This project aims at developing a novel and integrated framework to teach math classes in engineering courses at the university level. The traditional way of teaching math classes is based on a ‘teaching by telling’, or ‘chalk and talk’, approach, especially in the first years of the university degrees. It is characterized by large classes and single-discipline teaching, based on lecture-based delivery. Recently there has been a growing interest, by the engineering professionals and the bodies for accrediting engineering degrees, in promoting a change in this paradigm. As Einstein used to say “We must revolutionize our thinking, revolutionize our actions.” The proposed new teaching paradigm consists in the implementation of the following strategies: adaptation of course curricula, emphasizing the problem-based-learning (PBL) approach, learning by doing (hands-on), and application of the EduScrum as a pedagogical approach, promoting active learning (AL) by working in real world engineering problems. In the PBL curriculum, students achieve competences, analyze, identify and solve problems, by relating disciplines to each other. Students develop competences such as critical thinking, agility and adaptability, communication, collaboration, initiative, analyzing and conceptualizing information, curiosity and imagination. They are an active part of their learning process and the teacher acts as a guide by proposing new research directions, methods, and tools. Hands-on experimentation, or learning-by-doing, is an essential part of the knowledge process. It enhances the desire to learn, promotes self-learning skills, and offers an efficient involvement of math subjects and engineering environments. EduScrum creates an environment where students are the owners of their knowledge, increasing the sense of self-initiative and entrepreneurship. Applying the EduScrum methodology enhances collaborative learning, emphasizing the students’ interactions with each other. Students are involved in small groups and work towards a common goal – learning, while being evaluated individually. In this sense, the math curricula teaching will be modernized and updated to include these new methodological teaching strategies. This modernization may contribute to award the EUR-ACE (European Accreditation of European Programs) to accredited engineering degrees at partners’ universities. Engineering students lack essential competences in a world of rapidly changing and dynamic working environments. The later require constant creativity, analytical thinking, perfectionism and adherence to tight deadlines. This could influence negatively their future careers. Knowledge cannot be perceived any longer as the end of a goal of an engineering study, it has to be felt as an on-going activity of learning-to-think and learning-to-learn. This will promote a new design for an Engineer profile, one which encompasses an Engineer willing to manage the tools that our lifestyle requires, for all Engineering areas: electromechanical, electrochemical, informatics, amongst others. Without exaggeration, we can say that our project will help to design a new profile Engineer.

<< Objectives >>The overall objective of the REACT project is to mitigate exclusion of citizens living in rural areas, who meet challenges in benefitting from digital health and social care offers from regional- and local providers, either because they do not have access to IT or do not have sufficient digital skill. The REACT project aims to develop and test the “Rural eHealth Facilitator” concept to better reach out to digitally excluded citizens living in rural areas.<< Implementation >>Professionals from local or regional health and social care providers are recruited to educate volunteers as rural eHealth facilitators. The facilitators are then approaching vulnerable and older citizens in order to inspire and train them in the use of digital solutions. Thus, the following activities are implemented: Strategic development concept incl. guidelines, training material qualify professionals and volunteers, testing and evaluation and policy and recommendation recommendations.<< Results >>There will be 6 tangible outcomes: 1) European needs analysis (including baseline report); 2) Strategic development concept incl. guidelines; 3) Training programme for professionals; 4) Training programme to qualify volunteers who would like to be rural e-Health facilitators; 5) Evaluation framework; 6) Policy and Implementation Recommendations. The expected main impact is a stronger digital inclusion for vulnerable and older people in rural areas.

<< Objectives >>Based on the earlier successful Erasmus+ project Co-Creating Welfare we have identified new objectives for a new project:a) Co-create flexible tools based on Blended and action learning to improve international and inclusive co-creation. b) Co-create guidance on co-creating with a whole systems approach, including the strategic level.c) Co-create a co-creative evaluation model. The evaluation cannot be done in the same way as for traditional projects.<< Implementation >>In the project two iterations of the courses are tested in the respective partner countries in collaboration with wellbeing providers with the participation of 20 professionals per course. Partners are co-creating a new curriculum for the courses based on the objectives described above. The two iterations will help the partners to co-refine the curriculum from the first to the second test course. The project will be based on the pedagogical principles of blended learning and action learning.<< Results >>The project will develop the following results:-New co-creation tools based on blended and action learning-A basis for sharing knowledge and experience in a practical and easy way-An evaluation model for co-creative projects-Guidance on co-creating in a strategical and political environment In the long run the applicants claim that embedded the principles of co-creation within wellbeing services will make it much more efficient than today, but it demands a new way of thinking!

