The lack of qualified specialists is one of the most important challenges faced by the mechanical engineering and metalworking industry in Latvia. Taking into account that this is also a problem in other European countries, there are opportunities for cooperation between countries by developing tools and methods for attracting young people to field education and career development in engineering industries. Only approximately 35% of the students in engineering educational programs complete their studies, the rest leave studies and the main reason is lack of motivation and exact knowledge base. A similar situation exists in Lithuania. Therefore is very important to use the VET training model to interest and motivate young people to acquire engineering and natural sciences right now. Companies in the sector are already experiencing a lack of qualified workers. The Latvian and Lithuanian associations of mechanical engineering and metalworking industries, on behalf of their companies, decided to adopt the experience of colleagues from the Northen German association of metal working and mechanical engineering to solve this problem using the VET training model, adapting the methodology, developing a plan for its implementation and implementing this model in Latvian and Lithuanian territories. One of the main tasks would be to motivate students to successfully complete their studies in the chosen specialty and continue to work in the industry. This goal can be achieved by showing graduates job opportunities in the member companies of the mechanical engineering and metalworking associations and creating an appropriate database for job vacancies. Germany has extensive experience in providing vocational education, one of the examples of promoting vocational education is the InfoMobil project.InfoMobil is a mobile bus - a laboratory where different equipment and machinery are mounted. The bus is equipped with automated CNC metalworking machines, automated factory model and other equipment and machinery. The following buses - laboratories is visiting German schools. By ongoing lectures on this bus, students are interested and educated in various areas of metalworking and engineering. InfoMobil visits are highly valued by German school headmasters and teachers. The main goal of this project is to use the experience acquired by German colleagues over 20 years, to adopt and practise these knowledge according to the circumstances in Latvia and Lithuania. It is helping and will help to go in a deeper perspective, get acquainted with the subjects of metalworking and engineering and to show to the target audience the perspectives by linking their future life with fiel companies. Targets of the project and achieved results:1) To develop a strategy and action plan for implementing the VET training model with the aim of increasing the number of employees in the sector. Result: strategy and action plan for the implementation of the VET training model in Latvia and Lithuania. 2) To adapt German Infomobil training methodology to local conditions. Result: Adaptation of the German Infomobil training methodology for Latvia and Lithuania. 3) To train 4 teachers from Latvia and Lithuania to work with Infomobil. Result: 4 teachers from Latvia and Lithuania were trained in Germany to work with Infomobil 25-31 on January, 2016, in Hamburg and Hasenwinkel and 16-20 on August, 2016, in Latvia and Lithuania. 4) To adapt and develop study materials for using them in Infomobil projects in Latvia and Lithuania. Result: Adapted methodology, information materials on career opportunities, promotional materials on mobile buses - laboratories. 5) To adapt and develop the database of Latvian and Lithuanian industry companies. Result: Developed database of sector enterprises in Latvia: www.tebnobuss.lv. Database of sector enterprises in Lithuania: www.infomobilis.lt. 6) To develop and adapt the CLIL methodology, training plans and materials. Result: Adapted methodology and training plans with materials. 7) 400 VET pupils attend InfoMobil classes in Latvia and Lithuania. Result: More than 18300 students have visited Tehnobus in Latvia, 2654 pupils in Lithuania 8) 100 VET teachers and trainers will be trained in Latvia and Lithuania. Result: In Tehnobuss Latvia, more than 331 teachers have been trained, in Lithuania - 100 teachers. 9) 40 people of administration will be trained in Latvia and Lithuania. Result: In Latvia Tehnobuss trained more than 71 employees of the administration, 40 employees of the administration - in Lithuania. 10) 100 representatives of the company will be informed in Latvia and Lithuania. Result: 51 representatives of companies were informed in Latvia, 104 representatives of companies - in Lithuania. In Latvia, we are planing to continue to use various events to inform entrepreneurs about the results of the project, to summarize the recommendations how to improve the methodology. 11) Two conferences. Result: The project conferen

