CONTEXT: Industry 4.0 is expected to significantly advance the supply chain and production in manufacturing industry. It can speed up innovation and supports faster design processes and increase profitability. The industrial sector contributes essentially to the EU economy which is a critical driver of growth and employment. Digitalisation in Industry 4.0 also provides new business models that challenge the traditional businesses. Europe needs to fully take advantage of the opportunities Industry 4.0 offers, to become more competitive. Digitalisation in companies can create ten times better performance, however, Europe has not used its digital potential, as though 47% of EU citizens shop online, only 14% of SMEs use internet to sell products and services, and less than 2% of European enterprises are taking full advantage of the digital technologies like mobile communications, social media, big data analytics, and IoT. European Trade Union Confederation emphasizes that development of new tools to support and manage transformational change is essential. Industry 4.0 benefits and transformation of the traditional businesses through new digital advancements is realized differently by various EU countries. Moreover, there are different levels and standards of skills and competencies of the work force new digital era in different countries of Europe. MAIN AIM: The iCOINS project aims at developing common EU competences for raising awareness of SMEs on Industry 4.0 through an innovative Training Course. The primary target groups are VET teachers, trainers and mentors. Additionally, iCOINS serves the needs of SMEs staff, higher education staff and students, vocational institutions, vocational higher education institutions/teachers, public administration staff. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: Common future needs of SMEs in the context of Industry 4.0 for SMEs are aimed to be identified, and common sets of learning outcomes defined based on ECVET and ECTS principles. The project will address the main skill shortages for which the competences for capacity building in SMEs in industry 4.0 context will be described. Through innovative blended learning contents on industry 4.0 themes, iCOINS targets a mind change of SME entrepreneurs and employees which will enable creation of a community of practice in the learning and training process. TARGETS: iCOINS develops a common competence map and training modules on raising awareness on Industry 4.0 in SMEs. An OER platform with training modules and a training course plan for trainers will be created. A Training methodology handbook will enable trainers to transfer knowledge to trainees by using iCOINS outputs. The outputs will be tested through pilot trainings and multiplier events. METHODOLOGIES: iCOINS introduces a methodical approach to meet the SMEs’ needs for awareness raising on Industry 4.0 principles, enhancing VET trainers’ skills in using innovative methods and tools to transfer the knowledge. The OERs will allow trainers to implement innovative methodologies in training by using ICT and online resources. Open Badges willl also be released as a recognition of achievements reached within the trainings. The iCOINS methodology, will promote continuous professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors in work-based settings, with a focus on developing effective open and innovative education through the use of OER in work-based context. MAIN ACTIVITIES: iCOINS creates an innovative road-map for the description of competences and build capacity on industry 4.0 in SMEs. The road-map defines the frame and targets for the content and methodology for the Training Modules. The Training Modules are tested with VET-trainers and with SMEs’ staff. iCOINS designs and implements OER- platform with convenient operational functionalities: modules, exercises, learning outcomes and procedures for the Open Badges release. iCOINS engages participants, participating organisations, target groups and stakeholders into the co-creation process by activating open communication, sharing information, reflecting outcomes and challenging into discussion and co-operation. iCOINS - conference and National iCOINS meetings are scheduled for this purpose. MOST RELEVANT TANGIBLE RESULTS: The development of training path for building capacity and training modules for raising awareness on Industry 4.0 in SMEs will serve for harmonization and unification of Industry 4.0 skills of VET teachers, trainers and SME staff in Europe which is one of the primary objectives of this project. Moreover, a standardised system for recognition of competences acquired by the trainees based on knowledge, skills and competences gained by the iCOINS OER Platform will be provided through the release of Open Badges. iCOINS project will create a training methodology handbook and training course plan for trainers to further promote and develop the results of the project.
CONTEXT: EU economy is substantially supported by the industrial sector which is a critical enabler of progress and employment. Nevertheless, over the recent past, the contribution of industry to the EU economy is decreasing for which forced European Commission(EC) to set a goal for increasing the contribution of industry to the economy by 2020. Hence, through EC’s Digital Single Market strategy,all industrial sectors would be supported so that they can make use of the new technologies and shift to Industry 4.0. Digitalisation in Industry 4.0 provides new business models that challenge traditional businesses. Europe needs to fully take advantage of the opportunities Industry 4.0 offers, to become more competitive. Digitalisation in companies can create ten times better performance,however,Europe has not used its digital potential, as though 47% of EU citizens shop online,only 14% of SMEs use internet to sell products and services and less than 2% of European enterprises are taking full advantage of digital technologies like mobile communications,social media,big data analytics and IoT. Industry 4.0 is expected to significantly advance the supply chain and production in manufacturing industry.It can speed up innovation and supports faster design processes and increase profitability.The industrial sector contributes essentially to the EU economy which is a critical driver of growth and employment. European Trade Union Confederation emphasizes that development of new tools to support and manage transformational change is essential. Industry 4.0 benefits and transformation of traditional businesses through new digital advancements is realized differently by EU countries. Moreover, there are different levels and standards of skills and competencies of the work force new digital era in different countries of Europe. MAIN AIM:The main of iCOINS project was to develop common EU competences for raising awareness of SMEs on Industry 4.0 through an innovative Training Course. The primary target groups are VET teachers, trainers and mentors. Additionally, iCOINS serves the needs of SMEs staff, higher education staff and students, vocational institutions, vocational higher education institutions/teachers, public administration staff. Common future needs of SMEs in the context of Industry 4.0 for SMEs were aimed to be identified, and common sets of learning outcomes defined based on ECVET and ECTS principles. Through innovative blended learning contents on industry 4.0 themes, iCOINS targets a mind change of SME entrepreneurs and employees which will enable creation of a community of practice in learning and training process. Through iCOINS project, it was aimed to develop a common competence map and training modules on raising awareness on Industry 4.0 in SMEs. An OER platform with training modules and a training course plan for trainers was created. A Training methodology handbook enables trainers to transfer knowledge to trainees by using iCOINS outputs. The outputs were tested by pilot trainings and disseminated by multiplier events. METHODOLOGIES:iCOINS introduces a methodical approach to meet the SMEs’ needs for awareness raising on Industry 4.0 principles, enhancing VET trainers’ skills in using innovative methods and tools to transfer the knowledge. OER allows trainers to implement innovative methodologies by using online resources.Open Badges can be released as a recognition of achievements reached within trainings. iCOINS methodology, promotes continuous professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors in work-based settings,with focus on developing effective open and innovative education through use of OER. MAIN ACTIVITIES: - Developing a competence road map for building capacity on industry 4.0 in SMEs; -Creation of a multilingual Internet platform with practical operational features: modules, exercises, learning outcomes, and open online badges in partners' languages; -Design of ECVET-based integrated open badges to recognize newly acquired competencies; - creation of training methodology handbook and training course plan to guide trainers in using the course material in their training The partnership was formed on basis of required competencies and special strengths for project realization and composed of Cankaya University(CAUN),Turkey; EVM,Spain;HAMK, Finland;TRAINING 2000, Italy; Turkish Society of HVAC and Sanitary Engineers(TTMD),Turkey; SUPSI,Switzerland(associated partner); and OSTIM, Turkey(associated partner). At the proposal stage, LAMK from Finland was involved however after the grant approval, organisation left consortium due to staff shortage issues. HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences joined consortium.All academic partners involved in project have already extensive experience in training services,strongly experienced in the development of structured training models,and use of eLearning tools.All industrial partners are experienced in innovative training projects.