Upskilling Pathways in Poland

The Foundation for the Development of the Education System in partnership with the Educational Research Institute are implementing Upskilling Pathways in Poland within the project “A Chance – New Opportunities for Adults”. The first phase of the project has recently been completed, the call for grants to develop models supporting adults is to be announced in October 2019.

The main goal of this project is to support adults with a low level of skills, knowledge and competences who are not eligible for support under the Youth Guarantee. The selected target groups are:

  1. employees (especially from small and medium-sized enterprises),
  2. unemployed or inactive adults,
  3. adults from disadvantaged areas (rural areas, small towns and/or post-industrial municipalities),
  4. people aged 50+,
  5. immigrants,
  6. adults with intellectual disabilities,
  7. adults with physical and/or sensorial disabilities,
  8. adults affected by abuse (e.g. physical, mental, economic).

The target groups will be offered flexible opportunities to improve their literacy, numeracy, digital and social competences, as well as to progress towards higher Polish Qualifications Framework levels. The aims of the project are to be achieved by developing models based on effective approaches to reach and motivate selected target groups, as well as by offering them skills assessment, an individually adjusted learning offer and the validation of achieved learning outcomes.

Implementation of the project “A Chance – New Opportunities for Adults” consists of three phases:

  1. First phase: Qualitative research and analysis of current initiatives, e.g. projects, surveys, reports, strategy documents. Selection of priority target groups. Development of specifications and requirements for tailored models of supporting adults with a low level of basic skills.
  2. Second phase: Preparation of tailored models of supporting adults with a low level of basic skills. The models will be developed by eligible entities chosen in an open call for grants. The best models will be piloted with the previously selected target groups.
  3. Third phase: Preparation of recommendations to the government to be used in developing coherent strategies for raising basic skills. Recommendations will include conclusions from the piloted models and will cover such aspects as: the effectiveness of supporting adults with a low level of basic skills, the cost effectiveness of the intervention, best practices of implementing models focused on the needs of low-skilled adults.

The project’s aims and actions are in line with the Council Recommendation of 19 December 2016 on “Upskilling Pathways: New Opportunities for Adults”. The project is co-financed by the European Social Fund and will be implemented until the end of 2021.