"""Education and Training 2020"" sets common strategic objectives for EU member countries for 2020. One of benchmarks is: the share of low-achieving 15-year-olds in reading, mathematics and science should be less than 15 % in 2020. According OECD, in 2018 about every fifth 15-year-old pupil in Europe showed insufficient abilities in science (in Latvia were 18,5%, in Lithuania - 22,2%, in Estonia- 8,8%) and in mathematics (In Latvia- 17,3%, in Lithuania - 25,6% in Estonia – 10,2%). Only Estonia reached benchmark of ET 2020. Low achievements in science and mathematics leads to situation when general education pupils after graduating do not choose VET or higher education in science, technologies, engineering, mathematics (STEM) or are not able to graduate STEM direction and obtain qualification which results in insufficient supply of qualified workforce in manufacturing, also in metalworking and mechanical engineering. Lack of qualified workforce forces sector associations to involve in education processes by providing information about career prospects in sector by mobile laboratories. Mobile laboratories which are fully equipped with modern technologies and supported with highly educated STEM trainer has successfully complemented the educational process by informing, presenting and demonstrating modern technologies, their capabilities and operational principles in general education schools. However, the capabilities of the mobile laboratories are much broader and can be integrated into the general education process, adding to the vital component of STEM knowledge-building exercises in the real environment. For integration of STEM knowledge provided by mobile laboratories in general education curricula, it is planned to develop up-to-date cognitive and educational content on contemporary technologies, their design, capabilities and applications, deploying and making them available in digital form and environment. This material will also support educators because here is lack of digital, interactive materials about STEM in national languages.Main objectives of the project are:1)Promotion of pupils’ achievements in STEM in attractive way. 2)Strengthening support for educators by open source, interactive, digital training materials about STEM.3)Strengthening responsibility and involvement of sector business representatives in education process.Main activities/ results of the project are:1)Open source, interactive, digital training materials about STEM for pupils in four languages – English, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian.2)Teacher’s manual to support educators about usage of interactive, digital training materials in four languages – English, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian.3)Guidelines for sector representatives for improvement of STEM knowledge in four languages – English, Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian.4)3 promotional and testing events for educators about usage of interactive, digital training materials (at least 30 educators in each country, not less than 90 in total).5)At least 100 pupils trained in pilot trainings in each country (at least 300 in total) covering all regions of involved countries.6)National competition of pupils about improvement of training materials 7)3 project promotional events (not less than 135 participants), at least 6 publications. All project activities are sequential and support project progress toward project main objectives. Pupils and educators are main target group and will be involved in testing, improving intellectual outputs, in pilot trainings and promotional and testing events. Guidelines for sector representatives will be prepared to provide insight how provide sustainability of project idea and strengthening responsibility and involvement of sector business representatives in education process.Project is innovative of specific focus on establishment interesting content for pupils, also with involvement of them (in time of contest) in field of STEM. This content will support idea provided in mobile laboratories and can also be used as support material of STEM teachers in general education.Main target groups are:1)Pupils of general education. 2)Educators (teachers of STEM subjects, carrier guidance and support specialists) of general education. 3)Sector representatives (the national and sectorial, regional) and other stakeholders who can be involved in improvement of STEM knowledge.4)Learners, educators in other education levels, parents, policy makers.All partners have wide experience and expertise in STEM, establishing of training materials, pilot trainings which will help to achieve best result and contribute transnational value of the project.Project will ensure long term impact on participants and also participation organizations, supporting implementation of project's objectives."

<< 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

The project “VET for Employment” (VET4E), led by the Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK), aims at:- improving availability of qualified workforce through improving compliance of VET to the labour market needs;- facilitating and supporting organisation of qualitative traineeships and work based learning in vocational education and training (VET) system and- developing new tools for the use by the employers and VET institutions to promote work based learning in VET and to support employers, VET institutions and students in human resource development through traineeships. The motivation for the project lies in the problems identified in partner countries: rather low prestige of VET, limited opportunities for qualitative traineeships, low involvement of employers, low level of cooperation between VET institutions and employers, high youth unemployment, problematic transition from education institutions to labour market. In order to address these problems, project will carry out a number of activities aimed at improving availability of qualitative traineeship opportunities and to strengthen employers’ involvement in VET. The main activities planned to reach these goals are:- Carrying out a study on availability, quality and costs and benefits of traineeships in Latvia;- Organising learning visits to Austria and Germany to learn from well-established dual VET systems;- Developing an action plan for improvement of traineeships in Latvia;- Carrying out feasibility study on vocational education in Lithuania; and mutually learning between Latvia and Lithuania in the process of implementing VET reforms;- Developing IT tool on career portal prakse.lv (traineeship.lv) which would ensure opportunity to organise and implement traineeships and work based learning in easy and comfortable way, as well as to collect and analyse data on traineeships- To implement work based learning programmes in two sectors – metalworking sector and pharmacy sector. - To implement a number of initiatives/ mini pilotprojects to promote new IT tool, traineeships and work based learning in different sectors such as facilitating traineeships, namely, combining traineeships in several companies, career support activities, organising training for trainers in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science, developing mobility projects, organising professional skills competition, certification of traineeship places, organising seminars, organising site visits of pupils or VET trainers in companies, examining work safety during traineeships, piloting examination developed and organised by employers.The main result of the project will be increased number of qualitative traineeship opportunities. The consortium is made of partners from Latvia, Lithuania, Austria and Germany. Partners include the national and sectorial employer organisations, trade union organisation, VET institutions, research and training institution, as well as private companies. Project is also endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia, National Centre for Education and the Municipality of Riga.