Innovative work-based VET methods in European Mechatronics 4.0 Erasmus Project

Project Title

Innovative work-based VET methods in European Mechatronics 4.0

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Cooperation between educational institutions and business; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

BACKGROUND
Good practices within SMEs automated mechanical production processes applying mechatronics 4.0 (M4.0) (Manufuture Vision 2030, 2018), provides inspection procedures for production, testing, and quality assurance (QA) in order to ensure that a new product is safe. To prepare M4.0 of automated manufacturing systems able to adapt to combine mechanical elements of the systems, install and adjust devices that operate pneumatic systems and program logic controllers etc., provision of new, improved and enhanced digital skills training programs are needed.

This is driven by Industry 4.0 through the implementation of new ICT in the production equipment. Growth in M4.0 driven manufacturing must be achieved efficiently, alongside high standards of QA and the mitigation of the mechanical elements of the systems environmental impacts (greening). This necessitates an upgrading of inspector operatives workforce skills and qualifications through the deployment of more innovative and accessible work-based M4.0 learning systems, ultimately letting staff take smarter decissions when interconnecting different technologies and different devices. This should fully motivate and support staff development and the attainment of nationally qualifications (NQs) respected by the industry.

PARTICIPANTS
Whilst there are some effective (higher) VET systems to support M4.0 VET development, most notably in NO and SE, mature entrants are not so well served. They currently lack synchronized in-company support during work based training activites and practice. This includs support from tutoring staff towards their theoretical knowledge check-test, as well during the practical training with priority given to better obtain the smart decission competencies needed in smart factories. In some countries like HU and RO, once in employment, formal VET pathways leading to the completion of a NQs in M4.0 are hard to access or not well supported. Unfortunately only 10% of the inspector workfoce in Norway and Sweden has got a NQ. Therefore, most of the inspector operatives remains un-qualified and highly dependent on informal inhouse training (non-formal VET) provided by the companies themselves.

OBJECTIVES
The ultimate goal is to develop a new tutor supported work-based learning pedagogy within industrial M4.0 VET that better meet the demand for SMEs assembly, setup, maintenance and design of automated industrial systems controlled by computers. It enables individual’s informal competences and skills to become recognised and accepted and built on through individualised and peer learning supported group processes.

ACTIVITIES
EuroMEC develops and pilots a system for the delivery of innovative ‘individualised’ work-based learning practices, supported by in-company tutors and the suppliers of new M4.0 production equipment. The pre-requisite processes are recognising prior learning and flexible learning resources will be aligned to a shared framework of industry endorsed M4.0 learning outcomes. The continious assessment of practical competence at the workplace will involve employers and inform NQ assessment results that are understood by the M4.0 SME manufacturing industry in Europe. Consequently, work-based VET pathways and qualifications will gain parity of esteem and learner mobility will be promoted, aided by European tools, including EQF and ECVET. The European industry’s aim of promoting knowledge exchange between the main manufacturing countries and collective problem solving will be synergised by the shared new M4.0 learning solution.

METHODS
There is a gap between the ambitions of the industry and the current training methods, which do not take into account how many staff that are champions in problem solving while they at the same time avoid and fears the required theoretical training. This will be resolved by developing
– a common framework of M4.0 learning outcomes in Europe
– new work-based M4.0 learning, tutoring and assessment delivery pedagogy and resources that increase capacity for skills instruction and contribute to a QA of assessment in formal VET delivery systems
– national work-based learning delivery partnerships that will update M4.0 VET resources, shared by a VET provider network and supported by industry tutors
– M4.0 piloting of the delivery of NQs to work-based learners utilising shared resources and the evaluation of learners’ experiences, to inform the development of improved VET learning systems

RESULTS
EuroMEC helps improving the M4.0 VET system for SMEs manufacturing industry staff. The new in-company tutor system will offer a new system solution applying standarized and harmonized methods for support during the theoretical training phases and in particular the work-based training to be organized in smart industries.

IMPACT
The overall mission is to improve the accessibility and quality of work-based learning for inspector operatives at two levels, and prepare for harmonisation of M4.0 industry endorsed NQ.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 362577 Eur

Project Coordinator

Quality Management Software AS & Country: NO

Project Partners

• MATRAI HEGESZTESTECNIKAI ES SZAKKEPZESI KORLATOLT FELELOSSEGU TARSASAG
• Easy Learning Solutions AS
• INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE IN SUDURA SI INCERCARI DE MATERIALE – ISIM TIMISOARA
• Weld on Sweden