About the practice
Where: St. Pölten, Austria
Start date: June 2020
Status: active
Beneficiaries: workers with support needs and their supporters
Funded by: Arbeiterkammer (project Arbeit 4.0)
OVERVIEW OF THE PRACTICE
Digi+ consists of direct trainings in the field of digitalization targeting workers with support needs and their supporters. Started by Arbeit plus niederösterreich and the Ilse Arlt institute of the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences to speed up the process of digitalization in social and integrative enterprises, the main objective of this practice is to ensure a better inclusion of people in the process of digital transformation.
Beneficiaries are trained on two main topics:
- basics of computers and smartphones (what they are, how to operate them and what can be achieved by using them);
- the Internet and how to use it safely to gain personal advantage.
So far, 54 supporters and 95 workers with support needs have benefitted from this practice
THE METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH
Digi+ is implemented by using the following approach:
- The needs of each participant are evaluated by the St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences.
- Based on the evaluation carried out, a process of adaptation is applied, either through the trainer on the training itself, or through a website which determines the level of digital qualification.
- Trainings are delivered at the workplace. On one hand, content is delivered directly to the workers with support needs; on the other hand, their supporters are instructed on how to do that (train the trainer). A website is also being developed to support the learning process.
Progress of each participant is evaluated via personal tests in the trainings and quizzes on the website
TYPE OF SKILLS DEVELOPED
Digital skills. In particular, at the end of the training, the trainees are able to use devices and the Internet to:
- stay in touch;
- find jobs;
- getting administrative things done from their home;
- have fun in a safe way.
THE INNOVATIVE ASPECT
The innovation of the Digi+ practice lies in the personal contact between the trainer and the worker combined with the use of the supporting digital website.
IMPACT & SUSTAINABILITY
Thanks to this practice, beneficiaries can be more easily integrated into the labour market. Workers with support needs learn how to manage and use their e-mail addresses and how to find and use tools that can support them in finding suitable jobs.
The sustainability of the practice is guaranteed by the training of the trainers, who can support and educate new workers with support needs in the future. Furthermore, the website developed is barrier-free and can be therefore accessed and used by everyone. This will also allow replicating the practice in other contexts.
Contacts
Juergen Binder
digiplus@arbeitplus.at
https://werkzeugkiste.arbeitplus.at