Why should I use the WBL-Q tool?
The WBL-Q self-assessment tool is a quick and easy approach to find out if the quality of your work-based learning system is on a high level, if it is up-to-date and how it compares to an average benchmark of your professional peers. You can use it to estimate improvement measures, which will be recommended to you based on your scores in six different areas. If you are really happy with your results, you can download a certificate which can be implemented digitally on your online promotion channels or even printed and hung in your workplace.
Who should register and answer the questions?
Ideally, the person with the most insight in the work-based learning system and processes in place in your company should register and complete the assessment. The more question the registered person can answer on their own, the less time is needed to obtain a reliable score.
How long does it take to complete the self-assessment?
It depends on how many questions in the assessment you can answer on the top of your head and for how many you have to look up additional information. The first assessment will take you approximately 30 minutes on average.
Is the use free? Do I have to expect any costs?
The registration and use of the tool are completely free and will stay free of charge in the future. The development has been funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union, hence you will find this logo in the tool and in the PDF report you can download alongside the WBL-Q project logo.
Is my data visible publicly or to other users?
No. Your data is only visible to you.
Is the name of my company visible for anyone else but me?
No. You can insert the name of your company if you wish to personalise your result report upon downloading the PDF, but this data is not saved by the tool. The company name will then only appear on your downloaded PDFs.
How can I work together with my colleagues on this tool?
There are two recommended ways:
1. Set-up a shared account and share the log-in data with your trusted colleague. Make sure to use a suitable email address and password, because these are needed to log-in to the tool.
2. If you are working in a big company and you and your colleague are overseeing different departments of work-based learning, it makes sense to create separate accounts. This will allow you to have a specific focus and you can compare the scores with each other.
I don’t know the answer to a question. What should I do?
Try to find out the information by either researching official documents or by contacting responsible persons. Give a neutral answer for now and come back to the question when you have found out the real answer.
What do the abbreviations mean?
WBL: work-based learning. This includes apprenticeships, internships, placements, job-shadowing.
VET: vocational education and training. VET providers are the institutions that offer vocational educations and it depends on the country how this organisation is set up.
Who is a mentor? Who is a learner?
A mentor is the person responsible for the work-based learning in a company and the main contact point for the learners. The learners can be the apprentices, interns, or trainees.
What are Building Blocks?
The EQAVET system introduces six building blocks of European quality assurance in vocational education and training. Based on this theory, the Erasmus+ project WBL-Q has developed the quality assurance system for work-based learning which is introduced in the self-evaluation and stress test tool. When reading the EQAVET details, keep in mind that they are addressing VET providers while the WBL-Q project is addressing WBL providers/companies. Find out more about how the WBL-Q project defines the building blocks here.
What are Megatrends?
Your company is faced with changes and new developments in many areas. The WBL-Q self-assessment implements a stress test behind the scenes as it measures your answers against five megatrends that may affect your company in the future: Demographic Change, Digitalisation, Inclusion & Diversity, Attractivity of VET, Sustainable & Solidaric Future. Find out more about how the WBL-Q project defines these megatrends here.
What is the aim of the WBL-Q tool? Why does it exist?
The WBL-Q self-assessment tool has been developed as one of the main results of a transnational Erasmus+ project. The European Commission and the partnership responsible for the project aim to enhance the quality of work-based learning in Europe by supporting the responsible persons to estimate their status quo and their improvement potential. Find out more here.
How is the tool funded?
The development has been funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Commission, hence you will find this logo in the tool and in the PDF report you can download alongside the WBL-Q project logo. Find out more here.