Europe today faces numerous challenges: green and digital transitions are reshaping the way we live, work and interact, and call for a shift in skill sets to reap their full potential; the Covid-19 pandemic made telework and distance learning a reality for millions of people in the EU, revealed the limitations of our digital preparedness, and negatively impacted job opportunities for many; too many people cannot find a job because they do not have the right skills or they are working in jobs that do not match their talents; 40% of employers cannot find people with the right skills to fill their vacancies, while too few people have the skill sets and support to see setting up their own business as a realistic route; an unacceptably high proportion of Europeans – 1 in 5 – struggle with reading and writing, and even more have poor numeracy and digital skills; and while everyone should have the chance to upgrade their skills on a regular basis, only 4 in 10 adults take part in learning. These challenges indicate the NEED FOR A VARIETY OF SKILLS.

MORAL aims to upskill employees at entry-level (junior) job positions and to facilitate the access of long-term unemployed with emphasis on women and young individuals, economically inactive women, and low-skilled adults (disadvantaged groups) to the labour market through the development of a ‘Passport To Employment’ (PTE), that is, through a set of stackable micro-credentials for 20 key skills required by employers today, deriving from 4 European Competence Frameworks (LifeComp, GreenComp, EntreComp, DigComp).

As per the Recommendation of the Council of the European Union issued in June 2022, ‘A micro-credential is the record of the learning outcomes that a learner has acquired following a small volume of learning. These learning outcomes have been assessed against transparent and clearly defined standards. Courses leading to micro-credentials are designed to provide the learner with specific knowledge, skills and competences that respond to societal, personal, cultural or labour market needs. Micro-credentials are owned by the learner, can be shared and are portable. They may be standalone or combined into larger credentials. They are underpinned by quality assurance following agreed standards in the relevant sector or area of activity’.

MORAL expects to develop:

1. A ‘Key Skills Matrix’ (KSM) including 20 key skills for employment at entry-level (junior) job positions in different industries and fields, aligned with employers’ requirements.
2. 20 micro-credentials for the 20 key skills, aligned with the European principles for the design, development, and issuance of micro-credentials as well as with ISO17024 standards.
3. A ‘Passport To Employment’ (PTE), which may be received by a learner who has been granted all the 20 micro-credentials.
4. The 20 micro-credentials in the form of European Digital Credentials for Learning.
5. Learning content on all the 20 key skills for the learners to take micro-courses and receive the 20 micro-credentials.
6. A certification scheme for the validation of the assessment tool that will be used for granting the 20 micro-credentials and an assessment tool aligned with ISO17024 standards for the validation of the 20 micro-credentials.

To achieve the project objectives, the consortium will:

• Conduct primary research (focus groups) with a minimum of 80 employers and secondary research (large-scale survey) with a minimum of 500 employers from 5 EU countries to identify their views on key skills required for employment at entry-level (junior) job positions, and compose an aggregate research report.
• Develop a ‘Key Skills Matrix’ including 20 life, green, entrepreneurial, and digital key skills required for employment at entry-level (junior) job positions.
• Design and develop 20 micro-credentials, aligned with EQF Level 4 or 5 as well as with ISO17024 standards.
• Develop a PTE to be received once a learner is granted all the 20 micro-credentials.
• Develop learning content based on the 20 micro-credentials in the form of micro-courses.
• Pilot test the 20 micro-credentials with a minimum of 125 members of the project target groups in 5 EU countries through asynchronous e-learning and synchronous e-learning revision classes, and compose an aggregate pilot testing report.
• Assess digitally a minimum of 50 learners in 5 EU countries to be granted at least 1 out of the 20 micro-credentials each.
• Provide the 20 micro-credentials in the form of European Digital Credentials for Learning.
• Promote the PTE to learners (employees or potential employees), VET providers, employers and employer representatives, and policy makers in 5 EU countries.
• Train VET providers in 5 EU countries on the design and development of micro-credentials.
• Implement workshops for employees, VET providers, employers and employer representatives, and policy makers in 5 EU countries on the ‘Lessons Learned’ through the project and the ‘Way Forward’.
• Organise a European conference on the findings and conclusions of the projects and the significance of micro-credentials.

The MORAL team consists of 11 organisations from 5 EU countries – Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Poland, and Spain: MMC Mediterranean Management Centre (coordinator), the Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation, the Cyprus Certification Company, DIMITRA Education and Consulting, the Association of Thessalian Industries & Enterprises, the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Craft and Agriculture of Basilicata, Associazione Nazionale Orientatori, the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute for Sustainable Technologies, Radom Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Fundación Equipo Humano, and Valencia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services and Shipping.