Vocational Education and Training in the Working World 4.0 Erasmus Project

Project Title

Vocational Education and Training in the Working World 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 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The project was developed on the background of the increasing digitalization in all areas of life and the lack of skilled workers, for example in the fields of electronics and mechatronics. The development known as Industry 4.0 in Germany requires new qualifications for skilled workers, trainers and apprentices as well as vocational school teachers. Currently, there are large differences within and between different sectors as well as between different countries and regions in terms of adapting to the requirements designated as “4.0” in the project. The project aimed to analyse and better understand the expected needs and to develop exemplary learning modules for future professionals and their teachers and trainers in order to respond to the development at an early stage. This was successful, but during the project it also became apparent how dynamic and unequal this process is.

Specifically, the project had three objectives:
1. An analysis of which competence requirements in the fields of electronics and mechatronics will change among the skilled workers and training personnel.
2. The development of exemplary learning modules for trainees, which give an initial access to the future working world 4.0 and which can be implemented with relatively little resources and are suitable for all participating countries.
3. Building on this, the development of learning modules for teaching staff in order to sensitize them to the challenges of digitalization and enable them to teach in a project-oriented and forward-looking manner and to guide their students in their learning.

A total of nine partner institutions from eight countries (DE, ES, FI, IT, LT, NL, PL, SE) participated in the project. In addition, four vocational colleges from the Cologne Region were involved in the development of the modules.
The majority of the partners were vocational schools; the responsibility for the preparatory study lay with Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania. The Polish partner was a private chamber, which is in contact with companies as well as schools in the Wroclaw region. The two Italian partners are regional, private vocational training and mobility providers with a high level of interest in the topic.
Further details can be found on the project’s website at http://vet-4-0.eu/Expertise.html .
The main activities carried out are closely related to the three main objectives: On the basis of the current literature on the changes in the “working world 4.0” in the fields of electronics and mechatronics, an empirical case study was carried out in which a total of 42 company representatives from the partner countries were interviewed about future competence requirements. In addition, 13 teachers from these areas were interviewed. The results of the study are summarized in a report. In order to make the results clear and manageable for further work, they were condensed and presented clearly in a competence matrix 4.0 for trainees and a one for teaching staff.

On this basis, learning modules were developed that focus on different aspects in an exemplary way: Smart and Keen Company aims at the possibility of prototyping and manufacturing components with 3D printers and the networking of different actors in a production process. IoT – Plant Irrigation deals with the networking of people and things and their control via automated feedback loops. Intelligent House 4.0 – Smart Light Control focuses on the craft sector and thus on SMEs and gives VET students in handcrafts in the field of electronics their first opportunities to adapt to the requirements for the installation of Smart Home components. Digital Factory for Individualized Mass Products is concerned with digitized production chains that can produce products precisely tailored to individual customer requirements using the one-lot process. IoT – The Intelligent LED Sign deals with how simple microcontroller hardware can be planned, programmed and used and, if necessary, controlled with a mobile phone. All in all, the modules cover a wide range of 4.0 requirements, which can be adapted to the needs of VET colleges.
The third focal point was the development of suitable modules for the teaching staff, some of whom first have to be made aware of the topic for which the General Module is intended. The teaching staff should also be enabled to use the modules efficiently for their students, to adapt them to the specific needs of different target groups and to further develop them. They are closely related to the student modules.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 297570 Eur

Project Coordinator

BEZIRKSREGIERUNG KOELN & Country: DE

Project Partners

• VYTAUTO DIDZIOJO UNIVERSITETAS
• Central European Chamber of Commerce
• Kouvolan kaupunki (City of Kouvola)
• Förvaltningen för Gymnasium & Arbetsmarknad, Kungsbacka kommun
• Fondazione Centro Produttività Veneto
• STICHTING VOOR BEROEPSONDERWIJS ENVOLWASSENENEDUCATIE WESTELIJK ZUID-LIMBURG
• IES Campanillas