SalesLabs for employability competencies development

The overall objective of this Project is to improve matching of labour force skills to labour market needs through jointly improved and created educational programmes and infrastructures in Šiauliai and Latgale regions. The projects overall objective contributes to the Programmes specific objective 2.2. resulting in achieving programme result indicator - number of people receiving upgraded skills matching labour market needs in Latgale and Šiauliai regions. Main outputs of the project are the following: - 20 updated study courses according to PBL method in each partner HE institution. - Lifelong learning programme (LLP) for the target groups (youth, disabled persons with higher education and individuals with a low education level) created to improve their competencies and facilitate their integration into the labour market. - The innovative infrastructure (an open creative business-education- public networking space) established in both partner institutions. The collaboration among partners Rezekne Academy of Technology (RTA) and Northern Lithuania College (NLC) will allow joining the best experiences and competencies to complement each other collaborating in the SalesLab activities, joint workshops and training. It will enable to explore and know better labour and business market environments and will increase the possibility of employability of target groups.

Projekta vispārējs mērķis ir uzlabot absolventu prasmes atbilstoši darba tirgus reālajām vajadzībām, kas tiks panākts kopīgi uzlabojot un izveidojot jaunas mācību programmas un atbilstošu infrastruktūru. Projekta mērķis atbilst programmas 2.2. prioritātei nodrošinot rezultatīvā indikātora - 1000 dalībnieku prasmju un zināšanu uzlabošana darba tirgus vajadzībām Latgales un Šauļi reģionos. Galvenie projekta rezultāti ir sekojoši: - 20 uzlabotas mācību priekšmetu programmas kopā abās augstākās izglītības iestādēs (10 Rēzeknē un 10 Šauļos). Mācību priekšmeti tiks uzlaboti izmantojot jaunākās uz Darba vidē balstītas apmācības metodes. - Izstrādāta jauna mūžizglītības programma, uzlabotas 40 pieaugošo prasmes un kompetences to sekmīgākai integrācijai darba tirgū. - izveidota atbilstoša Pārdošanas laboratoriju infrastruktūra abās augstākās izglītības iestādēs, radošas telpas darb agrupām, semināriem, apmācībām, tikšanām ar uzņēmējiem un jaunu produktu prezentācijām. Pārdošanas labaratoriju telpas un organizētie pasākumi būs bezmaksas un pieejami plašākai sabiedrībai. Projekta rezultātā tapušās izglītības programmas un kursi nodrošinās atbilstošas zināšanas un kompetences, un sekmēs tās dalībnieku labākuintegrāciju darba tirgū.

Pagrindinis projekto tikslas – stiprinti darbo jėgos kompetencijas efektyviau reaguoti į darbo rinkos poreikius pertvarkant ir įgyvendinant aukštųjų mokyklų dalykus, sukuriant suaugusiųjų mokymosi programą ir infrastruktūrą Latgalės ir Šiaulių regionuose. Pagrindinis tikslas prisideda prie programos tikslo 2.2. - apie 1000 tikslinės grupės dalyvių plėtos savo kompetencijas, būtinas prisitaikyti prie darbo rinkos poreikių, dalyvaus projekto veiklose, susipažins su projekto metu sukurtais produktais (SalLabs). Pagrindiniai projekto tikslai yra šie: - 20 atnaujintų studijų dalykų (10 LT+10 LV) abiejose institucijose. Dalykai bus atnaujinti integruojant probleminio mokymosi metodą. - sukurta ir įgyvendinta suaugusiųjų mokymo programa, apmokyti 40 dalyvių. - įkurtos 2 (1 LV ir 1 LT) pardavimų laboratorijos (SalesLabs), kuriose vyks praktiniai probleminio mokymosi seminarai, bendrios studentų ir verslininkų iš abiejų šalių darbinės sesijos, verslo problemų sprendimų pristatymas ir išvystytų produktų pristatymas. Pardavimų laboratorija bus atvira Šiaulių ir Rezeknės regionų gyventojams. Projektas sujungs Rezeknės technologijų akademijos ir Šiaurės Lietuvos kolegijos gerąsias patirtis ir stipriąsias kompetencijas ir leis jomis keistis bendradarbiaujant pardavimų laboratorijose, jungtinių mokymų ir vizitų metu, leis geriau pažinti kito regiono verslo ir darbo rinkos aplinką ir didins galimybę įsidarbinti projekte dalyvaujančių tikslinių grupių atstovų.

