This project focuses on 3D printing as a fast growing part of industry, IT and manufacture. 3D printing operators and experts are already the most demanded employees on the IT labor market. "Work and Skills 2025" report highlights that industrial modernization (3D printing, industry 4.0) encouraging manufacturing to return to developed countries and hences the need for 3D printing and technology-skilled employees. Therefore it is important to develop vocational educators and comprehensive study materials to encourage 3D prining & technology integration into profession trainings. The aim of this project is to increase the awareness of the field of 3D printing, broaden the knowledge and establish the advanced skills of vocational specialist enabling them to develop the curriculum and contemporary study materials which support the needs of the students to become competitive in labour market. Transnational development of the curriculum establishes the level of education provided by vocational centres and enables the future specialist to enter the international labour markets. Hence,all stakeholders benefit from the cooperation of the international teams. Moreover during this innovative project vocational educators will get high support from high education trainers and best practices and approaches from each other are shared. As this project combines partners among vocational education and universities. Companies from labor market are connected as assosiated partners. The results of the Project are: 1. Initially and continuously professional VET teachers who are competitive both at at national and international labor market – 4 joint staff training are carried out on for 25 teachers on themes: 3D Technologies, 3D prining + study of materials; 3D printer workshop; 3D design and drawings and workshop about 3D printer technology integration into professional trainings. 2. Contemporary 3D printing&technology study materials which are redundant into one specific e-course. E-course conists of online video lessons with self-assessment quizes; guidebooks for how to work with 3D printers; a detailed glossary about 3D concepts, equipments, materials and supplies; modules with study materials about using 3D priner in other fileds (drones, robotics, mechanics) which helps to integrate 3D printer technology into professional trainings; materials and instructions for teachers and trainers to carry out a lessons. 3. A unified International study material in vocational education through which studies and levels in EU can be harmonized to make students internationally competitive. As an extra result for this kind of materials it is the possibility in further cooperation to exchange teachers at international level in the future. 4. Labour market needs are more met by relevant 3D printing & technology studies in vocational education in EU. Priorities of the project are supporting the uptake of innovative approaches and digital technologies for teaching and learning; open education and innovative practices in a digital era and initial and continuous professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors in both school and work-based settings.
By implementing the project we wanted to: * Increase the awareness of the field of 3D printing * Create all-in-one 3D knowledge base * Improve vocational trainers’ 3D-related skills * Enable VET trainers to create their own curriculum materials * Improve the competitive skills of VET students * Improve and harmonize the VET education quality over EU * Develop curriculum materials which are easy to adapt into teaching and learning * Reduced cost of using 3D technologies for all
We applyed for this project because 3D printers and related skills such as 3D printing, designing and drawing were less used in vocational education although this is fast growing part of industry, IT and manufacture. 3D printing operators and experts are the most demanded employees on the IT labor market. Therefore one of the main goals of the project has been to keep up-to-date with technological developments and meet the labor market needs in VET education. The strong gap pushed the project partners to seek for new methods and materials in vocational education to prepare well qualified students (future specialists). 3D-printing-related skills are the main set of skills that learners and teachers need to turn their ideas from design to tangible outputs. The biggest hurdle in reaching these 3D technologies is the cost of 3D training, equipment and tools. By offering free access to innovative and comprehensive 3D design tutorials, DIY 3D printer, curriculum materials, a teacher’s guide to planning 3D teaching sessions, and 3D Glossary VET schools and educators over EU have equal opportunities to develop the curriculum and contemporary study materials which support the needs of the students to become competitive in labour market.