E-FOCUS
Students Focused on Optimizing Useful and Sustainable Competencies
Description
Hercules Association, in partnership with Dumitru Dumitrescu Technological High School and Barbu A. Știrbey Technological High School in the town of Buftea, Ilfov county is implementing between 01.11.2024 – 31.10.2026 the project E-FOCUS - Students Focused on Optimizing Useful and Sustainable Competencies.The project was co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) through the Education and Employment Programme (PEO) 2021-2027.Total project value: 2,462,775.92 RON, EU co-financing value: 985,110.36 RON
General Objective
The General Objective of the project "E-FOCUS – Students Focused on Optimizing Useful and Sustainable Competencies" aims, over its 24 months of implementation, to improve the quality of education systems in high school and vocational training for 260 students EECO06+07) residing in the București-Ilfov region. These students belong to the partner educational institutions P1 "Dumitru Dumitrescu" Technological High School (130 students) and the "Barbu A. Știrbey" Technological High School (130 students) in the town of Buftea, Ilfov countyThis objective will be achieved by facilitating vocational internships with relevant regional economic operators that possess the necessary equipment and know-how. This process ensures a transfer of key knowledge and skills to facilitate the students' access to the labor market, while simultaneously increasing the quality and relevance of the professional environment. The project promotes the principles of the green economy and green jobs, based on the DNSH (Do No Significant Harm) principle.
Specific Objectives
SO1 aims to attract 260 students from the partner educational institutions—130 students from P1 "Dumitru Dumitrescu" Technological High School and 130 students from P2 "Barbu A. Știrbey" Technological High School. The target group consists of students from technical and vocational profiles residing in the Bucharest-Ilfov region. The objective is to facilitate their involvement in applied professional internships based on sustainable partnership agreements that meet the current and future requirements of the labor market.
SO2 aims to conclude at least 12 partnership agreements between the partner educational providers and practice partners (companies, professional structures, and potential employers) within the first 12 months of the project. These agreements will strictly follow current legislation and the framework contract models established by the Ministry of Education.
SO3 focuses on creating a two-way information system between schools and practice partners by developing an online group for information sharing. This includes internship offers from partner companies, assessments of internship needs, and the dissemination of materials regarding the benefits of "green jobs," the impact of digitalization, and the optimization of work processes through technical skills. This directly contributes to Specific Objective ESO4.5: "Improving the quality, inclusiveness, effectiveness, and labor market relevance of education and training systems."
SO4 targets the procurement of equipment for 4 practice laboratories. This will support the transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application, increasing the professional competencies of the 260 students. The positive impact will be ensured during and after the project by providing future generations of students with access to this modern equipment.
SO5 aims to organize and conduct professional internships for the 260 students over 23 months. Specifically, 35 students from P2 "Barbu Știrbey" Technological High School (Food Industry profile) will conduct their practice at P0 Hercules Association, while the remaining 225 students will be placed with external economic operators. This contributes directly to output indicators EECO06+07 and supports students in obtaining their qualifications (EECRO03).
SO6 focuses on organizing professional qualification certification exams to increase the relevance of certifications for the labor market. The project will provide the necessary conditions to support both economic operators and educational units during these exams. This objective directly contributes to a targeted success rate where 92.31% (240 students) of the target group obtain their professional qualification upon completion of their participation (Indicator EECRO03).
Activities
A1.1 Project management and coordination: planning, organization, monitoring, verification, control, and evaluation.
A1.2 Ensuring information, publicity, and visibility of the project, alongside other support activities necessary for optimal implementation.
A2.1 Managing the process of identifying, informing, selecting, and motivating the target group of students to ensure their presence and active involvement in project activities.
A3.1 Establishing sustainable partnerships between educational institutions and practice partners to facilitate the transition from education to the labor market.
A3.2 Creating a bidirectional information system between schools and practice partners to address current and future labor market needs.
A4.1 Ensuring the technological and material conditions necessary for the practice, admission, evaluation, and training of students within the target group.
A4.2 Organizing and conducting vocational internships for target group students to improve the socio-professional integration of future graduates.
A4.3 Organizing and conducting professional qualification certification exams to enhance the quality and relevance of certifications.