"One of the key ingredients in quality of education is the improvement of the quality of teachers work. Teachers need a high quality pedagogical and methodical support, because their competence plays a major role in child's learning process. A competent elementary school teacher raises the development level of all his pupils and builds a strong foundation for their further education.The result of project ""Work system for pedagogues to develop children's reading literacy"" will be a complex of resources to raise education quality: trained coaches who will train teachers; a handbook for teachers, a developed and approbated further education program for teachers. The activities mentioned are aimed at a modern support for teachers to improve the reading literacy of children. Project activities will support high-quality, innovative learning. They will also provide a general support for professional development - improve cooperation and communication with teachers from other countries and further the experience exchange between teachers.To tackle the problems mentioned we have set a project goal: develop a fitting approach to children’s reading literacy advancement – a goal oriented and successive work scheme for teachers working with kids from 1.5 to 12 years.Planned activities: •Explore the good practices of reading literacy development in preschools an elementary schools in the partner countries (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia);•Prepare a handbook for teachers based on the best practices and research;•Train coaches from all partner countries who will train teachers;•Develop a further education program for teachers;•Approbate the further education program;•Using the experience gained, develop a strategy for implementing the new approach.12 experts - teacher educators will be trained in this project.They will prepare the handbook and the further education program. The education program will be approbated. 120 teachers from Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia will participate in the approbation. A closing conference with the goal to popularize and disseminate the results will be organized at the end of the project. The intellectual results - the handbook and the further education program - will be made freely available on the project website.Project impact reaches beyond the direct target group - the teachers. It will also affect the children aged form 1.5 to 12 years and older. The observable results will be not only the improvement in reading literacy, but also in an improvement in learning results in general. Reading literacy is one of the basic skills that has a major impact on learning as a whole. Project results will have a substantial influence on the general quality of education and the welfare of society. We expect the project results to bring about a long term change - a lasting, positive influence on improvement of education quality.Three countries are participating: Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, allowing each partner country to show their unique experience in improving the reading literacy of children. An innovative approach to improvement of children's reading literacy will be developed based on the best practice and research results from each country. It will be a a goal oriented and successive work scheme for teachers working with kids from 1.5 to 12 years. The international activities will allow us to better understand what skills the teachers must possess and what support they require to successfully face the professional challenges, that are very similar in all three countries."

"<< Background >>The project will establish international cooperation to contribute to the raising awareness of two global issues - the fight against climate change and digital transformation.Technological developments are very rapid, so it is important to look at the links between their achievements and climate change. As society moves forward, the process of environmental degradation should be concidered, so the idea of our project is to help solve environmental problems by educating teachers and students, using the latest technologies.Scientists have warned that climate change is already a reality, not a future, and that most of the world's population has suffered from the effects of climate change. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our environment, our social environment and our economy. The effects of climate change are already visible and are expected to become even more threatening. Extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts and floods, are expected to become more frequent and severe. Knowledge is the basis of human attitudes and behavior. If a person knows and understands the processes, then he develops his own attitude and he is able to get involved in them. He develops a common understanding of the environment. Knowledge must be linked to global development perspectives. It is not enough for people to know and understand environmental problems. Everyone makes an indirect choice for their future through their actions towards the environment.Gaining knowledge and raising awareness of environmental sustainability and climate policy is important for the whole society.The target audience of our project is teachers who work with primary school students, who, in turn, are a generation with the opportunity to acquire the necessary competencies from childhood to learn to take responsibility for their actions in the environment and a healthy environment on a global scale.The growing amount of information and the rapid development of modern technologies determine the need to bring about changes in pedagogical work and teaching process at all levels of education. Therefore, the use of various digital learning tools in the pedagogical process is becoming more important in order to promote that students not only acquire the necessary knowledge, but also become active participants in the learning process and creators of new innovations and it can be promoted by preparing students for life in digital environment.Our project aims to create a high-quality digital learning tool on climate change that will provide knowledge, raise awareness of environmental sustainability and promote digital literacy for both primary and secondary education teachers and primary school students.