Results
The results expected during the ‘On Track’ project are:
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Context study of tracking systems and measures
The first intellectual output is a context study of tracking systems and measures at VET provider level in the seven countries of the partnership. We already know from the European study of VET graduate tracking measures in EU Member States and the study that we performed during the proposal preparation phase that in none of our countries, there are systematic measures for tracking VET graduates, only some ad-hoc measures were identified.
The aim of the study is to analyze the national context and identify:
- Measures or practices that are in place for tracking VET graduates, even if they are not systematic or comprehensive
- Administrative data, already available at the VET providers that can be used in the tracking system
- Quality assurance practices and the ‘quality culture’ of the country
- Organizational capacity and IT competences in place
The study will be used as a starting point to identify indicators that have to be included in the tracking system, specific needs to be addressed and potential challenges. The context study will be performed at national level and the results will be compiled in a transnational study and will be the basis for the development of the tracking system.
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Tracking system for VET graduates
At the core of the tracking system is a tracking survey addressed to VET graduates that will gather data related to further education, employment, career paths, skills and competences required in the labor market and other relevant information.
The tracking system will be based on qualitative and quantitative data that will be gathered to measure specific indicators that will be defined.
Quantitative data will include socio-biographical and socio-economic information, study intensity, study method, qualification(s), credits received, field of study, transition to employment or further education and training, earnings, type of contract, employment status, occupation, professional status and/or activity, geographical and/or sectoral mobility. Qualitative data will include relevance of study to employment, skills needed in the job / skills acquired during studies, participation in volunteering or civic engagement activities, career progression and satisfaction, perceptions of the quality and relevance of their education and training experience.
There will be a model tracking survey, with the potential to be adapted to the specific needs of each VET provider that will implemented. At the stage of pilot runs or implementation, the VET providers will be able to adapt the survey to their own needs, i.e. delete/add or modify questions.
The tracking survey will be developed in two different open source online survey tools, so that each VET provider can choose the one that can be better integrated within their IT system. The choice of the online survey tools will be done during the project and after the context study, but it will include one simple and basic solution (i.e. google forms) and one more advanced (i.e. survey monkey or lime survey). A technical manual for the creation and administration of online surveys will be created, with step-by-step instructions how one can take the model survey, implement it in own server and adapt it (delete / add / modify questions).
Apart from the tracking survey, the tracking system will include methodologies and mechanisms for preparing, managing and administrating the survey, evaluation of the results, keeping registry of graduates. The tracking methodology will be integrated into the organizational quality assurance system, closing the gap between stage 4 - review and stage 1 – planning of EQAVET quality cycle.
Regarding the tracking methodology, we will employ a multiple measurement methodology with two measurement points, one within the first year of graduation (i.e. after six months) and a second one after 2-3 years from graduation.
The tracking methodology and tools will be tested and evaluated, through the pilot runs and finalized after feedback from the pilots.
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Guide: Implement tracking system for VET graduates and integrate it into organization quality assurance system
The aims of the guide for VET providers are:
- To raise awareness of VET providers on the relevance and usefulness of tracking their own graduates
- To support VET providers in the process of establishing their own VET tracking system
- To support them to integrate the tracking system into their quality assurance system.
- To provide step-by-step methodological guidance.
The guide will be an autonomous product, independent from the O2-tracking system that can be potentially used by any VET provider that wants to implement a VET graduates tracking system with their own resources and using their own tools and technology. It will have a chapter devoted to the specific tracking system that we propose, nevertheless it can be used with other solutions as well.
