BACKGROUND: Vocational training faces great challenges EU-wide (in view of increasing globalization, new technologies and sustainability aspects such as climate change and alternative energies, but also high youth unemployment). New technologies require competencies, which now go clearly go beyond the traditional content of VET professions. The change of motor vehicle companies from repair shops to quality service companies requires experts with diagnosis and repair skills for computer-aided integrated motor vehicle technology for example, as well as great consulting and methodical skills. At the same time, vocational training should become more appealing for young people – above all through new ways of learning/participative learning environments and improvement of permeability to academic education. It is in this area that our project “E-Mobility +” comes into place. In our strategic partnership, vocational training institutions, universities and business associations work together on innovative action-orientated learning environments for teaching these new skills (e.g. in the technology field electromobility) adapted to the requirements of the working world. AIM: The aim of „E-Mobility +“ is to demonstrate examples of opportunities for cooperation of vocational schools, academia/research and entrepreneurial practice and to establish mutual experience exchange and knowledge transfer, build up innovative learning environments, implement the technological requirements close to practice reality, demonstrate cross-cutting skills (here electric-motor vehicles-IT) and in the process interlock vocational training more closely with universities/research – using the example of the future technology electromobility. A further aim is the internationalization of educational institutions, to prepare the trainees better for the demands of an increasingly global job market. In addition, our project offers approaches for the strengthening of practice-orientation at universities – vocational schools, universities and the working world equally profit from our project. PARTNERSHIP: 9 partners from Germany, Poland and Italy cooperate in “E-Mobility +”. In all 3 countries electro-mobility is currently experiences a strong wave of development (International Showcase Electromobility in DE, Technology platform ITALEMP in IT, ISEV in PL). With the “knowledge partnership” vocational training-higher education-companies, the central actors are represented in the project, in order to develop a practicable learning environment for vocational schools and EU-wide applicable cooperation models for the future technology of e-mobility. TARGET GROUPS are trainees and students (as learners), teachers & trainers, companies, chambers, trade associations & authorities and regulatory bodies. PROJECT ACTIVITIES include: networking with stakeholders, developing and implementing the innovative learning environment with the creation and testing of learning models (with software & programme specifications and documentation) as well as guidelines, conclusions and recommendations, accompanying events for multipliers, PR/dissemination events. RESULTS include: - Bringing together tested innovative learning environments for vocational training in the area of high-technology, the needs of learnings, job market demands and academic know-how and at the same time strengthening permeability between vocational training and academic education. Good practice, models, documentation and recommendation papers will be produced for this. - A greatly strengthened cooperation between vocational training schools, higher education and research institutions, as well as companies, chambers and associations, improved transfer of knowledge, exchange and international cooperation between institutions in three EU countries (good practice and recommendation papers here too) - Qualified teachers with improved competencies in the area of technology - Trainees with new competencies on electromobility/hybrid Our project will formulate recommendations for various stakeholder groups (Vocational schools, universities, companies in the motor vehicle sector, research institutes and authorities) in the partner countries for the transfer and anchoring of these innovations, which will be transferable EU-wide at the same time. OUTCOMES include: - Increased appeal of vocational training opportunities (inclusion of technology topics in the curricula, which go beyond the traditional content of a VET profession, participative learning forms, praxis-orientated learning models) - Increased competencies in the area of electromobility of (future) skilled workers, increased chance of employment for trainees and strengthening of the SMEs, which employ the skilled workers, ability to compete - In the medium-term the improvement of service quality for users of electric cars, in the long term, support of demand of electric cars - Strengthened international cooperation education-academia-business
BACKGROUND: Starting point for our project “Learning e-Mobility Plus” were the increasing requirements on vocational training in handling new technologies. The digital change and the entry of innovative technologies like electromobility (e-mobility) require new competences from the professionals, which now go clearly beyond the traditional content of VET professions - such as diagnosis and repairing of computer-aided integrated motor vehicle technology. At the same time, vocational training should become more appealing for young people. Thus, vocational schools must respond with new ways of learning and learning content. Main PROJECT GOAL was to show, how innovative technologies could be included in vocational education and how to build up practicable learning environments, by using the example of e-mobility. Further, the project shall show, how to interlock vocational training more closely with higher education/research, to promote mutual learning, to strengthen cooperation of vocational training schools, academia and entrepreneurial practice and to bring forward internationalization - as a contribution to strengthen quality, job market orientation and future viability of vocational education (“new skills for new jobs”). Our project had three TARGET GROUPS: * Trainees (but also students) as learners - they shall use the newly acquired competences in their future working life * Teachers and trainers that shall pass on the new contents * Companies as future employers, decision-makers from politics and economy as well as social partners as supporters for strengthening of innovations and permeability in the education systems 9 partners from Germany, Poland and Italy cooperate in our STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP - vocational training institutions, higher education institutions and business associations. With the “knowledge partnership” vocational training-higher education-companies, the central actors were represented in the project, in order to develop and implement a practicable learning environment for vocational training schools and EU-wide applicable cooperation models for the future technology e-mobility. PROJECT ACTIVITIES Key element of the joint work was the development, testing and use of an innovative learning environment for vocational schools. For this, we developed the following products: * Concept and quality indicators for innovative teaching systems and learning environments in the technology sector * Learning models for 3 topics: “Power split in hybrid drives” (Berlin), “Switching from the conventional to electro drives” (Poznan), “Gears in hybrid and differences in technical performance” (Vicenza) - with functional requirement sheets, product specification sheets, multimedia documentations and operable prototypes (e-karts) * Guidelines for using the models in the education * Recommendations for actors from politics, education and economy with regard to the integration of the learning environments as well as their EU-wide transfer and use The development and the testing of the learning environments took place in joint working groups with active participation of the learners. Intensive networking with stakeholders and PR/dissemination accompanied the work on the products. Further, we executed 12 multiplier events in order to make available the project results to a larger group of users and to gain supporters for transfer and implementation. By this, we reached 500 people. With a view on a sustainable anchorage in vocational education practice, stable networks were build up in all three countries. As a RESULT, there is a tested innovative learning environment for vocational training in the area of high-technology that brings together the needs of learners, job market demands and academic know-how and at the same time strengthens permeability between vocational training and academic education. This covers the practical use of new learning models for technology issues in vocational schools that are easy to transfer and to use, qualified teachers, a greatly strengthened cooperation between vocational training schools, higher education and companies as well as an improved transfer of knowledge in the international context. The trainees as end users own new competences in the innovative technology area e-mobility. OUTCOMES: Our project has an effect beyond these results. The inclusion of new technology, praxis-oriented learning models and participative learning forms make vocational education more attractive. The international cooperation with higher education institutions strengthens vocational schools in handling technologic innovations. The new competences improve the employability for young professionals. At the same time they strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs. With these offers, vocational education is enhanced by educational policy-makers. In the medium-term we further expect effects on the job market and in economy (improved service quality for and demand for E-vehicles).