Projects

Achizitii in proiect

(LLP-LdV-TOI-2009-RO-010)
Life Long Learning Programme
 Leonardo Da Vinci – Transfer of Innovation

In-CLASS: International Communication and Language Assessment

The Reason and Impact Envisaged: The SME sector is, traditionally, the sector which has experienced most difficulty facing language barriers (see Elan Report, 2007) leading to loss of trade for up to 11% of European SMEs. The assistance provided by the implementation of language audits to enable SMEs to improve their competitiveness will enable more to survive and expand through export and in so doing retain higher levels of employment. Furthermore this will create new job opportunities by introducing new employment categories through the consultants and scheme managers.

The Aims:

To enhance the competitiveness of international SMEs within the partner countries by assisting them to identify language and culture barriers which arise from cross-border trade, and/or the development of a multilingual workforce, and to find specific costed solutions to address communication difficulties by the provision of an effective communication audit scheme for SMEs. To build on, and extend, the success of the earlier Protocol 1, 2, EURICA and ECLAT Projects.

The Objectives are:

• to pilot a European communication audit and auditor training scheme based on models developed in the PROTOCOL, Eurica and ECLAT projects.
• to develop full sets of Communication auditor training materials, based on the work of the Protocol Projects (copyrighted to Semantica Ltd which developed the Scheme materials and processes) in the project partner languages.
• to implement the new training materials, revised audit framework and a model training scheme (following a common European code of practice; quality assurance procedures; guidelines; terms of reference; standard information developed in Eurica and ECLAT) for the training of consultants and language auditors to undertake 'Language and Communication Audits' (LCAs) in SMEs with the objective of improving companies' competitiveness and entrepreneurship in other markets. The project adopts a sectoral approach by concentrating on the needs of export companies (SMEs):
• To pilot audit schemes for SMEs in the partner countries
• To implement a training programme with an e-learning component for language auditors in the partner countries and in their languages (including English)
• To develop practical materials adapted for each country’s particular environment for the Auditor training workshops
• To identify sponsors and/or a self-financing system and to promote the Language Audit concept through the scheme
• To establish a website for the exchange of information in the partner languages
• To ensure all previous experience in UK is disseminated throughout partnership by the exchange of information
• To select and train language auditors across the countries of the partnership
• To pilot European language audits in 10 SMEs across each country and report on the impact
• To review progress and produce report

The Outcomes will be:

• An operational Audit scheme in four countries managed by a chambers or government body offering Language Audits to international SMEs
• A Language Audit Training Scheme set up and operating for Auditors/Consultants Scheme
• A dissemination plan for promoting the Scheme and the Training Programme
• Training workshops in each of the partner countries including cross fertilisation of ideas and good practice between centres
• A website with news of developments and summaries of the work undertaken, accessible in the partner languages
• The website will contain downloadable e-learning materials in the partner languages with a simple on-line pre- and post-audit tool for SMEs and guidance for auditors
• A validation report reviewing progress and pitfalls, with recommendations for further action
• 2 seminars per country for dissemination of project outcomes to business advisers and consultants

Partnership:

1. EuroEd Foundation – Romania
2. Semantica Ltd. – UK
3. Inno-Motive – Hungary
4. IRES - Istituto di Ricerche Economiche e Sociali – Italy
 

The In-CLASS project has been carried out with the support of the European Community. The content of this material does not necessarily reflect the position of the European Community, nor does it involve any responsibility on its part.