This project promotes an unprecedented learning experience for those seeking further education, supported holistically by a platform based on the circular economy model. The objectives of this project include addressing the current and medium-term qualification needs, fully leveraging the skill portfolio of learners through continuous matching of individual qualification needs and training opportunities, and supporting personal skill development with a digital coach. The project spans three and a half years, starting in February 2022 and concluding in summer 2025, with Dr. Andreas Janson leading the overall project management.
Learning at the forefront of time for professional development involves lifelong learning and acquiring new professional skills according to the circular economy model, facilitated by the new continuing education platform "Swiss Circular Economy of Skills and Competences" (SCESC). Five Swiss higher education institutions have been working on the implementation of the Innosuisse flagship project since February 2022.
Learning concepts are more in demand than ever, with professional development in Switzerland aimed to be more accessible to everyone. This is the goal of the Swiss Circular of Skills and Competences project, initiated by a consortium of five Swiss universities in response to an Innosuisse call for projects in March 2021. The project, spanning from 2022 to 2025, aims to integrate educational research findings and expertise from various fields into the development of a further education platform.
The elements of the "Swiss Circular Economy of Skills and Competences" will be integrated into the existing platform of the Swiss startup "Evrlearn," which operates on a principle similar to Airbnb, connecting demand and supply and enabling dynamic matching through algorithms. This approach facilitates a triage between the future educational needs of companies, individual skill profiles and development needs, and educational providers offering formal and non-formal programs.
SCESC bridges various actors in the cycle, using algorithm-based scanning of job postings, profiles, course offerings, and resumes to analyze extensive data and identify patterns with artificial intelligence. This helps companies understand skill gaps, aids educational providers in aligning their programs sustainably, and supports platform users in their educational decisions by matching demand, profile, and offer.
The Swiss vocational education system traditionally focuses on three-year foundational training in various fields, with further education available at different levels. SCESC complements this by offering new career paths, including between different professions, and shifts the focus from formal qualifications to competency modules, enhancing the enrichment of specific skills and learner-centered approaches. This decouples from the traditional focus on diplomas and certificates, acknowledging competencies acquired through work or project experiences, which can be made more visible on the platform and recognized accordingly.
In preparation for learning, the platform generates individual competency portfolios based on personal data, including formal and informal skills verifications. The "Competence Vitae" is a central output, with concepts of competency modeling, recognition processes, and open-badge and e-portfolio principles further developed for implementation. Based on the portfolio, SCESC recommends suitable training or retraining programs and offers a digital "Motivation-Booster" as a learning companion, making learning more engaging with gamification elements and real-time rewards.
The digital space also enables innovative learning approaches like "mobile learning," making learning more flexible and seamless, and can be integrated within companies. Data privacy is a crucial success factor, as employees are interested in their development but may fear data surveillance. The platform also offers a learning community to share experiences, ideas, and feedback, fostering a social learning process.
Professional development should be more accessible in Switzerland, supporting individual competency profiling and aligning with future-oriented needs. Innovative technologies like blockchain and non-fungible tokens create new financing possibilities, establishing an open fund for retraining and further education, benefiting companies, especially small ones, in a circular economy approach. The platform thus creates a continuing education ecosystem based on circular economy principles, continuously renewing and adapting educational content to current and future needs and opportunities.
This project promotes an unprecedented learning experience for those seeking further education, supported holistically by a platform based on the circular economy model. The objectives of this project include addressing the current and medium-term qualification needs, fully leveraging the skill portfolio of learners through continuous matching of individual qualification needs and training opportunities, and supporting personal skill development with a digital coach. The project spans three and a half years, starting in February 2022 and concluding in summer 2025, with Dr. Andreas Janson leading the overall project management.
Learning at the forefront of time for professional development involves lifelong learning and acquiring new professional skills according to the circular economy model, facilitated by the new continuing education platform "Swiss Circular Economy of Skills and Competences" (SCESC). Five Swiss higher education institutions have been working on the implementation of the Innosuisse flagship project since February 2022.
Learning concepts are more in demand than ever, with professional development in Switzerland aimed to be more accessible to everyone. This is the goal of the Swiss Circular of Skills and Competences project, initiated by a consortium of five Swiss universities in response to an Innosuisse call for projects in March 2021. The project, spanning from 2022 to 2025, aims to integrate educational research findings and expertise from various fields into the development of a further education platform.
The elements of the "Swiss Circular Economy of Skills and Competences" will be integrated into the existing platform of the Swiss startup "Evrlearn," which operates on a principle similar to Airbnb, connecting demand and supply and enabling dynamic matching through algorithms. This approach facilitates a triage between the future educational needs of companies, individual skill profiles and development needs, and educational providers offering formal and non-formal programs.
SCESC bridges various actors in the cycle, using algorithm-based scanning of job postings, profiles, course offerings, and resumes to analyze extensive data and identify patterns with artificial intelligence. This helps companies understand skill gaps, aids educational providers in aligning their programs sustainably, and supports platform users in their educational decisions by matching demand, profile, and offer.
The Swiss vocational education system traditionally focuses on three-year foundational training in various fields, with further education available at different levels. SCESC complements this by offering new career paths, including between different professions, and shifts the focus from formal qualifications to competency modules, enhancing the enrichment of specific skills and learner-centered approaches. This decouples from the traditional focus on diplomas and certificates, acknowledging competencies acquired through work or project experiences, which can be made more visible on the platform and recognized accordingly.
In preparation for learning, the platform generates individual competency portfolios based on personal data, including formal and informal skills verifications. The "Competence Vitae" is a central output, with concepts of competency modeling, recognition processes, and open-badge and e-portfolio principles further developed for implementation. Based on the portfolio, SCESC recommends suitable training or retraining programs and offers a digital "Motivation-Booster" as a learning companion, making learning more engaging with gamification elements and real-time rewards.
The digital space also enables innovative learning approaches like "mobile learning," making learning more flexible and seamless, and can be integrated within companies. Data privacy is a crucial success factor, as employees are interested in their development but may fear data surveillance. The platform also offers a learning community to share experiences, ideas, and feedback, fostering a social learning process.
Professional development should be more accessible in Switzerland, supporting individual competency profiling and aligning with future-oriented needs. Innovative technologies like blockchain and non-fungible tokens create new financing possibilities, establishing an open fund for retraining and further education, benefiting companies, especially small ones, in a circular economy approach. The platform thus creates a continuing education ecosystem based on circular economy principles, continuously renewing and adapting educational content to current and future needs and opportunities.