HEIComp project develops work-based learning for Latin American universities

The Erasmus+ funded HEIComp project will introduce a new learning model into the curricula and strategies of partner universities in Brazil and Paraguay.

Project partners visited Laurea in 2023 when the HEIComp project kicked off.

The Erasmus+ funded HEIComp project will introduce a new learning model into the curricula and strategies of partner universities in Brazil and Paraguay. More than 1100 students are involved in the HEIComp development projects.

The HEIComp (Bridging the Gap between Student Competences and Working Life Needs) project, coordinated by Laurea University of Applied Sciences, is developing higher education in Brazil and Paraguay to meet the needs of working life and thus promote students' employability.

The key approach applied to the project is Laurea’s Learning by Developing (LbD) model. This methodology has been successfully applied at Laurea University of Applied Sciences for 15 years and is distinguished by its student-centered approach. 

The project is funded by the Erasmus+ Capacity Building programme and also involves partner institutions from Portugal and Romania. Five higher education institutions from Brazil and Paraguay participate in the project, as well as a Brazilian company specialised in promoting the internationalisation of higher education institutions. 

Work-based learning with the Working Life Connected model

The HEIComp project uses the “Working Life Connected – WLC” methodology adapted to the reality of Brazilian and Paraguayan institutions. This educational model, which is student-centered, is based on the effective development of professional life in cooperation with partner organizations (companies, NGOs, public authorities, etc.).

In the first two years of the HEIComp project, Brazilian and Paraguayan universities piloted work-based learning on project assignments from 24 companies or organisations. More than 1100 students and 44 university teachers have participated in the projects. The teachers have also completed a 30 credit (ECTS) Laurea training course on development-based learning.

- The HEIComp project has successfully achieved its set goals so far, thanks to the excellent collaboration between project partners and the contributions of professors, students, and companies from Brazil and Paraguay, states the Project Manager Tero Uusitalo from Laurea University of Applied Sciences.

Incorporating development-based learning into curricula

The final year of the three-year project will focus on the conceptualisation of development-based learning in curricula and the implementation of the strategy.

- To this purpose, the curricula were analysed before and during the implementation of the WLC in order to develop the curriculum in a theoretical way. In addition, a comprehensive manual for teachers and students is currently being developed, describes Paraguayan Matías Denis, the Manager responsible for the curriculum and conceptualization work package and Director of Research and Documentation Centre (UNAE) .

- This manual will detail the didactic aspects and document the experiences, enabling other institutions to implement the WLC methodology in the future.

For a practical implementation of the project, see the publication on student projects in Brazil and Paraguay, produced jointly by Laurea's international student team and the Brazilian education company U.Experience. Link to the publication: Ebook - Heicomp.

HEIComp project partners are Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Polytechnic of Porto (IPP, Portugal), Transylvania University of Brașov (UniTBv, Romania), Vale do Gorutuba University (FAVAG, Brazil), National Telecommunications Institute (INATEL, Brazil), University Center of Southern Minas Gerais (UNIS, Brazil), U.Experience Consultancy, Lectures & Training, Universidad Nacional de Itapúa (UNI, Paraguay) and Universidad Autónoma de Encarnación (UNAE, Paraguay) . The three-year project will end in December 2025.