On Wednesday, December 7th 2022 we have kicked off the piloting of unit 3 of our ECVET for Digital Publishing course. Unit 3 is all about marketing and Distribution. Digital Marketing is essential for any business. Its main channels and its advantages will help you design the best strategies or trust an agency to carry out all the actions related to the online media. Ecvet for Digital Publishing (EfDP) supports the development of a suite of new credit-based Digital Publishing qualifications within the context of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and related processes for European Credit Transfer for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET).

Digital Marketing Channels

Marketing was traditionally done through print (newspapers and magazines) and broadcast ads (TV and radio). These are channels that still exist today. Digital marketing channels have evolved and continue to do so. There exist yet traditional channels of course, but digital means are growing over them, so we have to keep in mind that some companies may use multiple channels in their efforts.

Digital Marketing in digital Publishing
It is obvious that Digital Marketing is the main type of Marketing now but even more when it comes to Digital Products. Constantly, digital products such as E-books, online courses, apps, stock photos and much more are so sold, distributed and consumed. This is why market your digital product in a correct way is so important. Digital products are different so physical ones because them are not tangible so it must be taken into account.

Lessons Overview Unit 3: Marketing and Distribution

The Dutch unit 3 lessons were given to a group of students on December 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th and 21nd 2022.

Ecvet for Digital Publishing (EfDP) met in Brussels October 6-7th 2022. The project is entering the pilot phase, rolling out the course and testing the assessments and lesson plans in practice. Each EFDP partner organisation will start piloting in October and November 2022.

Transnational Project Meeting Brussels

In the Brussels city centre the partnership came together at the premises of partnerorganisation Federation of European Publishers. During the meeting we discussed the content of the units and lesson plans. How to present slides, talk through course content, how keep the sudents engaged, how to do the assessments and key dates. The EfDP pilot needs to be very clear about the ‘why’ and what we expect from them. All EFDP partner organisation start their piloting in October and November. Capacity London will be the first to kick mid October 2022.

National Accreditation & Multiplier events

Each country is pursueing formal accreditation for the developed EfDP course. Formal updates will be sent in the partnership before end October.

Each partner organisation will organise a national multiplier event to disseminate about the work and products we have achieved. The multiplier events will all be done in 2022. Soon the partnership will produce more EfDP news regarding the dates and the agendas. EFP will organise a more international multiplier event, with foreign delegates. For more news, follow our digiblox instagram account: digiblox_dp

Last week the second Transnational Project Meeting of ECVET for Digital Publishing Partnership was organised in Sevilla, Spain. Third Sector International hosted the meeting the 3^rd and the 4^th of March in the Cartuja area, where the very well-known Expo took place in 1992.

EFDP DFW2W Video Tour

What is EfDP doing in Sevilla?

The project is developing materials that will respond to the demand for digital skills within the publishing industry and related sectors by developing course curricula for a suite of new ECVET based Digital Publishing qualifications. The project EfDP is creating a course that will correspond to EQF Level 5.

In the meeting several points were addressed by the six partner organizations. One of the main points addressed were the different assessments for each learning unit. These assessments will be the way to evaluate if the learners are correctly absorbing the knowledge of the course content also developed by the partners. The learners will have to overcome these different units to get the accreditation created by the EFDP project.

Another main point of the meeting was the development of the course content. The project leader reassured the methodology to create and develop each content unit to successfully create a course that will cover all the subjects and give the proper information to the learners in this digital publishing course.

Next Stop EfDP Project: Italy

Finally, some administrative and technical issues were also pointed out. The next transnational project meeting will be in Italy around the end of June 2022.

Stay tuned for more!

The partnership Ecvet for Digital Publishing (EfDP) held their first transnational project meeting in Leiderdorp (The Netherlands) at Area0071. The partnership is developing a suite of new credit-based Digital Publishing qualifications within the context of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and related processes for European Credit Transfer for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET). A series of serious decisions was made about the content, criteria and assessment of the EfDP units.