<< Objectives >>The project aims to develop and promote a digital learning tool on climate change that will provide knowledge, raise awareness of environmental sustainability and promote digital literacy. The tool will support teachers when educating primary school students about the dangerous effects of climate change on Earth, developing a caring attitude towards nature, making them become aware of the consequences of their daily actions, encouraging them to live more environmentally friendly. The result of the project will provide teachers and students with access to high-quality and easy-to-use digital learning resource on environmental sustainability, as well as support educators in the use of information and communication technologies in face-to-face and distance learning.Implementing the project results, an international network will be established between the project partner organizations and educational institutions, which will use the digital learning tool on climate and climate change. The digital learning tool will emphasize the idea of unity and community to show that we are all united in a global family. This is the only way to work effectively to create a healthy environment for all living creatures on the planet.The digital learning tool is aimed at promoting a conscious attitude and enriching knowledge about the current state of the environment, in order to unite students, teachers, organizations from partner countries.Environmental sustainability is a complex and long-term process. Concrete results may be visible after several years, but the environmental education process must take place at all levels of education. The target audience of our project is primary school teachers and students who have a strong sense of the environment and the educational process is important to avoid losing it. In this way, children will continue the process of environmental awareness, will also influence their parents, and the circle of people interested in environmental issues will expand.<< Implementation >>During the project, trainings will be organized for a group of teachers-researchers to provide the necessary support for the development of project results. The project team will learn from good practice in the project countries, improve their knowledge of environmental sustainability issues and develop their skills in using IT tools. The training will take place in three sessions in Latvia, Croatia and Lithuania.During the project, three important project results will be developed:1) Curriculum ""Climate and its change"";2) Guidelines for teachers;3) Digital learning tool ""Climate and its change"".The materials will be posted on the open access platform in Latvian, Lithuanian, Croatian and English languages.Teaching materials will be piloted and a network of students and teachers, organizations will be established in the piloting process to share experiences on the use of digital learning tools, learning about climate and its change.Project results dissemination events will be organized - workshops for teachers in Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia to introduce the digital learning tool and its most successful use in both distance and face-to-face teaching process.<< Results >>The project will develop and promote three important results:1) Curriculum ""Climate and its change"";2) Guidelines for teachers;3) Digital learning tool ""Climate and its change"".The materials will be posted on the open access platform in Latvian, Lithuanian, Croatian and English.Dissemination events of the project results will be organized – workshops for teachers in Latvia, Lithuania, Croatia.Project organizations will have gained new experience in international cooperation, increased their capacity to create and implement innovative results, as well as contributed to solving topical issues - environmental sustainability and digital transformation."

<< Background >>Technology based industries, including mechanical engineering and metalworking (MM) industries, play a crucial role of European economy and in the Baltic countries as well. MM industries are characterised by strong traditions as well as good preconditions for further growth. In Baltic countries MM industry is the third biggest industry. The main challenge the sector is facing lack of skilled specialists, especially for those with VET education and qualification in the sector. High drop-out rates in VET approves that VET education should be more linked with metalworking companies, increasing attractivenes of metalworking thus promoting achievements and skills of VET students in mechanical engineering and metalworking industries. The promotion of VET students achievements and skills in metalworking sector in attractive way can be supported by organization of sectoral competitions for VET pupils, involving the business and companies in VET. Need for raising attactiviness of VET, forces sector associations MASOC (LV), Linpra (LT), EML (EE) and mobile laboratories VJLMTC (LT), Merkuur (EE), Tehnobuss Latvia (LV) to involve in education processes. Organizing national and international competitions about MM industry for VET students, project will promote VET students' achievements, knowledge and skills in mechanical engineering and metalworking industries thus increasing atractivness of their choosed qualification and thus supporting sector with skilled workforce. Aslo dissemination materials (articles, videos) about VET, VET students achievements in the competition, will disseminated to all VET schools and also to other learners (for example, in general education, or for unemployed) thus demostrating the skills and achievements which can be gained in VET thus attracting new potential workers in the sector.