ExpAct
Experience keep people Active
At a glance
- Project leader : Andri Färber
- Deputy of project leader : Eva Frei
- Project team : Theresa Luternauer, Adrian Moser, Dr. Irina Nast, Mandy Scheermesser, Prof. Dr. Alexandre de Spindler
- Project budget : EUR 2'501'888
- Project status : completed
- Funding partner : EU and other international programmes (AAL Joint Programme)
- Project partner : Power Age Foundation, Aktivsenioren Bayern, Ethical Software Coop. Soc. ONLUS, Andrássy Universität Budapest, European Academy of Bozen-Bolzano (EURAC Research)
- Contact person : Andri Färber
Description
As part of the European research project, a standard software
was developed for the easy and rapid implementation of skills
assessments and mediation platforms for older people.
By recording the experiences of older people, transparency is
created on the labour market about the unused experience and human
capital. If this pool of experience is opened up in business, this
will counteract the shortage of skilled workers, among other
things. Employment also supports social inclusion, promotes health
and enables older people to earn (additional) income, even after
retirement.
Four different pilot applications were implemented and tested in
four European countries. More than 200 potential end-users were
involved in various phases of the project throughout its duration.
In Switzerland, a large insurance company will give older employees
the opportunity to use their experience temporarily in other areas
of the company. In Hungary, members of a senior knowledge
management network are to be deployed in consulting mandates after
their retirement. The Italian pilot tested the use of the platform
in a cooperative with the aim of reintegrating older unemployed
people into the world of work. In Austria, the standard software
has been adapted so that the platform can be used in a Tyrolean
community as a time bank for neighbourly help.
The successful use of the four pilot applications demonstrates the
strengths of the standard software: scalable, flexibly adaptable
and expandable.
An innovative element of the solution is the Skills Assessment,
which records the experiences of older people. Not only hard skills
from previous professional activities are recorded, but also
experiences from family activities, leisure activities or voluntary
work. In addition, soft and passion skills are also recorded. Soft
Skills are competences in dealing with other people, in leadership
tasks, in dealing with resources as well as in clear thinking and
problem solving. Passion Skills are personal goals and preferences
for future employment. The consideration of the three skills
enables the cross-functional and cross-disciplinary use of older
people.
The feedback of the involved end users as well as the potential
operators of such Skills Assessments and mediation platforms was
very positive. Valuable experience and hidden talents of older
people are made visible with the software. This benefits older
people and - if the potential is tapped - the economy and society
as a whole. Due to the positive response, four project partners
intend to market the solution.