EUROPA-MEISTER – Towards a European quality label for the crafts Erasmus Project

Project Title

EUROPA-MEISTER – Towards a European quality label for the crafts

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; International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Recognition, transparency, certification

Project Summary

The main purpose of EUROPA-MEISTER has been to describe the knowledge, skills and competences of Master craftsmen in the Painting/Decorating sector at level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The EUROPA-MEISTER certificate represents a seal of quality for services rendered to clients from qualified Painters in Construction which will be delivered by the International Association of Painting Contractors (UNIEP) and selected experts gathered in examination’s committees.
The project’s objective was achieved in five specific phases which correspond to the different activities, known as Intellectual Outputs (IOs).

As a first step, the IO1 described the competencies, knowledge and skills (CKS) at level 6 of the EQF for the Painting trade. Some units of learning outcome, particularly required for the European dimension, were added: Unit U6-5 EU Law and Law in Europe and Unit 10 General Education with the subunits U10-1 on Digitization and U10-2 on (English) Language.

Within the framework of the IO2, the Matrix of competences was translated into the national languages of all project partners and entered into the Multilingual Skillsbank, where qualifications’ descriptions also for other professions are classified in the same format.

With the IO3, the formal structures and the procedures for the EUROPA-MEISTER issue were defined and are available as guidelines for the cooperation of European Vocational Institutes in the form of a Manual. This output creates a link of the different country-specific requirements for the qualification up to level 6+.

IO4 being another fundamental part of the project, enables the desired qualification with a suitable instrument. Based on the learning outcomes described in IO1, documents were adapted for an e-learning course system for cross-border Meister training at level 6+ of the EQF. The lecture notes are available in German and English and future candidates will dispose of them through a digital platform. Furthermore, individual learning contents of competence areas were successfully tested with young learners from the painting sector. Teachers, trainers and company tutors were involved in a transnational testing and orientation phase in a working group, in line with the realized learning, teaching and training activities (LTTA) at the School of Painting in Baden. The test was successful and the results provided important conclusions for the further development of the learning materials. The course system itself, i.e. the concrete offer of bookable courses, will be further developed by the UNIEP experts’ committee after the end of the project.

The IO5 was entirely dedicated to ensuring the transnational quality protection by introducing, in a detailed manual, regulations, working methods and competences for the EUROPA-MEISTER Committees and its experts. Some examinations, in addition to national tests, have been included especially with reference to digitalization and English language knowledge. Furthermore, a supplementary qualification will be now acquired, in the theoretical or practical context, at European Master Schools, Educational institutions and/or painting establishments, through a mobility programme (“EUROPA-Walz”) for a period of 4 weeks (such as special training courses on historical painting techniques, concrete remediation, corrosion protection, fire protection coatings, ect.).
This Intellectual Output was developed under the leadership of UNIEP and will continue to be supported by this European umbrella association in the future. It will ensure the sustainability of the project and also its permanent development capability. IO5 made it clear that for the first time, individual career planning as well as a largely time- and location independent learning qualification at level 6+ in the painting trade is possible.

At the concluding Multiplier Event, the attention with which the European public already perceives the EUROPA-MEISTER project was made visible by involving high level European stakeholders. The successful completion of the project laid the foundation for further development and implementation processes. The great complexity of the content of the EUROPA MEISTER project has shown that qualification at Level 6 and further professional qualification measures are an important requirement in order to avoid economic damage and deficiencies. Through the umbrella organization UNIEP and its member associations, further European countries will benefit of its results.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 331936 Eur

Project Coordinator

GEMEINNUTZIGER VEREIN D.FORD.D.MALERHANDWERKS U. SEINER BILDUNGSSTATTEN & Country: AT

Project Partners

• NTI-MMM Multilateral Monitoring and Management
• LANDESINNUNG DER MALER UND TAPEZIERER NIEDEROSTERREICH
• CONFEDERATION NATIONALE DE LA CONSTRUCTION ASBL
• UNION INTERNATIONALE DES ENTREPRENEURS DE PEINTURE ASBL
• OBRTNO-PODJETNISKA ZBORNICA SLOVENIJE
• SACHSISCHE BILDUNGSGESELLSCHAFT FURUMWELTSCHUTZ UND CHEMIEBERUFE DRESDEN MBH – SBG