MYSKILLS is a success story as the first Software-as-a-Service solution at DIPF. The multilingual tests are suitable for verifying informally acquired or undocumented vocational knowledge and skills. They can be used as an information base for placement interviews and with the aim of placing people on the labour market.
MYSKILLS has produced numerous results during the long project phase since 2017. The tests have been designed with tasks for 30 occupations and in 12 languages, between which participants can switch during the test – this facilitates low-threshold use. The tool can be particularly useful for refugees and/or people with low qualifications.
In the second phase of the project, the tests were used at the Federal Employment Agency. A total of almost 14,000 tests were carried out between November 1, 2017 and December 31, 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic kept us very busy because the tests could only be carried out to a very limited extent due to the numerous restrictions. In fact, the numbers of tests at this point also remained below expectations – not only because of COVID-19. In practice, it became clear that the productive use of the tests and the test results provided must be well prepared and coordinated with all stakeholders in order for the tests to realise their full potential. The MYSKILLS team took these experiences from the deployment period at the Federal Employment Agency to the third project phase.
Extensive Development Work and Successful Use of MYSKILLS Tests in Educational Institutions in the Current Project Phase
Since 2022, the tests have been used by educational institutions in Germany on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation. For this decentralised use of MYSKILLS, our development team had to extensively redevelop the software to take into account the different technical conditions on site and to guarantee the necessary flexibility and stability of the system.
There were also new conditions for support, as there were more contact persons working with the training providers and more people had to be familiarised with the system. Unlike the Federal Employment Agency, there is no longer reliable first-level support. A multi-part self-learning tool has therefore been developed so new training providers can be quickly and easily introduced to the use of the test and can help themselves when facing simple problems.
»Promising first results with training providers: MYSKILLS is being used in an individual way.«
Since the start of the testing phase with training providers in 2022, the number of training providers using MYSKILLS has increased. As the tests are being used so well by training providers and interest in the tests remains high, the project will continue from 2025. We plan to continue using and monitoring the tests in the coming years on behalf of the Bertelsmann Foundation subject to the approval of the Federal Employment Agency.