"Level adjustment in vocational training in Europe - training and apprenticeships in metal technology This project has one big aim: reach a high level in european vocational education in metal (CNC/CAM, CAD and Designtechnic 4.0). Therefore the partners create a test, an common vocational-education-guide with all tools which are nescessary for this further training in metal. This additional education will be used similar than other European tools (Europass, Youthpass, ECVET, NQR, EQR). Our key issues for this innovative project: • exchange of knowledge and information on vocational education systems in Europe • evaluation, comparison of curricula and development and testing of similarities in the metal forming (CNC / CAM, CAD design and technology 4.0) are in the foreground • improvement and promotion of digital vocational edcuation skills 4.0 • development of a ""European professional training guide"" with qualification standards such as ""Europe licenses"" as certificates, ECVET, Youth Pass, etc. • the involvement of trainers, companies from the Industrial units, and the involvement of many students directly and indirectly provide a high international high standard of this project. • set up of a linguistical competence in metal, which helps the students in international work in future Project duration: 24 months Proposed Project Start: September 2018 Five involved vocational schools: Fachberufsschule Wolfsberg (AT) Projektleitung; Industrijsko-obrtnicka skola (HR); New College Lanarkshire (UK); Hamar Katedralskole (NO); Staatliche Berufsschule Wiesau (DE). This partnership represents a sustainable mix of Europe- North - South, East - West. The collaboration of all schools in the same education make the project a very special showcase. With excellent connections in the run-up to the schools are well connected to each other and are working on various projects individually with each other. The balance of the regions within Europe was particularly noted as well as the student involvement. Specific interventions and pedagogical models the teaching but also adapted for people with special needs for talent. Increasingly, there is in Europe to heterogeneous classrooms - intercultural as well as the physical and mental performance. Just CNC technology and the associated operation of production machines in thousands of industrial companies throughout Europe represents a great field of activity. The project schools take this into account in the project and unify the actions referred to training in areas where it will be possible. The certification is to a large part of the program, as well as the accessibility and dissemination of results. This is a measure to counteract the area of youth unemployment in Europe - these young people in which additional qualified persons wanted in the field of metal technology, far beyond their own borders. The sustainability of European education network www.ecomedia-europe.net with the EU Reference: 225916-CP-1-2005-1-AT-COMENIUS-C3 ensured. By further joint projects and student internships sustainability should be guaranteed."

"In majority of the countries today there are various programs for seniors created with the purpose of ensuring them enjoyable and active aging. However, most of them have in common the fact that they were created by people outside this age group. No matter the fact that their quality was never questionable, they just weren't accepted to the degree that was expected. The consequence being that a pretty large number of seniors is socially excluded, which became more than obvious during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Partners in the ""Inactivity is not an option“ project believe that greater activity, intergenerational cooperation and social inclusion of seniors can only be stimulated by programs created with them being involved. Here one has to bear in mind that today's seniors belong to the so called ""Baby Boom"" generation and they have certain issues with key competences (EU, 2018) that prevent them from getting included and being active. For those reasons, this project is ruled by following objectives:- create and promote an innovative lifelong education system directed at seniors individuals as a framework for instigation of their activity;- develop quality innovative tools as an enticement to start creating programs for seniors, both individuals and groups (guidelines, programs, guides, ...);- contribute to proper understanding of the EU value system and possibility of senior activism;- promote the Erasmus+ program that makes provision for networking and brings along a transnational component as well as new notions and values for seniors;- encourage the volunteering system based on the axes senior educator – senior volunteer – user creator;- merge experience with energy through intergenerational cooperation for the well-being of individuals and society as a whole and encourage networking of high school volunteers in these activities.In order to meet the said objectives, this project offers four intellectual outputs:- O1: Guidelines for development of senior competences- O2: Development of the L – N – A system for seniors (L - Learn, N – Network, A – Act) in the form of a Guide through the system- O3: Curriculum for the training of trainers/teachers, seniors-educators and seniors volunteers in form of a program- O4: How to get results? In form of a Collection.Major target groups are seniors, teachers and trainers belonging to institutions for adult education and gerontology institutions and high school volunteer groups. Alongside them, target groups are also institutions for adult education in general, public institutions dealing with seniors, various volunteer groups and retirement associations.According to our predictions, 358 people belonging to partner organisations, associated partners and target groups will directly be involved through project activities.The activities they will be involved in are: five transnational project meetings (50), 5 pilot programs (50), 3 staff trainings (30), creation of four intellectual outputs (20) and 5 multiplier events (208).The expected impact of the project from its implementation, the results and after its completion is update of knowledge, encouraging of activity, social inclusion, intergenerational cooperation and adoption of European values with older generations.One of the most important assignments of the GER-APP project is creating connections with the future in order to ensure the sustainability of project results. As already explained, the GER-APP project is considered to be a significant step for encouragement of change:- in the way teachers and educators think when it comes down to the area of lifelong education of seniors - among seniors regarding the need for lifelong education, being active and getting involved, social inclusion, intergenerational cooperation and European values.With the purpose of maintaining the main results of the GER-APP project, two new work groups will be created among partners and associated partners that will continuously be monitoring exploitation of project results in both above mentioned segments. The work groups will monitor the exploitation of project results at least 2 years after project completion. Their activities during that period will be posted on project web page and Facebook and LinkedIn pages."

