Profile of VET organisation

Name of organization: BEST Institut für berufsbezogene Weiterbildung und Personaltraining GmbH

Country: Austria

e-mail[email protected]

 

Type of VET institute: Post Secondary non-tertiary vocational education and training

Good practice title

Golden Goal

Baseline / problem

Golden Goal is a good practice resulting from a successful Socrates Grundtvig project designed and coordinated by BEST from 2005-2008 (www.golden-goal.at). In 2008, on behalf of the Federal Social Welfare Office of Lower Austria, was possible to incorporate Golden Goal good practice into the national programmes developed by BEST, namely the implementation of two structures to support the acquisition and development of comprehensive soft and hard skills, as well sustainable skills for life and realizing their career projects. In the past years, the issue of basic skills has gained particular attention in most European countries. Basic skills deficiencies are not only restricted to elderly people, but are a common fact among young, low-level educated adults where these problems often coincide with lacks of motivation to participate in "traditional" qualification measures. Golden Goal is an innovative learning model that is primarily distinguished by a particularly active and social form of learning and is particularly aimed at young disadvantaged people with education resistance and special needs. The objective of this case is related with the special needs for (re-)entering the labour market, as well to improve significantly the chances of job seekers youth and young adults and to support the transition to work after one year training course.

Good practice: (Measures, instruments, criteria, indicators)

Core-elements of the Golden Goal programme are:

• the acquisition of comprehensive professional basic skills and/or the catch up of school deficits (German-reading/writing/comprehension, Maths, English for Work-basics/practice-relevant; ICT basics);

• the acquisition of sustainable skills for life: dealing with finance, self-management, self-responsibility, mobility, etc.;

• the optimization of social skills and strategies of self- presentation/personal training (teamwork, communication, conflict resolution , etc.): related contents are also in the context of (athletic), group activities (outdoor and indoor), actively tested, consolidated and optimised, which also increases the motivation and strengthen self-confidence;

• as well as accompanying individual care, job coaching, visualisation of informal competences, development of career prospects and active support in job search.

The combination of scientific- and personality-forming elements with the concomitant increase of motivation and self-confidence, as well as social and personal organisation and communication potentials, leads gradually to the underlying objective. So far, around 50 % of the Golden Goal's participants directly entered into the workforce.

Problems and constraints encountered and solutions found:

The implementation of the Golden Goal programme requires a pedagogical team skilled on Golden Goal Curriculum and Golden Goal Toolbox, in order to successful implemented the programme.

Good Practice Category