The Project

Skill Assessment for PersonalIsed compEtence NetworkS (SAPIENS) (2020-1-ES01-KA226-HE-094952) is a project funded by the European Union, under the KA2 call - Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices; KA226 - Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness.

SAPIENS aims at developing a tool based on Network Science that allows a competence-based assessment for both students individually and the class in blended learning Higher Education studies in the field of Exact & Social Sciences (namely in subjects such as Calculus, Algebra, Physics, Statistics and Economics).

This adaptable and innovative online tool supports the early detection of learning shortcomings and the identification of the competences that are harder to acquire (either individually by students or collectively by the class), thus allowing Professors to guide the course according to students’ needs and enabling the definition of customised (and customisable) training and learning itineraries.

This is especially relevant because many Universities and Professors must now teach either exclusively online or using blended learning pathways. At the same time, there is a pressing need to reinforce and accelerate the modernisation and digital transformation of education systems, to enable institutions to provide high quality, inclusive digital education.

SAPIENS supports Professors in adapting to a new paradigm arising from the COVID-19 crisis by offering an innovative online tool to assess students based on their competences and developing their abilities to use and respond to the diagnosis made by the tool.

MAIN PROJECT RESULTS

SAPIENS has three Intellectual Outputs. Their main objectives are:

O1 – SAPIENS Competence Framework for Blended Learning: Definition of a Competence Framework describing the proposed cognitive itineraries for the different areas of study targeted by SAPIENS, which will be based, integrate, and build on the specific micro-competences (and the corresponding knowledge, skills and attitudes) identified and mapped at the internal level of Consortium HEIs. Its main objectives are:

To identify specific micro-competences that are transversal to Physics (Mechanics, Gravitation, Electricity, Magnetism, Thermodynamics), Mathematics (Algebra, Calculus, Optimisation), Statistics (Metrics, Inferences, Projections, Probability) and Economics
To define specific customised Competence Framework for each targeted subject, and specific Competence Frameworks for each student and class.

O2 – SAPIENS Personalised Competence Assessment Tool: Creation of an online Personalised Competence Assessment Tool that will detect and assess that are harder to acquire both in students individually and in the class, thus enabling educators to guide and adapt teaching programmes accordingly. Its main objectives are:

To favour the adoption of new technologies and digital innovative practices in Higher Education by defining, developing, and testing a digital competence assessment tool supporting Professors teaching Physics, Mathematics, Statistics and Economics as subjects in undergraduate and graduate curricula currently being implemented as online and blended studies as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

O3 – SAPIENS Online Training Course for Professors: Definition and implementation of the SAPIENS Online Training Course for Professors. Its main objectives are:

To support and empower Professors currently teaching in online and blended studies as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, by building their capacities to implement the SAPIENS methodology and too
To improve Professors’ competences to design and implement high-quality online and blended learning curricula.
To promote more inclusive Higher Education systems.

Based on all the above, the target groups are:

Professors and Researchers with expertise in Physics, Mathematics, Statistics and Economics
Local and regional authorities
Decision-makers and/or policy-makers (especially those engaged in education and training, digital education, skill development, youth
and employment/employability)
Institutions and associations supporting educators and/or students