Underachievement in basic skills such as mathematics, technical science and school drop-out are two persisting problems in several European countries, in the countries/regions where aeronautics industry is a driving-force of the regional economy (such as south-east part of Poland, Bask Country in Spain, centrally located regions of Portugal). In parallel, unemployment rates (including among youngsters) have risen dramatically since 2008, affected by the international financial and economic crisis (among other factors). On the other hand, the aeronautics industry has presented a sustained growth, representing a high potential for Europe’s economy and employability. In order to address complex problems such as those related to education and employment, an integrated and multistakeholder strategy is required, with intervention and participation at various levels. In Portugal and Spain the rates of school dropout, under-achievement in STEM related subjects and unemployment are particularly high and draw a negative combination of factor. Also in Poland some improvements need to be achieved, but the south-east part of Poland is a good example of multisectoral collaboration of local stakeholders related to education training and careers related to aeronautics. In this context, the Learn&Fly project will be implemented by a partnership of seven organisations from four EU countries and led by an SME with wide experience in EU projects, including those related to aeronautics careers. An Higher Education Institution, Foundation supporting education system dedicated to aerospace sector, a cluster of schools and an SME specialized in human resources for the aerospace sector complement the Portuguese group of partners, while Spain will participate through a technical institute and Greece will involve one private school and another expert organisation. Finally Poland will provide inspirational good practices. Learn&Fly project has a double complementary objective: one the one hand it aims at addressing underachievement in the basic skills of maths, science and literacy through more effective, innovative teaching methods using the world of aeronautics as inspirational theme; on the other hand it aims at supporting schools (especially teachers) to tackle early school leaving (ESL) and disadvantage, by providing information and materials about career opportunities in the aeronautics field and different education/training paths available to embrace them. The main outputs of the project include a Learn&Fly STEM Kit, a Learn&Fly Careers Kit and the Learn&Fly Challenge. The “Learn&Fly STEM kit” will provide new teaching materials around the main challenge of “Building an airplane”. These teaching materials are targeted to school teachers of maths and science related subjects, to be implemented with their 15-17 years old students. The “Learn&Fly STEM Kit” will be presented (among other events) in "Aerodays" to be organised in schools of the 3 partner countries. The "Learn&Fly Careers Kit" will provide career counselling materials for children/youngsters and adults (teachers, other education support staff, parents) about career opportunities related to aeronautics and promote stronger interaction between industry and schools. It will be presented in the so-called "Aeroways" events to will be organised in all partner countries with teachers, parents, counsellors and other professionals. Within the "Learn&Fly Challenge", national competitions and an international competition among pupils of different schools will be held to put in practice the challenge of building an airplane (explored in the Learn&Fly STEM Kit). The international competition will culminate in the international event "Aeroweek" in Poland, hosted by Foundation of Education Support, with various activities and award ceremony with pupils from Portugal and Spain. Based on this simultaneously international and local approach and using as reference the polish aeronautics cluster in Rzeszow, the materials and experiences of the project will then be used to create a “Glocal Learn&Fly strategic action plan”, where universities, schools, companies, local authorities and other relevant stakeholders join efforts to stimulate the interest for STEM related subjects and careers, to support youngsters and their families in their main transitions and to collaborate with other schools in other countries, promoting integration and tolerance. This action plan can be replicated in by other schools/regions. Learn&Fly will raise the pupils’ interest for STEM related subjects, including those leading to a career in the aerospace sector and will follow up by supporting their career decisions, in a context where teachers, parents and professionals work together to ensure a positive environment for a proper human, social and professional development of the younger generations.
The aeronautics industry has presented a sustained growth, representing a high potential for Europe’s economy and sustainable employment. At the same time underachievement in basic skills such as mathematics, technical science and school drop-out are two persisting problems in several European countries, in the countries/regions where aeronautics industry is a driving-force of the regional economy (such as south-east part of Poland, Bask Country in Spain and centrally located regions of Portugal). In Portugal and Spain the rates of school dropout, under-achievement in STEM related subjects and unemployment are particularly high and draw a negative combination of factor. Also in Poland some improvements need to be achieved. The south-east part of Poland is a good example of trans sectoral collaboration of local stakeholders related to education training and careers related to aeronautics. In this context, the Learn & Fly project was implemented by a partnership of seven organisations from Poland, Portugal and Spain. Learn&Fly project attempted to address two objectives: 1) underachievement in STEM subjects through more effective, innovative teaching methods using the world of aeronautics as inspirational theme; 2) supporting schools (especially teachers) to tackle early school leaving (ESL) and disadvantage, by providing information and materials about career opportunities in the aeronautics field and different education/training paths available to embrace them. The results of the project are: supporting educational, innovative materials and tools and the innovative methodology for the Learn & Fly Challenge which was created and tested during the project. These teaching materials are targeted to school teachers of maths and science related subjects, to be implemented with their 15-17 years old students. All deliverables and materials are available in four languages English, Polish, Portuguese and Spanish. Output 1: THE LEARN & FLY STEM KIT consists in a series of modules for students and a notebook for teachers, that can be used by teachers in different subjects, such as maths, science, physics. It provides new teaching materials around the main challenge of “building an airplane”. This kit can be used as single tool to support teaching of STEM related subjects, but can also be used in conciliation with the challenge, which in turn can be carried out within a group of students, a whole school, and several schools or among different countries. Deliverables: D1/O1 Learn & Fly STEM KIT – 7 modules – materials and activities for learners D2/O1 Teacher Notebook – guidelines and materials for teachers Output 2: The Learn & Fly Careers Kit is the comprehensive guide to aviation sector that allows young people to plan their career path. It is an important tool to be used by the teachers, parents and professionals connected to careers counselling or employment centers and even employers (aeronautics companies) who need to display their job offers. Deliverables: D1/O2 Identification of careers counsellors and other professionals D2/O2 Learn & Fly CAREERS KIT – career opportunities, training and education in aeronautics industry Output 3: THE LEARN&FLY CHALLENGE is the central activity of the Learn&Fly project. The challenge consists in a competition where the students are invited to build an airplane. This competition is divided in two phases. First runs a national competition in each partner country. After that the winners compete in an international competition. Deliverables: D1/O3, D2/O3 Learn & Fly Challenge Supporting Tools: Regulations and Report Template D3/O3 Learn & Fly Challenge Supporting Tools: Moodle Platform content Within the "Learn&Fly Challenge", national competitions and an international competition among pupils of different schools were held to put in practice the challenge of building an airplane (explored in the Learn&Fly STEM Kit). The international competition culminated in the international event "Aeroweek" and “Aeroweek Close-up” in Poland, with various activities and award ceremony with the challenge winners from Portugal and Spain. The project involved different types of participants: - teams participating in the National Learn & Fly Challenges: 34 teachers, Portugal: 9 teams / 30 Students, Poland: 17 teams / 59 Students, Spain: 8 teams / 32 Students, - national multiplier events: 389 students/ professors / Parents / counselors, - international multiplier events: 142 teachers and students and 60 teachers directly involved in the project. Learn & Fly raised pupils’ interest for STEM related subjects, including those leading to a career in the aerospace sector. It supports their career decisions, in a context where teachers, parents and professionals work together to ensure a positive environment for a proper human, social and professional development of the younger generations.