Improving Technical Education in Europe Erasmus Project

Project Title

Improving Technical Education in 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 school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2014

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

This project is intended to further the collaboration and partnership between Aston University Engineering Academy in Birmingham (UK) and HTL Mödling in Mödling (Austria). Both schools are specialist technical schools in Engineering and we are seeking to learn from each others’ strengths and are seeking to improve together. The objectives of the project were as follows:

1) To look at improving teaching methods in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education. In particular to examine the blending of theoretical and practical methods to learning, and the impact of this on learner progress and motivation.

2) To explore the use of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) in STEM education. Specifically, to collaborate to provide training for colleagues on the delivery of lessons in a non-native language (English or German) and to examine the impact.

3) To examine the use of ICT in the classroom, particularly for the purpose of long-term blended mobility and collaboration between the partner organisations. To measure the impact of this on learning.

4) To look at ECVET, Europass Mobility and other methods of recognition of learning completed abroad during learning experiences abroad. To give an opportunity for students to have some of their learning completed and recognised in another European country.

5) To complete a Cultural Exchange focusing on the local industrial heritage of both regions, and to allow students to complete a collaborative project which involves not only mobilities, but also some of the blended mobility approaches mentioned above.

6) Dissemination to the wider community must be part of all project objectives. It must be clear that the objectives will all have wider benefits for the community and that these actions could not take place without collaboration across EU countries.

The project involves a range of participants, including both students and staff. Students are involved through cultural exchanged which allow them to see first hand the similarities and differences between the UK and Austrian systems.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 238284 Eur

Project Coordinator

Aston University Engineering Academy & Country: UK

Project Partners

• HTL Mödling