European education system is facing reinventing education. There is a new imperative to add innovation in education, based on using digital and online media combined with practical work to obtain skills. Another challenge for Europe is to reinvent the notion of industrial innovation by coupling the three components of the Knowledge Triangle: the HIGH EDUCATION as knowledge producer, the academic RESEARCH as creativity source, and BUSINESS, with its entrepreneurial spirit.The project KNOWinFOOD is offering a solution for these European challenges. In a new educational approach, students solve tasks given by industry by developing new sustainable foods based on traditional ones. The needed knowledge is systematised by the researcher. The acquiring and enriching of this knowledge by the students is facilitated by the trainers in training sessions. Their innovative skills are perfected in the practical trainings for product development. Positive attitudes relative to own development and future job are enhanced by the appreciation of the industry at the final product contest, which judges the products. This complex educational process was made possible through a collaborative environment developed during the project.

BACKGROUND & CHALLENGESMachine Learning (ML) – a subset of Artificial Intelligence behind a series of important technological breakthroughs (automated translation systems, medical image analysis, virtual assistants) – is profoundly transforming “traditional” business models & processes across sectors, by optimising the processing of massive data volumes and automating core tasks. The fast-paced expansion of ML uses, especially in data-driven industries (financial services, health care, retail), is rapidly pushing forward the demand for skilled ICT workers in the EU. Whereas the demand for ML skills is steadily growing, employers are facing a shortfall of suitable candidates, which is leaving thousands of positions unfilled (an estimated 769,000), threatening productivity, efficiency & future growth.Besides this rapidly increasing demand, the prevalent mismatch can also be attributed to formal education and training providers’ slow and fragmented responsiveness to new workplace developments, especially when those are cutting-edge. The strengthening of both initial and continuous VET provision in the field is therefore essential so that the European ICT workforce can acquire and develop the mix of ML technical (data modelling, software engineering), non-technical (governance, business management) and meta (sense of initiative and entrepreneurship) skills required to deliver and support the uptake of tailor-made ML enabled solutions in the market.OBJECTIVESThe project forms a Strategic Partnership to strengthen the key digital competences in VET provision for ICT workers, and address existing occupational skills needs & mismatches. MACHINA goals are to: 1. Design a joint VET curriculum in ML, to empower ICT workers with sought-after technical, non-technical, meta (soft) skills.2. Introduce flexible training delivery methods and innovative open-access pedagogical resources to support VET provision and ML skills acquisition. 3. Foster the recognition and integration of ML skills requirements into sectoral competence frameworks & certification schemes.4. Improve ML labour market & skills intelligence at the EU level.PARTNERSHIPThe consortium comprises 5 organisations (and 6 associated partners such as Volkswagen Group) with high capacity/qualifications from 5 countries (FR, DE, GR, IT, RO), representing the worlds of VET, Policy Making, Research, Learning Innovation. UCBL, L3S are at the forefront of ML related research & technological development, being also pioneers in the design/delivery of ICT courses on data science and intelligent systems. ACADEMY, as a school specialised in ML and AI, brings expertise in the design/delivery of VET courses, covering the entire spectrum of ML technical, non-technical skills. ANC, as a National Coordination Point for the European Qualification Framework, contributes systemic knowledge & regulatory insights regarding qualifications, skills. EXELIA is an expert in R&D and the delivery of innovative ICT-based learning methodologies.ACTIVITIES-Extended labour market and skills intelligence gathering activities, leading to the development of ML learning outcomes-Development of the structure of a joint VET curriculum on ML-Creation of corresponding pedagogical materials to be offered as Open Education Resources-Development, testing, delivery of Vocational Open Online Course (VOOC) infrastructures on ML, promoting the uptake of innovative and flexible practices in VET-Creation of a blueprint (specs) for the establishment of an EU-wide ML qualification for ICT workers-Involvement of key policy makers & stakeholders for the social recognition of MACHINA learning outcomes as well for supporting the integration of ML skills into sectoral competence frameworks & occupational standards-Sharing of outputs with multiplier events, inviting target groups to uptake MACHINA results and to act as further multipliersRESULTS -Learning outcomes for training provision in ML for ICT workers-Learning units (curriculum structure), trainers’ toolkit and VET integration guidelines-Open Educational Resources for ML in 6 languages, including VOOC infrastructures & content-The outline of an EU-wide VET qualification in ML for ICT workers, to be eventually recognised, embedded into national certification schemes-A blueprint with recommendations for the integration of ML skills requirements into sectoral competence frameworks (e-CF) & classification systems (ESCO)-5 national information days to promote project results and set an open discussion on increasing the quality and effectiveness of VETPOST-PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY-Uptake of project materials & OERs from relevant E&T providers across the EU-Participation of a growing number of initial and continuous VET learners in courses based on or integrating project outputs-Expansion of the strategic partnership towards an EU ML skills network of collaborating VET providers, sector representatives, social partners, ICT companies.