Harmonized Friction Stir Welding Technology Training across Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Harmonized Friction Stir Welding Technology Training across Europe

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 vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

FSW-TECH project tackled shortage of training materials and skilled workers for friction welding technology (FSW), which is increasingly being used by steel companies.
The main aim of the project was to prepare an educational programme addressing three levels of qualification: operators, specialists and engineers, as well as development of the associated teaching materials and supporting guidelines for implementing the courses in the framework of lifelong learning. The project was implemented by a consortium of 5 entities from 5 EU countries – SR, RO, SLO, PT and BE (the partner from Belgium is a global organization based in BE but operating from one of its headquarters in Portugal). Cooperation of the partners was at the highest level, all partners participated in the preparation of IO, multiplier events, dissemination activities, etc. The project achieved all the initially planned intellectual outputs and activities. 5 transnational meetings were organized. All project outputs are also available on the project website (www.fsw-tech.eu/documents.html). Attendance lists and certificates from multiplication events and learning activity are attached to this final report.
IO1 – Report on the state of art of FSW Training Courses and identification of skills needs in the sector, that resulted from the application of a dedicated survey in the partners countries and EWF international network. The report was translated from English to SK, SLO, PT and RO.
IO2 – European Curricula for EWF Operator, Specialist and Engineer. Curricula for the three levels were developed. A short version was prepared and translated to partners languages. Examination Database was created for all three levels (in all partners languages), with levels of difficulty in line with the EQF level assigned to the qualification.
IO3 – National curriculum adaptation and translation – training materials for all three levels in the form of handbooks and presentations have been prepared. One handbook dedicated to the operator for self-study, and one handbook for the specialist and engineer. The presentations to be using during the training sessions were also developed: six presentations for the operator and 2 presentations for the specialist and engineer. Documents prepared under IO2 and IO3 are considered as one whole and therefore translation of the guidelis you can find in IO2 instead of IO3.
All presentations were initially prepared and finalised in English and translated to SK, SLO, RO, PT. IO3 is freely available, in the form of a handbook and presentations, at the project website.
IO4 – National Implementation Guideline for the EFSW-O; EFSW-S and EFSW-E Profiles curricula – final version of the report was based on reports from individual partners from their Hands-on approach seminars in PT, SK and RO – indications on how to conduct training sessions and recommendations for future training providers was made and translated to partner languages.
IO5 – European Recommendations – the aim was to support the implementation of the mentioned qualifications in other VET systems with all the steps that needs to be followed in order to successfully implement these courses in other EU countries, assuring the sustainability of the mentioned results.
IO6 – Operational ECVET kit – to support the recognition of students achieved learning outcomes either at national level or trough mobility across European countries. The operational kit is accompanied by the several tools: Memorandum of Understanding, Learning Agreement and Personal Transcript. The allocation of ECVET points to individual learning outcomes is reflected in the document “Guideline for operationalization of EFSW-O/S/E LOs Qualifications according to ECVET”.
Multiplier Events – were organised in SK, RO and PT – 3 Hands on approach seminars and Final Conference. More than 120 participants were reached. The overall feedback was very positive.
Impact: Project partners are members of the European Welding Federation. Project has created a guideline that can be applied across Europe. All FSW-TECH outputs will be offered by EWF to its members, assuring the sustainability of the project results.
Dissemination of FSW-TECH activities and results has been carried out in all partner countries. All dissemination materials (flyer, poster and roll-up) were made available in the project website. Partners published articles in professional journals, project was promoted at national and international conferences. The results of the project were presented at multiplier events, information was sent to relevant ministries and educational institutions. Companies were approached as potential users of the project results. At the end of the project a dissemination e-portfolio was created gathering all the dissemination activities performed.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 208297 Eur

Project Coordinator

VYSKUMNY USTAV ZVARACSKY & Country: SK

Project Partners

• Institut za varilstvo d.o.o.
• ASOCIATIA DE SUDURA DIN ROMANIA
• EUROPEAN FEDERATION FOR WELDING JOINING AND CUTTING
• INSTITUTO DE SOLDADURA E QUALIDADE