The project produced these main outputs: 20 teachers – 10 of Latvia in RTA and 10 in NLC Siauliai got trained for Problem Based method and after training improved their study courses with the elements of PBL to be implemented through SalesLabs. After the end of the project dissemination seminars were organized to sustain SalesLabs method for more tutors, since the results and positive opinion in local public were obtained. Administration of the RTA have been integrated the usage of the new method in the strategic documents for RTA, with special procedure to use the method and additional payment. More detailed information can be found in the SalesLabs Service Book RTA. 320 students participated (passed exams and diplomas issued) in the SalesLabs study activities through testing in 3 semesters (StartLabs seasons) and developed competencies needed for the labor market. During 1st semester 53, during 2nd – 69 and 3rd semester 57 students participated and passed PBL courses in RTA. In total during these 3 semesters 179 students participated and passed PBL courses successfully at RTA. During 2nd 88 students, semester 19 students (unique), During 3rd semester 34 (unique) students studied PBL subjects, total 141 students developed competences needed for labour market in NLC. Total numbers of students by the semesters are 141 in 1 semester (2 period), 88 in second and 91 in 3rd semester. Totally 320 students got upgraded skills and knowledge in the project. 40 participants of Long -life learning programme (20LV + 20LT) have attended and listened to the 10 topics delivered by the experts of SalesLabs. Practical lectures and 2 day workshops were organized by both project partners: new product developments and cash systems in Rezekne, and Marketing communications in Siauliai. The LLP training “Youth entrepreneurship development laboratory” organized by PP2 started 18th-19th April 2019 in Siauliai[IR2] . The aim of the training is to improve young people’s employability and competences that enhance their competitiveness in the labor market by equipping them with modern knowledge and skills to improve their entrepreneurial and entrepreneurial skills. Young people from Siauliai region, who have different education, want to learn how to solve business problems effectively, to acquire knowledge and skills necessary for the modern labor market and to properly prepare for the labor market. The continuous cycle of training “Youth entrepreneurship development laboratory” includes theoretical and practical sessions, international creative workshops (120 hours in total). The Life-Long Learning (LLP) program did train 40 persons: 20 from Šiauliai region and 20 from Latgale region. The first LLP workshop was organized by PP2 on 18th-19th April, 2019 in Šiauliai. The event was attended by young people with, or potentially having, employment difficulties, entrepreneurship initiatives, career or professional change planning. Various educational, creative, entrepreneurial and other competency development activities needed for employability and successful professional careers were organized in the workshops. The participants of the event carried out tasks oriented to solving business problems, discussed the preconditions for successful business creation, exchanged information and knowledge. The 2-nd workshop was organized in Rezekne from 23-24rd of May 2019. The name of the workshop was “From Idea to Sales”. Participants got introduces with companies of Latgale that succeeded in selling its tourism product. During second day of the workshop students participated in the challenge for developing new food product as added value to the local tourism development. The groups of students developed unique receipts of local origin products (bean flower and other ingredient biscuits) and created the portfolio in the Cash system of SalesLabs RTA. The receipts calculations with actual costs were analyzed to present its sales profit per package. Student teams prepared product prototypes in the food masterclasses of RTA SalesLabs and used purchased equipment. The final degustation of prepared products estimated virtual sales values considering also product price. These values were used to identify each team gained profits. The winner of the challenge was given to the team with the higher value of profits earned. The workshop happened parallelly project Final conference and the participants were able to exchange experience with the conference participants get new contacts. Participants of the LLP were attracted through projects social network accounts as a interested in developing new business products with the more detailed focus on the successful product sales. 60 representatives of business companies from the Programme territory participated in SalesLabs activities in total: In the 1st period only research was made, and 47 (does not count as output) companies registered as willing to cooperate with SalesLabs. In the 2nd period, the PBL course testing started as Spring season’18 with 22 attracted companies. In the 3rd period, Autumn’18 season organized with 18 attracted companies and the last, 4th period with testing on Spring season with 20 delivered companies. The more interest from companies will be expressed with more supply in labor market will be present, because companies can attract perfect personnel for their future business growth. Participants from the private sector were attracted through projects social network accounts as a interested in developing new product sales with the more focus on the products with local origin, mainly they were organic farm companies or biological food producers. Project activities attracted 764 customers of target group members (youth, disabled persons with higher education and individuals with low education level) and improved their employability competencies. Altogether project partners organized 30 events: The events started after the SalesLabs reconstruction finished after 2nd project period. In the 3rd period 4 events organized, and 116 clients attracted. In the 4th period 26 events organized, and 648 clients attracted. The events of the SalesLabs were of high interest as from the students as from the companies involved, as well as positive attitude from general public were expressed. 388.67 square meters of renovated and installed study training infrastructure created for Business and Education cooperation. 217.1 square meters renovated in RTA and 171,57 square meters renovated in NLC. SalesLabs infrastructure is the key factor for successful PBL study implementation, because students do not tend to use auditoriums for practical tasks. During the project implementation service book was created: SalesLabs_SERVICE_BOOK_RTA_ Improved study course programms: Studiju kursa nosaukums – _Datorprogrammas inženiermehānikā I, Studiju kursa nosaukums – Programminženierija II (Software Engineering II), Studiju kursa nosaukums – Robotikas praktikums, Studiju kurss – Mediju valoda un žanri, Studiju programma_ “Uzņēmējdarbība”, Studiju programma_ „Uzņēmējdarbība“, Studiju programma_ Apģērbu dizains un tehnoloģija, Studiju programma_ Interjera dizains, Studiju programma_ Ražošanas loģistika, Studiju programma_ Tirgzinība. Marketing, VPS_koncepcija_.

The result indicator of the programme - number of people receiving upgraded skills matching labour market needs - will be achieved through the following project results: 20 HE teachers (10 LV +10 LT) will raise their teaching skills how to improve employability competencies of learners. 20 study courses (10 LT + 10 LV) will be improved according to PBL to eliminate skill mismatch in educational programmes. 2 infrastructures (1 in LV +1 in LT) with necessary equipment will be developed for HE-business-public cooperation (SalesLabs) to improve labour force skills and fostering cross-border business. 200 students (100 LT + 100 LV) will become better prepared for labour market by exploring and solving real-life business problems in the study process, visiting cross-border business companies, participating in the joint workshops (SalesLabs). Joint Life-long-learning programme (LLP) will be developed by both partner institutions encompassing the strongest competencies of both HE institutions. 40 life-long learners (20 LV +20 LT ) will improve their competitiveness in labour market through participation in the LLP programme. 40 business companies (20 LV +20 LT ) will benefit from cooperation with HE institutions through testing and developing their products in the SalesLabs, introducing them to the cross-border markets and insurance of gaining the specific professional skills of the future workforce.