Development and testing of a tool for the recording and documenting of acquired competences for small and medium enterprises

The German Institute for International Educational Research (DIPF) together with the Educational Institute of Industry and Commerce in Hessen (BWHW) is carrying out a project titled “Competence Book for Small and Medium Enterprises” with a duration of eighteen months. The main subjects of the project are the feasibility, development and testing of a tool for the recording and documentation of competencies in small and medium enterprises. Informal learning which is traditionally directly tied to the interaction within an enterprise should be the focus of the research, taking into account established and proven tools for the biographical recording of the acquired competences. A portfolio should be created that would aid small and medium enterprises with the recording and displaying of formal, non-formal and informal learning in their human resources and enterprise knowledge management. This would allow enterprises to react to recent developments in the labour market, range of products and demographical factors in a better and more efficient way.
The main goal of this research and development project is to provide enterprises in Hessen with a tool for competence recording and documenting in order to encourage and professionalize human resources development in regard to further education and knowledge management.

Under these conditions, the competence book can contribute to the improvement of the reflection, feedback and recording culture in a qualitative and effective way within enterprises in terms of a learning organisation. Therefore this tool can make a substantial contribution to the improvement of the innovational and motivational climate among employees. The Educational Institute of Industry and Commerce in Hessen is acting as an interface for the five enterprises that are taking part in the project.

A long-term implementation of the KMU competence book will particularly benefit from the recruitment and support of coaches and multipliers, i,e. the  Hessian commissioner for qualifications, Kammern, business enterprises and counseling agencies. (“Dissemination and consolidation of the KMU competence book across the state of Hesse,  by integrating the Hessian commissioner for qualifications and other multipliers”).

Funding

The project is being financed within the framework of the operational program for employee development and competitiveness in Hessen, which is financed by the Ministry for Economy, Transport and Regional Development, the European Union - European Social Fund as well as from the private funds of the enterprises that are taking part in the project.

Co-operation partners

Bildungswerk der Hessischen Wirtschaft e.V.:

• Jakob Huber
  
• Dr. Cornelia Seitz
  

Entreprises:

• Biebertaler Blutegelzucht GmbH
• Canon Giessen GmbH
• FAB gGmbH Frauen Arbeit Bildung
• Goebel GmbH
• KMW GmbH
  
• uv-technik meyer GmbH