to this by offering tailor-made processes within the companies in those sectors. During their studies, students are given the opportunity to work – in close cooperation with the business community – within real practice locations. For students of the Entrée programme (level one) and level two programmes, the Lelytalent project is equivalent to increasing their chances on the labor market and thus increasing their future prospects. Many local companies are affiliated with the project.

Preparation

VET Provider
Lelytalent is a collaboration between the municipality, VET-providers, companies  and related  organizations. The  VET provider  is prepared to approach the educational programme flexibly and to tailor it to the  pupils and the wishes of the companies. New ways of working in which pupils with multiple branches are brought in contact. Set up hybrid study-programmes in cooperation with firms.

Employer
Employers make space,  time  and  know-how  available to give pupils the  opportunity to orientate  themselves in different professions. The employer invests in the development of young people and hopes that apprentices who ultimately choose his industry and become employees of the company.

Students
Are prepared at school for the programs at the companies so that they know what awaits them and what is expected of them.

Implementation

VET Provider
The VET provider takes care of the organization and implementation of the educational programs within the companies. Takes care of the coordination with the companies. Organizes the matches between students and companies.  A municipal partner organization is involved in the final placement of pupils and job coaching.

Employer
Students start with a program of industry orientation followed by training in company and learning in practice. All this takes place within the companies. Employers facilitate and support the programs. With learning in practice, the students are supervised by practical trainers from the company.

Students
Are given the space to orientate themselves broadly before they choose a definitive direction. At levels 1 and 2 there are additional problems ranging from lack of motivation to social problems. Where necessary, the students are given extra guidance by talent coaches from Lelytalent.

After the event

VET Provider
There is less early school leaving among young people. Students make a sustainable choice in their professional direction. Young people are better prepared for sustainable work.

In the broad context of organizations, a continuous process of evaluation and further improvement of programs and practices is taking place.

Employer
The program is constantly being expanded to include multiple employers and numbers of employers. Employers see that this form of cooperation leads to professionals who are better attuned and trained to professional practice.  As result of the cooperation companies get staff more easily.

Students
Are better prepared for their future work. They make more conscious choices by being able to get acquainted with actual professional practice up close.

Recommendations

Make sure that all noses are pointing in the same direction. Achieving common goals is paramount and not those of individual organizations.

In the beginning, it may take time to convince and involve companies. As soon as the collaboration starts to run, more and more companies will want to join. Make sure that the growth does not go too fast, so that the substantive development stagnates.

The degree of individual guidance of the students has a major influence on the results, especially level one and two students. Make sure that this guidance is well organized and coordinated.

At Axxell a class of first year students spent 3 days in a local nursing home getting familiar with the surroundings, staff and clients. The aim was to make the transitions smoother from class room education into work based learning by providing students the opportunity to interact with personnel and clients in real life situation.

Preparation

VET Provider
Contact a suitable nursing home (or company depending on your VET field) and introduce them into the idea behind 3 steps into work. Agree with the employer what the 3 steps (= tasks) that the students shall learn at work. Make sure that the company hosting the class is big enough to provide learning opportunities to the entire class or involve more than one company.

Make the 3 steps activity a part of the curricula and introduce the students to the methodology and their role and responsibilities.

Employer
After the employer has been introduced to the aims and expectations of the 3-step methodology the employer together with the teachers plans the activities and tasks that the student will do. The employer will select staff to support and encourage the students and act as co-teachers together with the VET teachers.

Implementation

VET Provider
VET teachers participating in 3 steps will co-teach with work mentors and introduce the task to the students. They will mentor, guide and give constructive feedback to the students. The event takes place during 3 days (we recommend that there will be some time between the events in order to be able to reflect and melt the information and knowledge gathered + make improvements based on feed-back). The tasks will become more challenging each day and will focus on a new topic.

Employer
Provide the environment and resources to be able to deliver the teaching and liaise with the VET Provider in the logistics of students entering the workplace in terms of health and safety, domestic arrangements for breaks and refreshments etc. The work mentors that will act as co-teachers will support and guide the students during the event.

Students
The students can either work by themselves or in pairs/small groups when performing the tasks. The students will take the role of an employee for a day/half a day and will have the opportunity to interact and learn from the experts.

After the event

VET Provider
Review the process together with the employer and make sure that the students have been able to access the skills, competences and knowledge that they were supposed to and that is written in the curriculum. The teachers gathers feedback from students and the work mentors to ensure that the experience was beneficial and review with the employer to see if improvements are needed.

Employer
Provide feedback to the VET teachers on student progress and achievements and what they learnt from the experience. The employer also discusses with the  work mentors teaching the students to reflect on their views of the event and how to make it into a more permanent arrangement.

Students
Provide feedback on the success of the collaboration, what went well and how the experience could be improved if needed.

Recommendations

Invest time and listen to the needs of the labour market and together we can make competent and skilled workers for the future.