Dutch Host Meeting Area071

The Dutch transnational project meeting took place on October 7-8th 2021, in Leiden / Leiderdorp, Zuid-Holland. It was the first time the partners saw each other face-to-face. The 2-day meeting went very smooth and important topics were discussed, like:

• Recognition and Accreditation:

Each partner provided an update on initial engagement with Quality and Curricular agencies in their respective countries. It is clear that by the explainations that the pathways towards accreditation is very complex and can be very long in the partnership countries. The possibility of recognising the course through an existing college is considered by the Dutch and the Spanish partners.

• Training Activities

As much of our staff training is now delivered virtually as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, currently we have decided not to hold staff training events.

• Project time Table

Currently the partnership is not requesting an extension for the EfDP project… ; The new end date we agreed on was 2022, December 31st.

• Dissemination:

A pack with an updated logo, font choice and branding colours is produced: (Digiblox concepts 1 and 2, on the right)

• Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria (see EfDP Units)

EfDP Units

The EfDP project focused intensively during the Dutch meeting on the development of the outcomes and assessment criteria, in order to create a suite of new credit-based Digital Publishing qualifications within the context of the European Qualification Framework (EQF / ECVET). The project EfDP aims creating a course on EQF Level 5. Partners will need to research national QF levels. DFW2W will develop the Digital Marketing units for ECVET for Digital Pubishing. Each partner will have a different unit to formulate and manage. The following units are divided to each partner:

• Capacity London: Production
• Capacity Ireland: Content
• 3Si: Design
• DFW2W: Marketing & Distribution
• Villa Montesca: Business Models

In general the EfDP partnership started on day two in Leiderdorp by reviewing the draft Learning outcomes and Assessment Criteria which were developed by the partners. It was noted that there was some variance between the levels, which prompted a decision for Capacity London to re-write these so that there is some consistency. We discussed pairing units in such a way that they complement each other, so that potential students would find the qualification more appealing. Nonetheless, it was decided that all learners will need to take Unit One: Content, as it is critical to their understanding of the digital publishing process.

The partnership decided to focus on audio-books and e-books primarily. However, we will be working on crafting assessment criteria that will include digital magazines as a task, since this is particularly beneficial to Design Unit 3. As part of Unit One, Content, we will also present a short introduction to digital publishing and this will be designed to fill in the gaps and enhance a students’ understanding of the sector. Students will also be able to learn about entry level roles available in the digital publishing industry.

Vocational Level

To follow up on our points discussed, the partnership agreed that this qualification should be vocational in nature. As a result, we encourage partners to ensure that their Learning Outcomes addresses job roles and skills relevant to their specific unit. In the introduction, we will frame the qualification and explain what digital publishing is. Besides explaining the differences between e-books and digital magazines, it will also explain the differences between different types of publications such as trade books and academic journals. Also included will be an explanation of the industry, what the editor does, and the workflow / framework.

Unit (Digital) Marketing and Distribution

This unit provides learners with insight into key Marketing and Distribution processes, techniques and campaigns, when to deploy these and for what purpose, for what job roles. Learners will also understand the models, workflows, techniques involved in producing e-books and audiobooks, including how to make digital publishing products accessible for print-impaired audiences. The learner will also understand what metadata is and how it is used. Currently we are updating assessment criteria, including the soft and hard skills needed.

The Dutch transnational meeting of the partnership ECVET for Digital Publishing takes place on October 7th-8th 2021 at Area071 in Leiderdorp. The EfDP project supports the development of a suite of new credit-based Digital Publishing qualifications within the context of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and related processes for European Credit Transfer for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET). The project will respond to the demand for digital skills within the publishing industry and related sectors by developing course curricula for a suite of new ECVET based Digital Publishing qualifications. The project EfDP will be creating a course that is EQF Level 5.

EfDP Agenda

The Dutch Foundation of Innovation Welfare 2 Work (DFW2W) is currently developing the digital marketing distribution units for the project ECVET for Digital Publishing. We will provide learners an insight into the origins of Social Media through the technologies of Hypertext and the World Wide Web. They will learn how mobile apps and smart-phone services extend these platforms, how they make use of tracking data to target marketing campaigns, and the relationship between search and advertising.

