Application of Advanced Manufacturing Techniques to VET: the case of Plastics sector

The plastics sector (PS) is vital for the EU economy and its post-pandemic recovery. It employs over 1.6 million people through more than 55,000 companies. Advance Manufacturing Techniques (AMT) a...

AMT2P aims to: a) Develop a training methodology and supporting tools for addressing the skill gaps (especially focused on the personnel expertise, the access to AMTs and “green” skills gaps); b) Develop the training material content, supported by the use of IT tools provided by project partners with high expertise on the field; c) Perform pilot trial workshops to validate the training methodology and get feedback from trainers and trainees; d) Assess the results of the pilot workshop and re-adjust the training methodology and content according to the current needs of the sector.

The AMT2P project developed, evaluated, validated, improved, and disseminated a training framework, that includes an innovative methodology, training content, and digital tools to support the training. The project proposed a novel AMT training methodology that is currently missing from the plastics sector. The methodology allows VET provides and industries to organize training courses and acquire knowledge shared among all target groups, from a common repository and use it to educate and upskill VET students and employees in a structured and needs-specific manner. The methodology has been developed according to the ECVET system, allowing trainees and professionals to claim ownership of the knowledge gained through the program. All knowledge gained are accessible through the AMT2P Training Environment, a platform that provide training and monitor the trainee’s progress, even after the completion of a training course. The main project activities are: TRAINING METHODOLOGY DEVELOPMENT The training methodology for the AMT2P training course has been developed using the expertise of all AMT2P partners. The described methodology clearly defined a) the main characteristics and purpose of the training course, b) the educational model followed, c) the taxonomy and organisation of the training modules, d) the expected outcome of the training course, e) the evaluation process of the training progress. ECVET Profile Taking advantage of the methodology developed, an ECVET Profile was composed to describe the expected skills and learning outcomes. This was translated into tangible results in terms of course preparation and content development. CONTENT DEVELPOMENT AND COURSE PREPARATION Based on the analysis of the skills needs of the plastics sector concerning the use of industrial AMTs and best practices used in the plastics domain in other EU countries a draft of the training content and the different modules that form the AMT2P training course was created. TRAINING ASSISTANT TOOL AND DIGITAL LEARNING MOTIVATION ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT The ICT expert partners of the consortium led the development of the Digital Assistant Tool and the Learning Motivation Environment (LME). The first one has been developed as a supportive tool that identifies the needs of each VET student and creates and individual learning path. The has been developed as an online cloud-based platform that allows for a continuous support of, both VET teachers, and VET students. The LME’s main objective is to ensure knowledge retainment after the project’s expected end date. The tools as well as the training content were demonstrated, tested and adapted based on feedback received through the project’s multiplier and dissemination events.

Project tangible results comprise: - Elaboration of a training approach for the field of initial and early VET suitable for the target groups; - Design of an ECVET profile; - Development of a skills and achievements framework; - Creation of a training course; - Development of Training Assistant Tool  and Learning Motivation Tool (virtual learning environment); - Preparation of User manual for AMT2P Training Environment; - Preparation of pilot workshops and MEs to validate the training methodology; - Preparation of a feedback and recognition plan. Results at the end of the project: 1. VET trainers and VET schools will have a new training methodology and the opportunity to use ICT tools designed based on the specific needs of the plastics sector, validated against the skills gap the sector is facing. 2. VET students will be given the opportunity to meet new tools that help them gain both theoretical and practical knowledge on the use of Advanced Manufacturing Techniques in the PS. They can up-scale their and/or gain new, including digital and “green”, skills, thus increasing their employability potential. 3. Other stakeholders like on-the-job trainers or staff responsible for training new employees directly on the field will obtain the AMT2P training methodology and tools which can potentially help them to decrease training time, raise quality and improve training impact. 4. Stakeholders, and VET schools in extension will have access to a training material that is easily adaptable to the needs of any other industrial sector, designed with the same base methodology but tailored to the individual aspect of each cluster. Industry (plastics sector) will gain an updated curriculum, with needs-specific knowledge and supportive tools that will allow for an in-house training of personnel. National and European communities will benefit from access to an open educational framework that can be adapted to the needs of any other sector other than the plastics sector. Policy and decision makers, EU officials will benefit from the availability of methodologies and practices that makes it easier for companies to recruit highly skilled and well-trained personnel for the use of AMTs and secure their competitive advantages. AMT2P will promote the organization and retention of knowledge, in a sustainable way that can be easily altered to match the needs of the training demands of any industrial or other sector, thus supporting the lifelong learning in a competitive and drastically changing time.