The fourth white paper was published, which focuses on the development of learning materials tailored to the needs of silver workers in purchasing and supply management (PSM) in vocational education. It details the design principles established by the EXPERTISE project team and informed by requirements based on expert interviews and surveys from previous work packages. The curriculum comprises four key units: an introduction to silver workers and lifelong learning in PSM; digitalisation in PSM processes amid Industry 4.0; data analytics and management within PSM; and future trends impacting the field. Each unit is meticulously structured according to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) to define knowledge, skills and competencies, and includes diverse teaching formats such as micro-lectures, slide presentations, gamification elements and literature recommendations. The content is accessible via a Moodle course platform linked to the skill measurement tool that facilitates self-assessment against benchmark data from around 1,000 purchasers and supply managers. This tool visualises individual skill levels and recommends targeted learning resources for those performing below average. Future phases of the project will involve validation through case studies with companies and associations to gather feedback for refinement, as well as dissemination to enhance VET in PSM.
The white paper is available under the project results in the top menu.