Shortage of welders at European and world labor market, perception of welding as a “dirty” job that negatively influences young people when choosing their future profession and lack of uniformity of welder competence depending on the country of origin for one and the same welding process were foundations and starting points for this project. The main goal of the project is improvement of educational system for welders. This is relevant for several reasons: 1. We need to design educational programs that will harmonize international qualifications with national ones, that will be applicable in different educational systems and whose results will be alignment of acquired competences for one and the same level of education. 2. We need to modernize the educational system in a program, methodological and technological way and thus bring it closer to people in need of education.3. Competences obtained in such a way will make provision for direct inclusion of completed welders into the production process, and lifelong system of education will contribute to qualitative and quantitative improvement in their level of knowledge and quality of life.Specific project objectives are: 1. Development of European framework curricula for MMA, MIG, MAG, FCAW, MCAW and TIG welding processes with supporting teaching media.2. Development of welding networking site,3. Development of new methodology for welder training with introduction of Virtual Welding Training Systems (VWTS) into welder training. Partner consortium consisting of European welding federation (EWF) and national welding associations (CESOL, IIS Progress), vocational school (IOŠ), welding company (KMK) and institution for education of adults (Učilište ULJANIK) is completely competent to create the above mentioned intellectual outputs. SVS – Swiss welding association, National center for external evaluation of education from Croatia and Croatian Welding Society joined the consortium during project implementation, strengthened it with their competences and added new value to project results. The applied methodology of the project was, because of its international importance, step by step to project results. All work packages in the project are broken into following sequence: initiation - specification of demands through analysis and synthesis; planning and designing; implementation; control and integration; validation through testing and correction of mistakes, project results, dissemination.All partners have fully contributed to project results. It needs to be emphasized that this contribution greatly exceeds the volume of activities set in the proposal.Project results are:1. Framework European curricula for 6 welding processes and two levels of qualifications. Partners created 18 framework European vocational curricula for EQF qualification levels 2 and 3. In accordance with the applied methodology, along with curricula that are the basic intellectual output partners also developed occupational standards and qualification standards for above mentioned profiles. As an added value to the project we introduced external evaluation of welder education, which represents an innovative approach to evaluation of welder education. Halfway through project implementation, a new methodology of curricula writing was adopted that was promoted by EWF with the help of CEDEFOP. Consortium designed curricula according to this new methodology as well, so future users have the possibility of choosing the concept which suits them best.2. The online platform for welders enables networking of welders of all levels and profiles. Added values are parts self-learning and self-assessment that help welders to learn and assess their knowledge in an interactive way.3. New methodology in welder education is adjusted to modern technology and is applicable in the long run in lifelong education of welders by introduction of VWTS. Project results will have a significant impact on raising the quality of welding, popularizing the welding profession, making sure that companies and state institutions become aware of the importance of welders and on helping young people choose welding as their future occupation. Welders of all profiles will be given an asset in the form of a welding networking site to help them with education, upskilling and keeping up with the latest developments.The Online platform www.weldchance.com will be set up on the EWF server, which will strengthen the impact of project results and their sustainability at European level, bearing in mind that EWF covers a wide area and has international impact with their network of members.

Developing information and communication technologies (ICT) and people’s digital competences are key drivers of innovation, knowledge, growth and successful career. Tukums Evening and Distance Learning Secondary School has been using Moodle platform for e-learning for six years starting from a very simple activities and tests and being one of the first schools in Latvia starting using Moodle.There are no more schools in Tukums region, which use e-learning platforms for teaching and learning purposes so we need to learn from European schools which have gained some experience in this field.Our partnerschools are from Sweden, Romania, Croatia, Greece and Portugal representing general primary and secondary education, vocational and special needs education They all have their own bigger or smaller experience of using ICT possibilities and using e-Learning tools and platforms at schools. They have already analysed the situation and have made all the possible improvements during several years using their local and national potential. We all need to cooperate in international level as we are experienced in our regions and have already shared the experience locally.The key outcome of this project is the increase of the level of digital competence of students and teachers used in effective, confident and critical way.The project will focus on sharing experience on using e-learning and finding new possibilities to improve digital competences of students and teachers.The objectives of the project are:1.Developing digital competences of students and teachers focusing on the useful use of ICT for the teaching and learning.2.Sharing experience on creating interactive and motivating study materials and lesson plans and using e-learning platforms and tools for creating e-content.3.Preparing students for better exploitation of ICT potencial and useful learning.4.Preparing teachers for effective and motivating use of ICT in the classroom and e-learning platforms.5. Assisting educational institutions to implement innovative practices related to e-learning platform supporting the needs of all learners.Participants of the project: teachers, students (mainstream, special needs, vocational, including young people with fewer opportunities), school authorities, other schools and authorities responsible for education.Results of the project:The guidebook for teachers on using websites, interactive materials and tools.Collection of lesson plans using interactive materials, digital competences