ECVET for Digital Publishing Qualifications

The EfDP project will support the development of a suite of new credit-based Digital Publishing qualifications within the context of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and related processes for European Credit Transfer for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET). The project will respond to the demand for digital skills within the publishing industry and related sectors by developing course curricula for a suite of new ECVET based Digital Publishing qualifications. The project EfDP will be creating a course that is EQF Level 5. Partners will need to research national QF levels. DFW2W will develop the Digital Marketing units for ECVET for Digital Pubishing. Each partner will have a different unit to formulate and manage. This is how the Units will be divided:

1. Capacity London: Production
2. Capacity Ireland: Content
3. 3Si: Design
4. DFW2W: Marketing & Distribution
5. Villa Montesca: Business Models

What is ECVET?

ECVET is the acronym for European CREDIT system for Vocational Education and Training. ECVET is based on concepts and processes which are used in a systematic way to establish a common and user-friendly language for transparency, transfer and recognition of learning outcomes. Some of these concepts and processes are already embedded in many qualifications systems across Europe. ECVET aims to support recognition of learning outcomes without extending learners’ education and training pathways. ECVET is based on:

• Learning outcomes, which are statements of knowledge, skills and competence that can be achieved in a variety of learning contexts.
• Units of learning outcomes that are components of qualifications. Units can be assessed, validated and recognised.
• ECVET points, which provide additional information about units and qualifications in a numerical form.
• Credit that is given for assessed and documented learning outcomes of a learner. Credit can be transferred to other contexts and accumulated to achieve a qualification on the basis of the qualifications standards and regulations existing in the participating countries.
• Mutual trust and partnership among participating organisations. These are expressed in Memoranda of Understanding and Learning Agreements

Ecvet for Digital Publishing (EfDP) will support the development of a suite of new credit-based Digital Publishing qualifications within the context of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and related processes for European Credit Transfer for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET).

EfDP Project Kick Off February 4-5th 2021

On February 4th and 5th the EfDP project kicked of with a digital meeting. The project will respond to the demand for digital skills within the publishing industry and related sectors by developing course curricula for a suite of new ECVET based Digital Publishing qualifications focusing on 5 key areas:

(1) Content

Creating, sourcing and collating content for Digital Publishing, as well as editing and curation for online content and examining legal issues associated with intellectual copyright and clearing rights within Europe and internationally

(2) Production

Skills and knowledge for digital production processes that develop content into digital products, such as: e-books and audio books; digital magazines; blogs; and elearning materials

(3) Design

Analysis and justification of different design approaches; awareness of software options for creating digital assets; designing for instant impact, and online optimisation

(4) Distribution

Awareness of the channels and platforms available for delivery of digital content and assessment of options for different digital products and audience targeting and engagement

(5) Business Models

Understanding of the impact of digitisation on mainstream publishing, as well as developing knowledge of alternative and emerging business models that facilitate monetisation of digital content, including advertising and subscription-based models and multiplatform returns on intellectual property.

ECVET Partners, Principles and Processes

Following ECVET principles and processes, the EfDP project will work with VET Partners in 5 EU countries (Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK, as well as the Federation of European Publishers who will act as an industry-focused ‘Expert Partner’ to develop ECVET based Digital Publishing VET qualifications that will enable learners to start training
towards their target qualification with a training provider in one EU country and then, whilst part way through, transfer the credits gained to date to another training provider in a different EU country to complete the course.

EfDP Target Groups
The primary project target groups are:

• VET institutions historically or currently offering courses tailored to the traditional publishing sector, but especially those interested in:
  a) developing qualifications based on skills appropriate to the transition to digital within traditional publishing and/or
  b) wishing to offer VET provision related to the spectrum of skills relevant to ‘stand-alone’ digital publishing.
• VET learners interested in pursuing a career in publishing, primarily be young people aged 19-24 facing economic and educational obstacles to labour market integration in their chosen field.
• EU VET Support and the corresponding National, Regional and Sectoral Qualifications Frameworks in the partner countries. In total 312 people will directly benefit from the participating in the EfDM project including 15 project staff, 7 VET practitioners taking part in teaching and training activities, 50 VET students accessing pilot courses and 240 people taking part in Multiplier Events. Dissemination functions will also engage significant additional numbers of Digital Media employers,
  VET organisations, practitioners and learners.