Comp UP

The PIAAC Survey of Adult Skills shows that 70 million Europeans struggle with basic reading and writing, calculation and using digital tools in everyday life. Without these skills using a machine to buy a train ticket, read to their children or understand written safety precautions becomes difficult and a barrier to social and work inclusion. The importance of Digital Literacy, as one of the eight key competences that every European citizen should master, is even highlighted by the European Commission’s 2010 Digital Agenda for Europe.

As a consequence, the European Council adopted a “Recommendation on Upskilling Pathways” in order to help adults acquire a minimum level of literacy, numeracy and digital skills through the development of high-quality and accessible services.

In this context the COMP-UP Consortium, according to its experience with disadvantaged and low qualified adults and in adult education, suggests that updating competences of Adult Education Professionals (AEP) who support adult learners is a reply to improve the literacy, numeracy and digital skills of this target group.

The COMP-UP project, in line with the needs and priorities listed above, will be aimed at increasing the motivation of low-qualified adult learners to take part in education and improve their literacy, numeracy and digital skills. In practice COMP-UP aims to:

• Collect and analyse EU and NA projects and tools in the field and identify the competence gaps of AEPs 
• Supply competences to 50 AEPs to motivate low-qualified adult learners in improving their skills
• Update digital competences of AEPs through a blended-learning methodology and the use of Webinars
• Develop an online platform designed to be a “resources library” and valorise EPALE platform activities
• Implement Motivation workshops to improve the 3 basic competences of 75 low-qualified adult learners (Digital, Literacy, numeracy)
• Build a Local and EU Network of AEPs using the same methodologies
• Valorise the COMP-UP concept and training through 11 multiplier events reaching 280 people at EU level 

The consortium will use different interconnected methodologies. First, it will investigate the needs and skill gaps of AEPs through a focus group in each country. Second, on the basis of an interactive process of development and mutual feedback the partnership will elaborate the COMP-UP Tool collection, Training Curriculum and Motivation Toolkit: a collection of useful resources for AEPs to implement workshops aimed at motivating low-qualified adult learners to improve their literacy, numeracy and digital competences. Finally, the development phase will be followed by a testing phase and a common learning and teaching activity.