in basic subjects.Competition for students testing their ICT skills and general knowledge in core subjects.Materials students have created (web magazines, videos etc.) at each partnerschool.Etwinning Twin Space and school websites where all the results will be published and disseminated.Articles for newspapers or internet media to disseminate the results of the project.E-learning platforms at schools.High level digital competences of teachers and students necessary for their studies and career.Improved e-learning system and learning platforms at schools.Knowledge and experience gained in the field of e-learning.Increased competence in foreign languages.During the first year the real situation in the field of students and teachers digital skills will be surveyed and the conclusions and recommendations will be worked out in general and for each partnerschool. Local activities and two Joint Staff Trainings will focus on developing teachers digital skills and implementing the gained competences into the schools regular teaching process.During the second year attention will be paid to improving students’ digital competences and using them for better study purposes and job opportunities. During Short Term Exchange students will work into international teams to make the best of their ICT skills. During Joint Staff Training teachers will share experience on e-learning platforms and digital tools.When the project ends all the participating schools-will have shared their experience and good practices on using e-learning at their schools focusing on the best practices they have developed to serve the needs of their students. -will have learnt how to make an effective and motivating study materials adapted to the individual needs of every student.-will have implemented innovative practices related to e-learning platform supporting the needs of all the learners.-will have prepared their students for better exploitation of ICT potencial and useful learning-will use the project as a resource in long-term development of the school.-will have benefitted from cooperation in European level.The long term effects of this project: education created opportunities for an individual to attain a higher standard of living, better job, higher satisfaction with life and career, and higher level of inclusion in social development thanks to meaningful use of digital competences.

"The European Welding Federation has developed an international harmonised system for education, training and qualification in the field of welding technology. It was a pioneer organisation developing the first harmonized system embracing all the European countries for the qualification of personnel for a wide range of levels both in welding, related technologies and inspection. In recent years, EWF and its members have been working on the update of its education system by designing new qualifications and revising existing ones to align them with the learning outcomes approach. This is already an enormous step in the modernisation of the EWF Qualification and Training System, but as it was being done, it was noticed that there is an insufficient awareness among the educational staff of new pedagogical approaches and methodologies that can be used in the system for a better learning, as well as the possibility to embed key competences development in EWF Training System, thus promoting a better prepared workforce.The objectives of this project are to:- Promote an uptake of an active learning approach by the EWF Education System and technical training in general- Promote the use of alternative pedagogical approaches by technical trainers and teachers, e.g. using digital resources, problem-based learning and other innovative approaches- Challenge educators from the STEM field to embed in their own educational resources the development of key competences in trainees- Foster an entrepreneurial spirit in European citizens, able to research, select, analyze, organise and present information- Improve the provision of Higher VET, increasing the attractiveness and relevance of VET- Promote an assessment framework that will help trainers and teachers deal with the challenge of evaluating the different types of lessons proposed in the WELDONE ToT curriculumTo achieve these objectives, this project entails five Intellectual Outputs:O1: ToT curriculumCurriculum for a train of trainers course that enables trainers and teachers to deliver technical training in a WELDONE way - using alternative pedagogical approaches and embedding key competences development in technical subjects’ trainings.This curriculum can include the following Competence Units (CU):CU1 - Multiple intelligences and learning stylesCU2 - Learner centered didactics: Problem based learning, Critical thinking and Collaborative learning.CU3 - GamificationCU4- Digital competence and using digital resourcesCU5- New media didactics: the use of social media, micro-learningCU6- Personal, social and learning competence CU7 - Entrepreneurship competenceO2: Conceptual HandbookPublication in both hardcopy ISBN and eBook format with innovative essays on the suggested methodologies and targeted key competences for promoting them in welding and related technologies - and STEM in general - training delivery; good practices; the reasoning behind the application of these alternative approaches in technical training; case studies; why embedding key competences development in technical training is a must; training notes on how to use the material in the welding and related technologies VET.O3: How to get WELDONEToolkit meant to be a ""ready-to-use"" resource to facilitate the implementation of the curriculum using a workshop model. It will not also include pedagogical resources, but also practical resources focusing on the development of the specific key competences that we propose to embed in technical training.O4: Assessment methods A set of formative and summative assessment methods will be presented: Paper Quizzes, Product-Oriented Projects, Process-Oriented Projects, Interviews, Writing, Art and Ditching the Numbers.O5: Pedagogical guideline for EWF Training SystemPolicy recommendation to promote a change in the pedagogical approach used in EWF Training System.All partners of this consortium will be involved in all outputs development except for O5, in which only EWF members and the project coordinator will be involved.202 people will be directly involved in the project activities:C1 event - Learning outcomes approach: 14 educational staff members from partner organisationsC2 event - Alternative pedagogical approaches: 14 trainers from partner organisationsC3 event - Assessment methods and tools: 14 trainers from partner organisationsNational outreach seminars and Final multiplier event: 124 stakeholdersThe main target group of this project is educational staff from the EWF network, but it is also extended to technical trainers in general.All project Outputs will be available in En, Croatian, Portuguese, Romanian, Hungarian and Greek, except for O5, which will only be available in EN due to its international character."