Boosting sociaL mediA preSence veT

The primary objective of the BLAST project was to boost the attractiveness of VET institutions by enhancing their capacity to utilize social media effectively. Specifically, the project sought to ...

The primary objective of the BLAST project was to boost the attractiveness of VET institutions by enhancing their capacity to utilize social media effectively. Specifically, the project sought to develop comprehensive Guidelines for effective social media management of VET schools to help VET schools build a strong online presence, thereby improving their image and increasing enrollment rates. The project also aimed to create a framework for better stakeholder engagement, particularly with students, parents, and local employers, through tailored social media strategies. The Guidelines were designed to help schools build a strong digital identity, engage potential students and their families, and promote the flexibility and career prospects offered by VET pathways. Additionally, the project sought to foster greater collaboration between VET schools and local employers, enhancing the overall ecosystem supporting vocational education.

The implementation of the BLAST project was structured around a series of well-coordinated activities. The project began with an exchange of knowledge and experience among the partner organizations, which informed the development of the social media management Guidelines. The drafting phase involved collaborative content creation, ensuring that the Guidelines were comprehensive and tailored to the needs of VET schools. Following the development of the draft, the project conducted trial testing in each partner country, involving VET school social media managers to gather feedback and refine the content. The piloting phase involved the creation of tailored video tutorials freely accessible through the Modern Education Foundation YouTube channel to complement the Guidelines and prepare for their broader dissemination. While this is a deviation from initial intentions to perform online training, it ensures broader outreach and long-term exploitation. Throughout the project, regular online meetings facilitated effective coordination, while internal evaluations ensured the project stayed on track. Dissemination activities were integrated into every phase, with a focus on promoting the project outcomes to a wide audience.

The BLAST project successfully delivered a number of tangible and impactful results. The primary output is the finalized Guidelines for effective social media management of VET schools in English, French, Italian and Bulgarian, which have been well-received by the target group. The Guidelines are a valuable resource for VET schools, helping them enhance their social media presence and better engage with prospective students and parents. The testing phase showed that participants found the Guidelines both practical and effective, with feedback indicating increased confidence in managing social media accounts. The BLAST project not only achieved its intended outcome but also exceeded expectations in several areas. In addition to the Guidelines, the project team overachieved by creating dedicated, tailored video tutorials that emphasize each of the six thematic modules addressed in the Guidelines. These videos provide practical, step-by-step instructions and are widely accessible to a broad audience. To ensure inclusivity and wider reach, the videos have been subtitled in Bulgarian, French, and Italian. Furthermore, the Guidelines have been granted an ISBN ensuring sustainability and availability.