The growing Maker movement can help students acquire advanced digital skills necessary for Industry 4.0. Maker activities use the same technologies as advanced manufacturing industries, and European Fab Labs can be used as laboratories to develop study programs focused on these digital skills. The project aims to assist teachers in vocational schools in integrating Maker movement-based activities to teach advanced digital skills to students, in line with Industry 4.0 transformations. The goal is to enhance the employability of students and create links with advanced manufacturing companies. The main target group of the project is VET teachers and educators, along with all individuals involved in students' transition from school to work in the vocational sector. Vocational school students are the final beneficiaries of the project. The partnership involves 8 partners from 5 different countries: Italy, Germany, Malta, Spain, and Poland.
The COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected certain segments of the workforce, with young people facing heightened risks of unemployment and poverty. Prior to the pandemic, youth unemployment in the EU stood at 14.9%, but surged to 17% in July 2020, resulting in an additional 64,000 young people without jobs. By early 2021, the number of unemployed young people reached 2.967 million, pushing the youth unemployment rate to 17.2%. These figures underscore the pressing need to enhance the transition from education to employment for young individuals and provide them with the necessary skills for secure sectors and occupations. While Industry 4.0 technologies are deemed critical for the future of the economy by the European Union, there remains a dearth of adequate educational programs that impart the digital skills essential for leveraging these technologies. This deficiency not only impedes youth employment prospects but also stifles innovation and obstructs digital transformation efforts.