Our Erasmus+ Project entitled "Increase VET quality and attractiveness through 3D printing and robotics for a better insertion to labor market" it's a Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training that will be implemented over a span of two years, throughout 01.12.2020-30.11.2022, by a team of 12 teachers from LDO, Romania, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Turkey, Portugal . Project aims: 1. Thought this project we aim to facilitate students’ professional training in the field of robotics and 3D printing for a better insertion on the labour market. In order to achieve this general objective we plan to facilitate youngsters acquisition of specific design and construction of robots and 3D printing learning outcomes. 2. Another specific objective that we propose is to increase students’ interest for building robots. The necessity for transnational co-operation has been determined by the following needs: - lack of a curriculum for Robotics - Insufficient training of VET teachers in the field of robotics - the lack of trans-disciplinary competencies of VET students required in the field of robotics. In order to facilitate students’ professional training in the field of robotics and 3D printing, partner organizations need to be able to provide educational services / programs that in adapted to this requirement. We plan to further strengthening key competences in initial and continuing VET training through common methodologies for introducing those competences in curricula, as well as for acquiring, delivering and assessing the learning outcomes of those curricula and by acquiring, providing and evaluating learning outcomes. Also, we are introducing systemic approaches and opportunities for VET professional and continuing development of VET teachers. Most of the expected results are described in detail in the intellectual outputs: 1. Curriculum adapted to each partner country on Robotics 2. Methodical guide on building robots 3. 3D printing support KIT (e-book) Apart of the intellectual outputs we expect to deliver a number of additional results: -Increased number of VET teachers that use innovative approaches to addressing their VET students - increase number of students interested in Robotics and 3D printing witch will lead to improved results at all STEAM subjects - Development of national and international network of specialists, Universities, educational authorities and teachers who can work together in order to identify resources and find ways for providing better support to VET students on Robotics and 3D printing - increased capacity and professionalism to work at EU/international level for both for the partner organizations and for students - A web page will be created to keep the interested stakeholders informed about the progress of the project and the products developed. This will be complemented by information published regularly on partner websites and/or Facebook pages. The social media presence not only targets the main audience of VET secondary school teachers and but also other specialists working in the field of education, family members, NGOs, etc. - During the project period the partners will also create informational materials such as brochures, leaflets, posters and flyers to be distributed to the target groups. Publications in different printed and/or online media will inform the large public about the project ideas and outcomes. This project provides an opportunity for partners to address these issues and propose solutions and a common European approach is adapted to the issues through this project. Through this European collaboration, sharing and development of a common solution with local variation, it will be possible to make a significant impact on STEM education and in preparing students for today’s world of non-stop innovation. Furthermore, the project gives an opportunity to share with other professionals, to consolidate and to improve services in the classroom through an active exchange of ideas.The project will bring forth a growth in the quality of the educational process and in the school’s European dimension, giving answer to the need for permanent education, since both teachers and students will acquire new relevant abilities for their professional and personal life and for active citizenship.
By implementing the project we wanted to make VET more interesting for students, proposing new and modern aproach of this fild, by studying Robotics and 3D printing, and facilitate students’ professional training in the field of robotics and 3D printing for a better insertion on the labour market. In order to achieve this general objective we plan to facilitate youngsters acquisition of specific design and construction of robots and 3D printing learning outcomes. Another specific objective that we propose is to increase students’ interest for building robots.
At the beginning of our discussions about this project we consider several aspects of our VET training in schools and the curriculums of students studying Mechatronics and Technic subjects from partner countries. On the one hand, at European level, according to the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training European VET systems, by 2030 we should aim to deliver excellent and inclusive education and training that offer opportunities for both economic and social cohesion, support competitiveness and growth and smart, inclusive and sustainable development, and foster democratic citizenship and European values thus helping all individuals to develop their full potential in a lifelong learning continuum. Also, it is clear that Robotics Technology will become dominant in the coming decade. Robotics has the potential to transform lives and work practices, raise efficiency and safety levels, provide enhanced levels of service and create jobs. Computer programs are used in developing sensors, controller and information processing unit, so that they can follow certain instructions as and when given to them. 3D printing, on the other hand is well connected with Robotics. For innovation, is critical that schools have curriculums which are not only transmitted as theory but also allows the students to have their own digital experience. And the existing curriculum should always be upgraded to the actual need of the labour market. The importance of Robotics in our future society is well understood by the teachers, which is why each of the partner organization supports different groups or student clubs to participate in contests or science fairy on robotics, achieving great performances. Nonetheless, the number of youngsters that do get to get involved in these activities is still reduced (in Liceul Don Orione out of 54 VET students, just 15 are now involved in Robotics club, more in Turkey). Based on the analysis that we carried out tracking VET students professional/learning path in Oradea, we learn that just 6 % of them are oriented towards the field of robotics, and based on the discussions with our partners we estimate that the percentage is under 25% also in Cyprus, Turkey, Italy, Portugal. Most of the partners organizations coordinate the internship (practical preparation) of our students in collaboration with local companies. Based on the feedback received from the industry sector we know that the main cause identified for this situation is the lack of competences in connecting the knowledge from different sciences: Physics, Electronics, ICT, Mechanics, etc. needed for the field. And there it is the issue that we plan to solve which to connect the theoretical training of our students with their practical/professional training. Also, analysing the curriculums for VET students (Mechatronic, Technik) in countries of the partnership, in comparison with the European prospective, actual situation is that the differences are very big, and what we identify lacking, was an integrated approach, which Robotics is offering. Another issue identified was the lack of interest for VET training for students. So, thought this project we aim to facilitate students’ professional training in the field of robotics and 3D printing for an increased VET quality for a better insertion on the labour market. In order to achieve this general objective, we plan to facilitate youngsters’ acquisition of specific design and construction of robots and 3D printing learning outcomes. Another specific objective that we propose is to increase by 10% students’ interest for building robots. The necessity for transnational co-operation has been determined by the following needs: lack of a curriculum for Robotics; Insufficient training of VET teachers in the field of robotics; the lack of trans-disciplinary competencies of VET students required in the field of robotics. In order to facilitate students’ professional training in the field of robotics and 3D printing, partner organizations need to be able to provide educational services / programs that in adapted to this requirement. We aimed to strengthen key competences in initial and continuing VET training through common methodologies by introducing those competences in the curricula, as well as for acquiring, delivering and assessing the learning outcomes.