Project

THE CONTEXT

The creation of the Single Market and the adoption of the Euro have created new opportunities for SMEs, who carry out a vital role in the European economy. However, there are a still a number of obstacles that prevent these companies, especially the smaller ones, from benefiting fully from the advantages linked to the introduction of the Single Market and the Euro. Among these obstacles is the scarce knowledge of foreign languages that prevent, from the very start, the exploration of opportunities for collaboration with other countries and for the expansion of the enterprise's activities abroad.

Within these companies the first person of reference when establishing initial contact is very often the secretary or administrative assistant.

The professional figure of the secretary is generally characterised by a low level of linguistic competence (in particular secretaries who belong to older generations) that can create difficulties when the secretary has to take a telephone call or carry out written communication in a language other than their mother-tongue. Today, secretaries who find themselves working in the "New Economy" are expected to have new skills and being able to communicate in a foreign language is one of them.

It is therefore necessary to re-think the language training process regarding secretarial and administrative personnel. A language training package needs to be flexible to use and relate to contemporary situations. The didactic modules should reflect the economic changes that are in process, for example, administrative and financial issues and the language used for communicating via the Internet.

TARGET GROUP

The ELS project is addressed to secretaries or administrative assistants of SME's throughout Europe. These roles are very often carried out by women and therefore the ELS project is addressed in particular at a female target group.

OBJECTIVES

The ELS projects has the following objectives:

• Develop the language skills (in 4 foreign languages: English, French, Italian and Spanish) of secretaries in order to re-qualify their professional profile and to promote cooperation in Europe of the companies and organisations of which they are part.
• Create a language training product which is characterised by strong innovative elements and which responds to the needs of SMEs in Europe.
• Create a training product that respects different types of learning processes.
• Create a product that can also be adapted to the language training needs of schools. In fact, schools request training materials which are flexible to use and which can also be updated, reflecting the contemporary situation and therefore can be easily applied to the work market.

• The need for secretarial personnel (the "first contact" personnel within a company) to re-qualify with the skills which allow them to operate successfully in the new economy.
• The need to create language learning material for self-learning which is characterised by innovative elements such as: the learning of more than one foreign language; the focus on language contents which characterise the new economy; the flexibility of distribution; the possibility of updating and modifying the contents; respect for different types of learning processes.
• The need to create a product which is characterised, in its contents and pedagogical approaches, for female use and therefore which is characterised by contents which stimulate the interest of a female public and is easy to use (in terms of flexibility of time and place).
• The need to create material for self-learning of languages with the characteristics as described above, which can also be used in a scholastic context, in order to train pupils who in the future will carry out the role of secretary or personal assistant.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

• CREATION OF AN INTERNET PORTAL: the portal will contain four language training packages: English; Italian; French; and Spanish aimed at secretarial personnel. The training package will consist of training modules (where the contents will also reflect the typical situations of the "new economy") and of integral services such as an on-line glossary, an on-line tutoring service and a space on the forum for practicing the language.
• CREATION OF A GLOSSARY: an online glossary containing business terminology which is frequently used by secretarial personnel will be created and translated into the national languages of all the project partners.
• CREATION OF BUSINESS CULTURE TRAINING PACKAGE: each project partner will develop a business culture module based on business information and practices for conducting business in their country, in both their national language and in English.
• CREATION OF A PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PACKAGE: the UK partner is responsible for the creation of a Personal Development training package.
• TESTING OF THE TRAINING PACKAGES: each project partner will coordinate a group of end users who will test and evaluate the training packages. Feedback from this testing phase will be applied to the creation of the final version of the training packages.

EXPECTED RESULTS

The main output developed in the framework of the ELS project will be the creation of a portal for the learning of four European languages: English, French, Italian and Spanish aimed at secretarial and administrative staff throughout Europe.

The portal will also contain a training package focused on 'Business Culture' in all the project partner countries as well as a 'Personal Development' training package.

PARTNERS INVOLVED

1) PIXEL ASSOCIAZIONE (IT)
Pixel, the project's promoter is a non-profit association for the promotion of innovation in education and training.

2) CONNECTIS (IT)
Connectis operates in the field of Information and Communication Technologies.

3) COMUNE DI FIRENZE ASSESSORATO ALLE POLITICHE DEL LAVORO (IT)
The Comune di Firenze Assessorato alle Politiche del lavoro takes care of all the activities relating to the development of employment throughout the Florence region, with a particular focus on training activities for qualification and re-qualification for weaker sectors of society e those at greater risk of unemployment.

4) ISTITUTO TECNICO INDUSTRIALE "LEONARDO DA VINCI" (IT)
Istituto Tecnico Industriale "Leonardo da Vinci" is based in Florence and is one of the largest technical institutes in the Florence region.

5) NO-LIMITS (UK)
No-Limits is an agency that aims to develop various strategies for personal growth and development. It is based in Nottingham where it organizes training and consultancy for various target groups, with a particular focus on female learning and the promotion of female enterprise, using innovative methodologies.

6) AGERCEL (F)
AGERCEL is the association of Language Centre Networks for the French Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

7) CREA ARAGONA (ES)
Crea is the Aragona Confederation of Entrepreneurs. It is trade association which offers a large range of services to its associates and to other enterprises in the region, in particular in the training sector, developing courses specifically designed on the needs of the learners, using national and European funding.

8) KOMPETANSEMEGLEREN AS (NO)
Kompetansemegleren AS is a consultancy company working with learning and training concepts in private, public and voluntary institutions, with strong links with local schools and educational bodies.

9) GEORGIKI ANAPTIXI (GR)
Georgiki Anaptixi is a non-profit organisation that focuses on Professional Training and research in different sectors such as agriculture, tourism and business services. The Training Centre organises professional courses aimed at companies and individuals.

10) EUROED FOUNDATION (RO)
EuroEd Foundation is a private foundation that operates in the sector of foreign language teaching and in the development of professional courses aimed at both adults and young people.

11) CENTRUL DE INOVARE SI DEZVOLTARE IN AFACERI (INNOVATION AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER) (RO)
Centrul de Inovare si Dezvoltare in Afaceri is a non-profit association that focuses on the economic, social and cultural development of the area in which it operates. In particular, it develops training programmes aimed to stimulate the interaction between economic operators and public institutions and to develop innovation at local level.

12) TRANSFER SLOVENSKO (SK)
TRANSFER Slovensko was founded in 1994 as a consultancy company to support the development and innovation of companies. At present it is one of the main agencies that offer support to firms and businesses in Slovakia.

13) BILDUNGSWERK VER.DI (DE)
Bildungsverg Ver.di is an non-profit institution located in Lower Saxony specialising in adult education, teachers' education and vocational training. to guarantee the respect for workers' rights.