EUROPA-MEISTER has committed itself to the protection and dissemination of the QUALITY STANDARDS which are the basis of the Meister (level 6 in the European Qualifications Framework). EUROPA-MEISTER wants to bring new life to the Meister at European level. In addition to the creativity in the painter's trade, the focus is also on the protection of assets and the preservation of property. Here, if the quality requirements are reduced, results are enormous consequential costs due to deficiencies and structural damage due to lack of knowledge. In addition, training places are no longer available, because there is no longer any qualification for training in the painting enterprises without Meisters. The expression of this vision is the concrete objective of the project to create the EUROPEAN MEISTERBRIEF in the painter's trade, which is awarded as a quality label by the European umbrella organization UNIEP, and is intended to act as a model for other craft sectors. In order to achieve this goal, five stages or partial targets are to be achieved: 1. Description of a competence profile for the painting trade in level 6 of the European Qualifications Framework This consists of a basic matrix of common units of learning outcomes and country-specific supplements. The learning outcomes are described in the form of knowledge, skills and competences. All country-specific technical standards, notices and legal frameworks are observed. 2. Creation of a multilingual competency profile in the Skillsbank database The competency matrix created in stage 1 is entered as a second step in accordance with ECVET and EQR criteria in Skillsbank. Skillsbank works multilingually. Therefore, the second step is used to simultaneously create versions of the competency matrix in all country languages of the project partners involved. 3. Description of procedures / guidelines for the cooperation of European master schools (network) for the Painter's craft, to enable Meister apprentices from the European countries to acquire the EUROPEAN MEISTERBRIEF After the creation of the basics (competency description) in the first two stages it is described how the competencies described can be acquired by participants (Meister apprentices) in order to receive the EUROPEAN MEISTERBRIEF. There is a network of complementary European master schools to be established. Procedures and guidelines must be defined for their cooperation. These include, inter alia, definitions regarding the implementation of e-learning and mobility abroad within the framework of the Meister training . Participating Meister schools demonstrate how far they can implement the required content. Missing content is supplemented in cooperation with suitable partners in the network. 4. Development of a e-learning course system for cross-border Meistertraining and pilot test ("EUROPA-WALZ") with selected Meister apprentices 5. EUROPEAN MEISTERBRIEF, awarded and approved by UNIEP The last stage and the project objective is the EUROPEAN MEISTERBRIEF. For this purpose, an examination or control commission is created, which consists of members of different European countries who are appointed by UNIEP. Uniform results control and uniform regulations are carried out. UNIEP will establish and apply the EUROPEAN MEISTER / MEISTERBRIEF as a quality label. The EUROPA-MEISTER will serve as a model for other craft trades. EUROPA-MEISTER responds to a European problem with a European solution. The products of the project will contribute to providing the companies of the painter's craft with better trained managers, who in turn can train painters themselves. Thus, the project addresses the objectives of the European Training Alliance. The composition of the consortium creates the partnership between actors of the education system and the working world required by the Alliance.
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.