The project aimed to increase the employability of unemployed youth by equipping them with practical skills in Virtual Reality (VR) and Rapid Prototyping (RP), which are two key technologies in the design and manufacturing sectors. The core objective was to close the gap between theoretical education and industry needs, so that young people would be better prepared for job opportunities in an evolving digital economy. The project focused on developing a standardised, open-access training module that introduced the integrated use of VR and RP in product design and prototyping. This included e-learning content, interactive training sessions, mentorship, and certification. Alongside this, the project sought to raise awareness of Industry 4.0 among youth, encourage intercultural learning, and create a collaborative platform that strengthens innovation capacity across partner countries. These actions were expected to help young people design and manufacture their own products, which would enhance their skills and confidence while creating a pathway into high-tech employment sectors.
The consortium applied for this project to address the pressing issue of youth unemployment, which remains particularly high in Turkey, Sweden, Italy, and Portugal. A key underlying factor is the mismatch between formal education and labour market needs, especially in sectors shaped by rapid technological advancement such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Rapid Prototyping (RP). Educational systems often lack the flexibility to integrate emerging technologies into curricula, which creates a gap between academic qualifications and industry expectations. The project responded to this need by aiming to equip young people, particularly unemployed university graduates, with practical skills in VR and RP that are increasingly in demand. There was a clear lack of accessible, standardised training content in these fields, as well as limited opportunities for young people to engage with such technologies in a hands-on manner. The partnership sought to bridge this gap through digital learning modules, practical applications, and cross-border cooperation, so that youth work in participating countries could better support employability and align with future labour market trends.