Adapting 3D printing to Additive Manufacturing VET Studies Erasmus Project

Project Title

Adapting 3D printing to Additive Manufacturing VET Studies

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; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Research and innovation

Project Summary

3D printing is an increasingly important and expanding technology in various areas of production. Thus, the introduction of this technology in the educational field is considered of great importance, especially in the Vocational Training sector, which is becoming more and more important for European educational policies, but where, according to previous research, there is no formal regulated education focused on 3D printing at this educational level in the countries participating in this proposal (Spain, Italy, United Kingdom and Croatia), as well as in Europe in a broader sense.
3D4VET has addressed this training need through the development and implementation of a 3D Expert Professional Profile, a training itinerary adapted to this professional profile and a collaborative platform through which these tools can be accessed, a repository of other training courses, and a forum where teachers can collaborate horizontally.
Both the training path and the professional profile have been tested with teachers and VET students in different sectors where 3D printing can be applied, such as machining, dental prosthesis or IT.
The main objective of 3D4VET was to include 3D printing technologies in VET studies in Europe by defining a common competence (expert in 3D printing) to be applied in different VET branches, and developing the training curriculum designed by the centres. A long and complex path that has started thanks to the commitment of many of the partners to continue delivering the 3D4VET training in their own VET schools.
On the other hand, 3D4VET has aimed at developing a platform (peer to peer) for trainers to exchange their knowledge, share related training resources (OLR), and strengthen the mentoring system. This platform has content in English and other project languages, and is also intended for VET trainers and advanced mentors.
Similarly, the 3D printing training that has been created is aimed at VET teachers, enabling them to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to create and operate 3D printers, while providing them with the tools to act as key operators in their home institutions and the local environment to prepare other teachers and students to use 3D printers.
The participants in the project activities have been very varied, but always related to 3D printing sector and professional training. The number, profile and type of these are described below:
– Experts at national level who provided their opinions in the design of the IO1 3D Expert competence profile;
– Panel of External Experts: 2 persons;
– Teachers and trainers have participated in the 2 train the trainer courses in San Donà di Piave and Seville: 16 people;
– 61 students from Italy, Croatia and Spain have participated in the realization of the pilot trainings, exceeding the initial expectations of 45;
– Teachers from Vocational Training Centres, students, experts in 3D printing, businessmen and workers specialised in this branch (engineers, dentists, etc.), regional and local public representatives or researchers, have been some of the profiles that have been interested in 3D4VET and its results and have participated as public or key speakers in the local events and final conferences foreseen in the project, exceeding the initial objectives. Although there was funding for 150 attendees, in the end the multiplier events hosted a total of 419 people.
In addition, thanks to the effort of all partners to make the project as widespread as possible, 3D4VET has reached more than 100,000 people through online publications and participation in face-to-face events, publications, connection with other similar projects, updates of the project’s website and Facebook, etc.
The sustainability strategy agreed upon by all partners ensures the durability of their results over time, as many of them have purchased or donated 3D printers and have included the training curriculum within their training options. In addition, the partners have committed to maintain the 3D4VET website, its collaborative platform and the Facebook page for a minimum of 5 years from the end of the project. Last but no least, in both Croatia and Spain, the partners will lobby the competent educational bodies to include the Expert Profile in 3D printing and the training created within some of the official training courses. Thus, during the final conference in Seville, the publication made with the results of 3D4VET was presented to representatives of the Department of Education of the Regional Government of Andalusia.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 262139 Eur

Project Coordinator

BIOAVAN SL & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Centro del Profesorado Sevilla
• INTERNATIONAL CONSULTING AND MOBILITY AGENCY SOCIEDAD DE RESPONSABILIDAD LIMITADA
• FORCOOP C.O.R.A. VENEZIA SC
• Industrijsko- obrtnicka skola
• ISTITUTO FORMAZIONE OPERATORI AZIENDALI
• INOVA CONSULTANCY LTD
• IES Antonio de Ulloa