670 UTS and SENA students
and trainers access services focused on academic success and employability support
Supporting inclusive access and student retention
In collaboration with the Colombian Ministry of Education, the project’s primary objective was to contribute to the reduction of drop-out rates, the promotion of timely graduation, and the employability of students/trainees at the Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander (UTS) and the Centro Minero Regional Boyacá (CMRB) under the Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) in Sogamoso.
At the national level, SENA trains technicians to work in companies within the country. To this end, a decision was made to implement three actions, in the form of a pilot project, for each of these institutions.
DISCOVER PROJECT B10
SERVICES PROVIDED
Project B10 was based on four components, which were implemented through various actions. Component 1 – Technical and Educational Enhancement focused on academic success as a methodology. Three types of training were delivered: academic success, inclusive education, and learning and assessment. As part of Component 2 – Support for Services Management, the process of supporting academic success was analyzed, specifically its critical pieces (management and teaching), and job placement services were strengthened for the development of students’ soft skills.
Under Component 3 – Support for the Development of Applied Research Projects, detailed research was carried out on the situations, needs, and protective factors of students/learners to promote academic success with a focus on inclusivity and gender equity. Lastly, Component 4 – Support for the Creation of Collaborative Mechanisms with Stakeholders Focused on Academic Success consisted of the creation of a virtual sharing space (community of practice) in each institution to promote reflection, sharing, and mutual training on academic success in the context of distance learning, based on the experiences of students and instructors.
It's something to be proud of!
more than
20 000 downloads of the app
The mobile app developed to facilitate the UTS students’ access to services has achieved its objective as there were more than 20 000 downloads of the app by students.
UNEXPECTED RESULTS
With respect to CMRB’s activities, a documentation and transfer process was carried out with the general management of SENA, which is interested in and focused on disseminating and replicating the services developed within the framework of B.10 with the National School of Instructors and the other training centres.
Testimonials
Which of the services improved by the Program is the most important for, as a student?
“The interpreting service is really important to me because it has allowed me to understand the information in class, to communicate with my classmates, and I have been able to learn now thanks to this service.”
Carlos Andrés Caballero
OUTCOMES
Development of a roadmap (pilot project by Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander [UTS])
This innovation uses a QR code to quickly identify the services available at a university and improve student access to them.
Development of an app for student services (pilot project by Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander [UTS])
This app was created by two scholarship students from the UTS computer science program, who were supervised by the project team. The app was chosen as the most suitable communication tool to improve access to student support services, and it includes the roadmap.
Creation of a community of practice (pilot project by Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander [UTS])
This brings together instructors and professionals to share case studies, teacher training, or other materials based on the identified needs. The project ensured an equal number of men and women in the formation of the communities of practice.
Development of a toolkit (pilot project by Unidades Tecnológicas de Santander [UTS])
The toolkit includes different activities and training courses on teaching and education topics.
Implementation of the “pivot-instructor” role (pilot project by the National Training Service [Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje; SENA-Sogamoso])
This is a reference point for technical and technological apprentices over the entire educational dimension, including with other instructors.
Implementation of the “individualized educational support” (IES) role for apprentices (pilot project by the National Training Service [SENA-Sogamoso])
This strategy was coordinated with the Sponsorship Plan and with the work carried out by the “pivot-instructors”, i.e., instructors who play a central role and act as liaisons between the students and the practitioners at the institution’s well-being services.
Development of a follow-up strategy for first-year apprentices (pilot project by the National Training Service [SENA-Sogamoso])
The aim of this is to promote the academic success of these young people.
TESTIMONIALS
Hear what they say about it
Freddy Uriel Chaparro Orduz
Workplace Health and Safety Instructor, Centro Minero Regional Boyacá (CMRB), under the Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA), Colombia
THEME 2 - Related projects
Continue the Story..
Project A08
Promotion of TVET through national campaigns and capacity building within ministries of education
Project B081
E-learning as a tool for high-quality TVET
Project B09
Student life and services
Project B11
The power of pedagogy for inclusive TVET
Project B12
Coordination of services to promote academic success
THEME 3 K
Quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET)
