Digital Apprentices Mobility in the Automotive Sector Erasmus Project

Project Title

Digital Apprentices Mobility in the Automotive Sector

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 : Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

One of the most pressing problems facing Vocational Education and Training (VET) and especially in the COVID-19 context relates to apprenticeship and Work-based Learning (WBL) especially abroad. A commonly asked question by VET providers at the moment is if future mobility will be physical, virtual or blended. All partners involved in this proposal are
convinced that we have to find new solutions for the future because there is great uncertainty surrounding travel abroad.
We will test virtual training and mobility in the automotive sector which is a big challenge and one of the main innovations of the project. The industry is currently under extreme pressure to innovate especially regarding e-mobility. The sector was chosen as a pilot branch because the automotive manufacturing is an important industry in most of the partner regions, and specially in Baden-Württemberg and Catalonia .

The project results could be part of experiential education. There are applications in the industrial sector where technical skills are only taught by making use of virtual reality. In today’s society, it is important for everyone to gain insight into the use of digital technology and the way technologies interact. In labour market-oriented programmes we also focus on the sustainable use of computer programmes, apps and (new) technological applications. In this way, we develop future oriented training programmes for young people.

This is still highly specialised, and no national education system as yet has an overall solution. That is why it is essential to tackle this on a Europe wide level. Our Target groups are policy makers, teachers and ultimately pupils in VET but industry and SMEs are essential partners to accomplish a digital shift in teaching VET.

Since February 2020 the COVID-19 outbreak has had negative effects on ongoing or planned mobility activities.
The European Commission published three recommendations on 1st July 2020, which can also provide a ‘support’ and favourable context to overcome the devastating consequences that the Covid-19 crisis infringed in the education, training and youth sectors:

• Council Recommendation on Vocational Education and Training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience
• Youth Employment support package
• European Skills Agenda – Skills for jobs

In addition, late September the
• European Education Area and
• the new Digital Education Action Plan
were adopted.

Key terms like “green and digital transition”, “accessibility”, “a modern, attractive and flexible VET” are mentioned in the three documents and are central to our proposal. The next Erasmus programme 2021-2027 proposal includes a clear focus on the green and digital transition and also address social inclusion.

Development of innovative digital methods and training tools can contribute to a stable supply of apprenticeships and WBL during critical economic situations like the ongoing pandemic. In addition to this, supporting educators in their professional development enhances their increased digital readiness. It should be noted that new learning environments, tools and pedagogy linked to digitalisation are necessary for increasing the digital redness of VET institutions.

Furthermore, it is relevant to mention the two following initiatives the Pact for Skills to be launched in November 2020 and the renewed European Alliance for Apprenticeships together with the above mentioned future Erasmus+ programme 2021-2027.

The project will, therefore,
– motivate and support the development and use of digital applications for the VET teacher to manage autonomous and social learning processes in vocational education on an individual basis
– boost the digital facilitation of learning processes to ensure that learning becomes transparent, manageable, controllable and transferable
– build a digital learning platform for this purpose that motivates different types of stakeholders in VET to use innovative technologies to support and challenge the learner on a
customised basis.
– integrate supportive innovative technologies and digital applications including gamification and virtual reality,
– enable the users to make best use of technology since pedagogy and technology have to go hand in hand.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 248098 Eur

Project Coordinator

Vuxenutbildningen Borås & Country: SE

Project Partners

• ASSOCIATION EUROPEENNE DES AUTORITES REGIONALES ET LOCALES POUR L’APPRENTISSAGE TOUT AU LONG DE LA VIE AISBL
• Training 2000 psc
• BBQ Bildung und Berufliche Qualifizierung gGmbH
• HET GEMEENSCHAPSONDERWIJS
• DEPARTAMENT D’EDUCACIÓ- GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA