Short-cycle Training Courses on Thermal Analysis in Material Science Erasmus Project

Project Title

Short-cycle Training Courses on Thermal Analysis in Material Science

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Recognition, transparency, certification; Natural sciences

Project Summary

Project’s general aim is meeting the need for efficient and innovative European training scheme on Materials’ Thermal Analysis, via establishing an attractive and highly efficient virtual community of practice by bringing together institutions and professionals trained in performing reliable analysis conformed to the requirements of European and international quality standards. The project is aiming at spreading thermal analysis as a technique for the study and characterization of materials. Main objective is training students and professionals on thermal analysis through flexible short-cycle training courses. That means to provide the students with a theoretical and practical knowledge on Thermal analysis applications to the study and characterization of materials. Emphasis is strongly given on combining theory and practice – learning by doing after necessary theoretical introduction.
Concrete objectives of the project are therefore:
(a) Creating certified training courses and examinations, within a shared pool of resources of modern thermal analysis techniques applied on Material Science.
(b) Adapting a learning-outcomes-oriented, strictly modularized form, permitting individualized attainment of knowledge and skills.
(c) Offering of both face-to-face practical workshops and on-line courses and assessments, in order to guarantee flexibility in time and location, without implying obligatory ICT literacy.
(d) Training and testing of tutors and teachers adequately for enabling them to deal with all aspects of these focused-on, personalized learning activities.
(e) Disseminating the products within already fully operating, by EuroMediterranean Cooperation in research and education, Intensive School schemes.
Project’s objectives are clear and realistic, since they address a concrete problem, the lack of structured trans-national short-cycle study curricula for topics on thermal analysis techniques applied on Material Science. Realizing these objectives will bring a substantial amelioration in the interaction among professionals working on thermal analysis, valorisation and promotion all over Europe and beyond its borders. To achieve this goal of course, it should be seriously taken into account: no barriers to be created in the choice of particular teaching/learning modules and packages; individual interests to be addressed, in order to attract professionals to the scheme proposed; and quality to be ensured at every phase.
Target groups are evidently identifiable as well; being employees on the field of Materials’ thermal analysis or graduates wishing to work on this field, undergraduate and post graduate students in Sciences, institutions wishing to offer a more transparent and flexible way for organizing joint short cycle training courses, professionals associations seeking to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and the public interest and companies, authorities or laboratories employing material scientists.
Activities organised within the project are:
a. A European Learning Portofolio will be developed, as a reference tool for ensuring recognition, validation and transparency of competences and qualifications for those active in the field of materials’ thermal analysis.
b. Adaptation of products of previous collaborations which are accurately enlarged and creation of new learning material, including self-assessment courses, progress tests and examinations; designed for on-line or face-to-face use. A complete series of products are set up and evaluated in the common working language English, ensuring involvement of all partner. After being tested, the evaluated versions will be included in the Materials’ Thermal Analysis short-cycle training courses educational material.
c. Organisation of workshops and especially designed Teaching Knowledge exams, guaranteeing a systematic certified training for tutors/teachers/assessors.
d Pilot operation of Materials’ Thermal Analysis short-cycle courses under real conditions is performed through intensive activities of physical mobility of learners. They will go through all types of modules, be examined and certified, under conditions simulating the actual operation of Short-Cycle training courses, but in a concentrated form covering all possible issues and choices.

Project Website

http://thanma.web.auth.gr/

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 187049 Eur

Project Coordinator

ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS & Country: EL

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO
• UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA
• SLOVENSKA TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V BRATISLAVE