Training in 3D Printing To Foster EU Innovation & Creativity Erasmus Project

Project Title

Training in 3D Printing To Foster EU Innovation & Creativity

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: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal); New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

3D printing (3D-P) has a large effect on creativity and innovation and it has been identified by EU as one of the technologies that will boost the development of future products and services. The use of 3D-P in the European industry is growing rapidly, creating new jobs that requires new skills and qualifications. As the development of these skills is not commonly supported by VET programs, there is an urgent need to strengthen the VET curricula content in order to provide the students, youths and adults with the necessary key competencies.

The main objective of 3DP project was to address the need of European industry for workforce with 3D-P skills by developing a specialized VET course and e-learning platform. Several specific objectives are defined from the main objective:
1. Promote active cooperation between HEI, VET providers, SMEs and a certification body in order to obtain a significant impact on the modernization of VET education in the 3D-P sector;
2. Create a flexible learning pathways able to provide VET graduates with important competences and skills, including growing use of digital learning, and aiming to improve the level of both sector specific and transversal competences and skills, with particular regard to those relevant for the 3D-P labour market;
3. Prepare guidelines and case-studies on the use of 3D-P in VET education to define the most suitable training paths;
4. Generate a VET 3D-P curricula embedding the most relevant topics for the 3D-P labour market;
5. Create a VET course focused on developing skills in 3D-P and the related fields;
6. Develop a multilingual learning management system (LMS) to make the course content free and easily accessible;
7. Prepare a guideline for the trainers using the developed materials.

The consortium was made up of 9 partners from 6 countries.

The main activities undertaken by partnership are:
• Developed 5 Intellectual Outputs (IO)
• Created a Pan-European certification system and tool, including self-assessment tests and a 3DP knowledge certification test that was sent to ECDL Foundation for approval.
• Run one learning, teaching and training activity for trainers in 3D-P
• Run a series of pilot test on IOs
• Evaluated and revised the IOs
• Translated the 3DP courseware and LMS in English, Romanian, Italian, Spanish, Polish and Lithuanian
• Produced/ translated/distributed 4 newsletters and one leaflet
• Created and continuously updated the project website and social media channels
• Held 7 multiplier events in Romania, Italy, Spain, Poland, Malta and Lithuania
• Disseminated the project and its results to the target groups
• Organized 4 transnational project meetings

The main project’s results are the 5 IOs developed:
•Guidelines and case-studies on the use of 3D-P in VET education
•Curricula of 3DP course
•3DP courseware
•3DP trainer guidelines
•3DP learning management system (e-learning)

The 3DP project supported the improvement of participating organizations’ capabilities in 3D-P and related fields, allowing for development of their activities. The staff of partner organisations gained more knowledge on 3D-P, VET education, e-learning, etc. and expanded their expertise in project management.

The main attained impact is the modernization of VET curricula by adding features relevant to 3D-P sector. The 3DP outcomes are equipping VET students with new key competencies specific for 3D-P, competencies that are not available in the existing VET curricula. Consequently, the partners as well as the external experts consulted, are considering that the impact of the 3DP project on the VET curricula is a significant one. Already, VET providers from Romania, Spain, Italy and Lithuania are including 3DP courseware in their curricula. The potential is huge and we expect more and more organisations to use the 3DP teaching material.
The project had an impact on all the target groups. It helped VET and other students, post-tertiary graduates and key personnel of various organizations to gain 3D-P competences and, consequently, to increase their chances to find a good job or to open a successful business, to support their organizations in improving the operational capabilities and/or extending the activities range.
The companies using 3D-P benefit from the availability of skilled work force, thus being able to develop, expand their activities field, innovate their processes, etc.
The individuals graduating the 3DP course also enhanced their creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, as they become able to benefit from the formidable opportunities offered by 3D-P.

On longer term, we anticipate that the 3DP project will provide significant beneficial impacts on VET providers, regional development agencies, political decision makers, chambers of commerce and industry, industrial associations, foundations relating to design and 3D-P, capital investors, patent attorneys etc. and on the people interested in developing their 3D-P skills.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 224052 Eur

Project Coordinator

SC Ludor Engineering SRL & Country: RO

Project Partners

• UNIVERSITATEA POLITEHNICA DIN BUCURESTI
• Liceul Teoretic de Informatica “Grigore Moisil”
• Public institution Information Technologies Institute
• Centro de Formación Somorrostro
• Siaures Lietuvos kolegija
• GODESK S.R.L.
• Danmar Computers sp z o.o.