<< Objectives >>Main objectives of the project are: 1) to organize national competitons and Baltic countries' competition for vocational education and training ( VET students) in mechanical engineering and metalworking industries by involvement of sector business representatives in Baltic countries 2) to increase attractiviness of vocational education and training (VET) by demostrating skills, knowledge and achievements of VET students in mechanical engineering and metalworking industries.<< Implementation >>Main activities, who support reaching of project objectives, are: 1) Development of country analyses about good practices of sectoral VET competitions will cover topics as well about requirements of Euroskills & Wordskills, requirements of qualification exams, analyses of requirements for metalworking sector VET students, proposals for common tasks of skills competitions. Analyses will be made in English, at least 20 pages per country. 2) Preparation of practical and theoretical tasks at least 3 qualifications in metalworking at least 30 theoretical tasks& at least 6 practical tasks per qualification will prepared in four languages:LV, LT, EE, ENG 3)Establishment of Regulations for competition organizing regulations and assessment methodology linked with practical and theoretical tasks (IO1) will be established in four languages: LV, LT, EE, ENG4) Development of Practical training course about about engineering technologies with real examples and with at least 80 theoretical and practical tasks and their assesment methodologies in LV, LT, EE 5) Preparation of dissemination materials: newsletters, at least 6 articles, 6 videos (2 per country), information in project partners homepages6) Intelectual output testing events (comptetitions) with involvement of more than 110 participants, mostly VET students and respresentatives from business7) Transnational partner meetings, Project streering board meetings and meetings with project target groups and other stakeholders etc.<< Results >>Main results of the project:1) 3 country analyses about good practices of sectoral VET competitions will cover topics as well about requirements of Euroskills & Wordskills, requirements of qualification exams, analyses of requirements for metalworking sector VET students, proposals for common tasks of skills competitions in English, at least 20 pages per country. 2) Al least 108 practical and theoretical tasks for at least 3 qualifications in metalworking will prepared in four languages:LV, LT, EE, ENG 3)Regulations for competition organizing and assessment methodology linked with practical and theoretical tasks (IO1) will be established in four languages: LV, LT, EE, ENG4) Practical training course about about engineering technologies with real examples and with at least 80 theoretical and practical tasks and their assesment methodologies in LV, LT, EE, ENG5) At least 6 articles, 6 videos (2 per country) about VET competitions prepared and distributed to target groups6) Organized 3 national competitions and 1 international competition for VET students in mechanical engineering and metalworking industries in Baltic states with active involvement of business representatives6) Improved knowledge and achievements of at least 100 VET students in mechanical engineering and metalworking industries in Baltic states.

Project main results:qualification standard (QS) and New modular VET training programme including apprenticeship training plan, Set of Verification tests, E-learning platform and multimedia, Training material and CNC programme testing software were achieved and fitted in the objectives of Qualifications and Vocational Education and Training Development Centre. It involved development of qualifications standards applied research in VET and adult education, formation of qualifications system, assessment of formal VET programmes, organisation of development of modular programmes and their renewal, development of VET credits system, methodical support for VET and adult education, organisation of central and sectoral professional committees activities. QS, which was specifically developed for youth, older people, unemployed, migrants, other adults, Qualification authorities, VET schools, trainers, includes 1 Model QS and 4 Country-specific QS were approved by the SC, positive reviews on Model QS from 1 external expert from Lithuania and Germany were received. New modular VET training programme, which was specifically developed for youth, older people, unemployed, migrants, other adults, Qualification authorities, VET schools, trainers, includes 1 model modular VET programme and 4 country-specific training programmes was approved by the SC and positive review on Model QS from 1 external expert from Lithuania and Germany were received.Set of Verification tests (in English and 4 national languages) have the following information provided: source of the correct answer (field of themes described in galaxy model) and technical drawings/images and was approved by SC.E-learning platform and multimedia, which includes online training system with multimedia in English and 4 national languages was approved by SC. Training material, which was developed for learners: youth, older people, unemployed, migrants, other adults, includes 1 textbook for learners, 1 workbook for learners and 1 Trainers Manual for trainers (in English and 4 languages) was approved by the SC and positive feedback from trainers and learners through questionnaires was received.CNC simulation software was adopted for visualisation of project learning themes for material piloting purposes and positive evaluation from 1 external expert from Lithuania and Germany were received. Aditionaly testing software for CNC programme was created for free use for project partners.The link to all deliverables is: http://change4industry.eu/en/pages/documents.html