What makes a good digital portfolio?

Traditionally skills and competences which are gained during an education are rewarded with certificates or diploma’s. An advantage of this ‘proof of being competent’ is that employment organisations are familiar with this method and know how to appreciate it. The disadvantages, however, a numerous. It shows that the owner fulfills the minimum requirements, but not the extra’s which enrichen the competences. Next to this it reflects the skills and competences in a certain moment of time, but how to register and recognise this during the ‘Life Long Learning process’. These extra’s and developments can be gathered and shown in a portfolio and since we don’t want to walk around with loads of papers, it needs to be digitalised. Although the advantages of digital portfolio’s are numerous, they are not commonly used in real life practice. How come?

This project will research the reason why and find motivation methods for students to fill their digital portfolio and keep it up-to-date. On the other hand we will research the reasons why employment organisations hardly use portfolio’s within their hiring policy and give them reasons to use them.

This has resulted in the following project outcomes:

  1. Evaluation criteria of a good digital portfolio promoting employment and career.
  2. Analysis of company criteria for a useful digital competence portfolio which facilitates staff recruitment.
  3. An education and training concept for teachers to instruct learners in how to produce their own digital skills portfolio. Comprehending teaching method that derives from the incentive scheme that contributes to the motivation of learners, VET staff and management to take steps towards digital communication of knowledge and skills acquired in vocational education and work-based learning.

The partners within this project are:​

A survey about the usefulness of digital portfolio’s amongst Dutch automotive companies has resulted in the following (in Dutch)
Uitkomsten enquete digitaal portfolio onder automotive werkgevers

Pilot with e-portfolio started at Aventus Smart Building and Smart Technology study programmes
Background information about the pilot programme

If you want any further information. Please contact Durk van Wieren (d.vanwieren@aventus.nl).

The project has support from the Erasmus+ program under the name: What makes a good digital portfolio. Project number: 2019-1-SE01-KA202-060565