Adapting 3D Printing to Additive Manufacturing VET Studies – 3D4VET – is a project led by BIOAVAN (ES) that will last 24 months. 3D4VET aims to implement the 3D printing technologies in the Vocational Training studies in Europe by defining a common competence (Expert on 3D printing) to be applied in different VET areas, and developing the corresponding Learning pathway. Furthermore, 3D4VET will develop a platform for Trainers (P2P learning), to exchange expertise (Forum) and learning material, and to mentor trainers and teachers to introduce 3D printing studies in the curricula of their VET schools. This platform will keep contents in English and, in some cases, the other project languages. It will be addressed to VET trainers and some advanced mentors (Other VET trainers, University members, FAB LABS…). The project objectives will be attained by implementing the following activities: - O1 – Definition of the Expert on 3D printing profile. - O2 – Development of the Expert on 3D printing Learning Pathway. - O3 – 3D4VET Collaborative platform. Complementary to the project activities, the partnership will employ several tools and resources that contribute to the project dissemination, namely organising 6 Multiplier Events throughout the project lifecycle, including a Final Conference in Seville at the end of project execution to present the project and final scientific report to an audience of local, national and international participants. Other dissemination tools include the development of the project website, creation of a Facebook page, development of the project visual identity, production of the project brochure, materials for events and other dissemination materials, periodical newsletters, the publishing of 2 papers/articles and the establishment of connections with other relevant projects and initiatives. Evaluation & Quality Assurance and Sustainability activities will support the overall Project Management and the attainment and quality of project results and outcomes. Target audiences for dissemination activities are mainly represented by: - Public and private VET providers and other educational actors, as well as their trainers and teachers with expertise on additive manufacturing, 3D and/or VET areas involving manufacturing processes; - VET students and other potential learners as the end beneficiaries of training course that will be created by educational institutions related to additive manufacturing; - Research centres; Teachers’ and trainers’ associations and their contact networks; Public institutions responsible for educational and employment policies; - Policy makers in charge of the development of the Regional, national or EU Educational policies to favour the introduction of the 3D printing studies in the VET mainstream courses. - Institutions and persons with technical expertise in additive manufacturing and related topics, including researchers, Higher Education Institutions, the innovation sector, technological centres, Fab Labs, companies and other organisations operating in 3D printing and their users. The 3D4VET Consortium is composed of 7 institutions from 4 European countries (Spain, Italy, Croatia and the United Kingdom) that represent different fields of expertise and bring an added value to the project, covering all the critical competences needed to achieve project goals and objectives.
3D printing is an increasingly important and expanding technology in various areas of production. Thus, the introduction of this technology in the educational field is considered of great importance, especially in the Vocational Training sector, which is becoming more and more important for European educational policies, but where, according to previous research, there is no formal regulated education focused on 3D printing at this educational level in the countries participating in this proposal (Spain, Italy, United Kingdom and Croatia), as well as in Europe in a broader sense. 3D4VET has addressed this training need through the development and implementation of a 3D Expert Professional Profile, a training itinerary adapted to this professional profile and a collaborative platform through which these tools can be accessed, a repository of other training courses, and a forum where teachers can collaborate horizontally. Both the training path and the professional profile have been tested with teachers and VET students in different sectors where 3D printing can be applied, such as machining, dental prosthesis or IT. The main objective of 3D4VET was to include 3D printing technologies in VET studies in Europe by defining a common competence (expert in 3D printing) to be applied in different VET branches, and developing the training curriculum designed by the centres. A long and complex path that has started thanks to the commitment of many of the partners to continue delivering the 3D4VET training in their own VET schools. On the other hand, 3D4VET has aimed at developing a platform (peer to peer) for trainers to exchange their knowledge, share related training resources (OLR), and strengthen the mentoring system. This platform has content in English and other project languages, and is also intended for VET trainers and advanced mentors. Similarly, the 3D printing training that has been created is aimed at VET teachers, enabling them to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to create and operate 3D printers, while providing them with the tools to act as key operators in their home institutions and the local environment to prepare other teachers and students to use 3D printers. The participants in the project activities have been very varied, but always related to 3D printing sector and professional training. The number, profile and type of these are described below: - Experts at national level who provided their opinions in the design of the IO1 3D Expert competence profile; - Panel of External Experts: 2 persons; - Teachers and trainers have participated in the 2 train the trainer courses in San Donà di Piave and Seville: 16 people; - 61 students from Italy, Croatia and Spain have participated in the realization of the pilot trainings, exceeding the initial expectations of 45; - Teachers from Vocational Training Centres, students, experts in 3D printing, businessmen and workers specialised in this branch (engineers, dentists, etc.), regional and local public representatives or researchers, have been some of the profiles that have been interested in 3D4VET and its results and have participated as public or key speakers in the local events and final conferences foreseen in the project, exceeding the initial objectives. Although there was funding for 150 attendees, in the end the multiplier events hosted a total of 419 people. In addition, thanks to the effort of all partners to make the project as widespread as possible, 3D4VET has reached more than 100,000 people through online publications and participation in face-to-face events, publications, connection with other similar projects, updates of the project's website and Facebook, etc. The sustainability strategy agreed upon by all partners ensures the durability of their results over time, as many of them have purchased or donated 3D printers and have included the training curriculum within their training options. In addition, the partners have committed to maintain the 3D4VET website, its collaborative platform and the Facebook page for a minimum of 5 years from the end of the project. Last but no least, in both Croatia and Spain, the partners will lobby the competent educational bodies to include the Expert Profile in 3D printing and the training created within some of the official training courses. Thus, during the final conference in Seville, the publication made with the results of 3D4VET was presented to representatives of the Department of Education of the Regional Government of Andalusia.