The project will address the need for more flexible routes for acquiring current industry-related skills necessary to boost and sustain innovation in the sectors identified by the national strategies of Smart Specialisation and regional innovation in the new member states. For this purpose, regular practical phases in enterprises will be integrated in the ongoing engineering curricula to accelerate the update of knowledge provided by higher education institutions. To achieve that the project will apply a county-adapted model of dual higher education.The aim of the DYNAMIC project is to develop, implement, test and validate 3 undergraduate programmes in the field of Mechatronics and Robotics (Sibiu, Romania), Shipbuilding and Construction (Varna, Bulgaria) and Mechanical Engineering and Production (Pula, Croatia). In order to ensure successful implementation of the 3 dual programmes, the project will develop a toolkit documentation and assessment of the practical training for academic supervisors. To strengthen the training capacities of the enterprises involved in dual education, the project will develop materials for a presence training of industrial supervisors. The main intellectual output of the project is “Methodological guidelines for design and implementation of practice-integrated dual higher education programmes in Science & Technology Studies” in the context of Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia. The output will satisfy the need for strategic approach in updating engineering curricula implicating the dual education model. The knowledge and experience gained within the project will be synthesised in this methodological document that will describe the different sets of methods employed at the different stages of the process.The full commitment of 16 partners from Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Germany and Austria and the active involvement of key stakeholders will ensure sustainable long-term exploitation of project results beyond the project life-time.
Create flexible routes to deliver up-to-date engineering curricula for strategic sectors. Formally integrate student practical phases in enterprises to improve relevance and skills. Set foundation and functional models for introducing dual higher education in country-adapted settings. Promote adjustment of curricula to industry needs in a dual setting; Build capacity and tools for HEI led delivery; Demonstrate its benefits; Develop modification methods and encourage long-term partnerships.
Flexible and responsive engineering curricula are needed to keep pace with rapid technological advancement, for jobs and the economy. Modernising these is urgent in the new EU Member States BG, RO and HR, due to innovation lags and skill shortages. Involving industry professionals in the co-design and delivery of relevant curricula, requires HEIs to form long-term bonds for practical in-company training of students and feedback loops to academia to increase quality of programmes.
<< Background >> Flexible and responsive engineering curricula are needed to keep pace with rapid technological advancement, for jobs and the economy. Modernising these is urgent in the new EU Member States BG, RO and HR, due to innovation lags and skill shortages. Involving industry professionals in the co-design and delivery of relevant curricula, requires HEIs to form long-term bonds for practical in-company training of students and feedback loops to academia to increase quality of programmes. << Objectives >> Create flexible routes to deliver up-to-date engineering curricula for strategic sectors. Formally integrate student practical phases in enterprises to improve relevance and skills. Set foundation and functional models for introducing dual higher education in country-adapted settings. Promote adjustment of curricula to industry needs in a dual setting; Build capacity and tools for HEI led delivery; Demonstrate its benefits; Develop modification methods and encourage long-term partnerships. << Implementation >> Academic and industrial experts co-designed and implemented feasible country-specific practice-integrated dual HE models based on best practice with the chambers of commerce as active partners in regional working groups. Trained staff of HEIs and enterprises, set a curriculum development process and tools, adapted and approved curricula, defined contracts, prepared, ran and evaluated pilots and disseminated transferable “Guidelines” on HEI-enterprise engagement, lessons learnt, and benefits. << Results >> Methodological Guidelines enable experience and results to be maintained and used by other stakeholders in implementing dual HE. The dual HE programmes in RO, BG and HR have modernised the curriculum for engineering students and instruments (a Customised Toolkit for implementation and documentation of practical training and the Train the Trainer course for industry mentors) will facilitate replication of dual education initiatives in other HEIs and EU MS.