Strategic Partnership in the field of Mechatronics for innovative and smart growth of European manufacturing SMEs Erasmus Project

Project Title

Strategic Partnership in the field of Mechatronics for innovative and smart growth of European manufacturing SMEs

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 2016

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

Project Summary

SMEs are the backbone of the European economy. Numbering over 20 million, SMEs represent 99% of European businesses, and provide 85% of all new jobs (Source: FLASH EUROBAROMETER 421, “Internationalisation of SMEs”, October 2015). Manufacturing is a central pillar of the European economy – the EU manufacturing sector accounts for 2 million companies and 33 million jobs. Fast
technological progress requires from employees, technicians and professionals in industry to constantly refresh and update their professional knowledge. This is especially the case in manufacturing sector, where many jobs require knowledge from mechatronics, which is identified as one of the structural drivers of change in the industry. For this reason, it is important to provide high quality, learning sources and training materials to employees and students in this field. Up-to-date learning contents, delivered by using modern education methods and suited to the needs of manufacturing SMEs’ managers, people employed in SMEs (technicians, administrative staff) as well as vocational students and trainers/consultants, have to be available for this purpose. MechMate project addresses the problem of lack of training means to facilitated innovation mechatronics – based technology introduction in manufacturing SMEs in Europe tailored for manufacturing SMEs’ managers and workers (technicians, administrative staff) as well as students and trainers/teachers.
The core product of the project is the “MechMate Training Course” – the course itself as well as all other training materials included in the MechMate training is meant to reflect and address the training needs of the project target groups in the field of mechatronics and advanced technologies and to equip them with the necessary skills and competencies to effectively implement and use innovative mechatronic-based technologies into the everyday working processes.
The training modules in MechMate training programme cover the main aspects of Mechatronics:
Module 1 “Mechanics and machine elements”
Module 2 “Fundamentals of electrical engineering and electronics”
Module 3 “Signals, systems and control in mechatronics”
Module 4 “Digital Systems”
Module 5 “Embedded systems in mechatronics”
Module 6 “Communication interfaces and protocols”
Module 7 “PLC systems”
Module 8 “Measurement and data acquisition”
Module 9 “Sensors in mechatronics”
Module 10 “Actuators in mechatronics”
The training course is accompanied by the MechMate Methodology, Curricula and MechMate Guidelines for SMEs and VET providers.
The “MechMate Methodology” – a detailed didactic methodology specially designed for the MechMate training course in mechatronics. The Methodology combines new learning approaches including classical and e-learning. The document provides general information to the used e-learning method, e-learning content design, online collaborative learning, as well as detailed overview of the e-learning platform of MechMate (Coursevo), information about Coursevo services, organisation and course management.
The MechMate Curricula – a modular curriculum for the MechMate training course in mechatronics applicable for managers and employees in SMEs, VET providers, as well as university students and teachers. This product is a core product for the whole project and is based on the results from the conducted desk research and focus groups with representatives of project target groups in Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia and Greece. The curriculum outlines the main topics that are included in the MechMate training course.
The Guidelines will help manufacturing SMEs’ managers, people employed in SMEs (technicians, administrative staff), as well as VET providers, students and trainers/teachers in terms of mechatronics effectively use the MechMate learning materials and interactive platform.
All of the MechMate project products were elaborated based on the results from a conducted desk research and focus groups with representatives of MechMate project target groups in Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia and Greece. Therefore they precisely reflect the project target group needs in terms of comprehensive well prepared training environments in the field of mechatronics and advanced technologies.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 261276,4 Eur

Project Coordinator

SIEC BADAWCZA LUKASIEWICZ – PRZEMYSLOWY INSTYTUT AUTOMATYKI I POMIAROW PIAP & Country: PL

Project Partners

• EUROPEAN CENTER FOR QUALITY OOD
• TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY – GABROVO
• TALLINNA TEHNIKAULIKOOL
• POLYTECHNEIO KRITIS