In the resolution of the call for aid for 2019 in the educational field of the Erasmus Plus Program, the project “VET STUDENTS İNTO TECHNOLOGY COMPANİES: A VET students mobility network in the technological sector through a virtual environment with specific materials for critical thinking” was granted by the Spanish National Agency-SEPIE.
BRIEF SUMMARY
European VET students are key to the development of new productive moldes in the EU. Now VET education has an important impact on the development of technical skills of students for médium and low salary Jobs. However, the current VET education system fails to exploit all of its capabilities because ir does not Foster the skills for scientific and critical thinking, neither the motivation to Access high-skilled Jobs in innovative environments.
For this reason, several research centers, technology-based companies and VET centers propose creating a Project that really promotes the development of technological and digital skills, along with critical thiking through direct cooperation between the technology sector and VET centers thorughout Europe. All this through and innovative system of practices in technological companies based on virtual tools, collaborative work methodologies and virtual training materials.
This Project continues and complements the “CRITICAL THINKING AS A STEP FORWARD IN VET EDUCATION” initiative, where curricular adaptations were generated for VET centers to promote the training of their students for their work in technological centers, at the same time, the research center adapts its work processes for the inclusión of these students.
In previous projects, we focused on technology centers and VET centers, allowing them to show VET students how to analyze and develop the skills to work in a technology center.
We now believe that we must focus on the students themselves, providing them with useful tools to perform work practices. To this end, we propose a virtual system to monitor work practices and the creation of high quality open educational resources for students who participate in any E+mobility, but especially for those who Will do so in the VET STUDENT MOBILITY NETWORK EXCELLENCE TECHNOLOGICAL CENTERS. This network Will be implemented along with this Project.
The project will involve four European countries and seven organizations: VET centers, universities, research centers and technology-based companies. Associated VET centers will select and send to the students, who will develop their internships in research centers or technology-based companies.
This Project Will last 24 months, and four transnational meetings for coordinating the material elaboration and project development.
EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIP
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RESULTS OF THE PROJECT
INTELLECTUAL OUTPUTS
O1. ON YOUR SIDE: ASISTENTE VIRTUAL PARA LAS MOVILIDADES EUROPEAS EN CENTROS TECNOLÓGICOS.
A digital educational software that accompany the VET student at risk of exclusion throughout the mobility process. This result allow the student to feel safe during their mobility, find resources that will help them when they have problems and feel that their teacher and tutor are with them, as well as maps of mobility destinations, the opportunities they offer, as well such as the culture of the region and linguistic tools. This wizard also allow them to implement collaborative work.
O2. PERSONALIZED DIGITAL COURSE FOR LABOR TRAINING IN A TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER.
The second intellectual result consist of an innovative virtual structured course specifically aimed at students developing specifically the competencies of the VET training curriculum related to the digital and technological field, as well as the skills that they will require in the job where perform mobility.
TANGIBLE RESULTS
R1. INTERNSHIPS PROGRAM IN TECH CENTERS.
R2. PROJECT WEBSITE
R3. ETWINNING PROJECT
*R4. R5. R6. THESE ARE INTANGIBLE AND STRUCTURAL RESULTS AND ARE INDICATED BELOW IN THE SECTION “INTAGIBLE AND STRUCTURAL RESULTS”.
R7. ECVET CREDIT SYSTEM. THE CREDIT TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR VET.
R8. GUIDE TO SUPPORT VET STUDENTS IN EUROPE
R9. LABORATORY NOTEBOOK
R10. CATALOGUE. HOSTING AND SENDING ENTITIES OF THE NETWORK
R11. MOBILITIES OF VET STUDENTS IN THE ERASMUS PLUS PROGRAM
R12. GLOSSARY FOR SOCIAL INCLUSION OF VET STUDENTS IN EUROPE
R13. MOBILITIES DOSSIER. WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
R14. GUIDE FOR VET STUDENTS IN VALENCIA
R15. GUIDE FOR VET STUDENTS IN BRAGA
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STRUCTURAL RESULTS
R4. STRENGTHENING OF AN INTERSECTORAL EUROPEAN WORK NETWORK.
R5. THE IMPROVEMENT OF NETWORKING PROCESSES OF BOTH THE TECHNOLOGICAL CENTERS AND THE VET CENTERS.
R6. THE TRAINING OF VET TEACHERS AND IMPROVEMENT OF WORK PRACTICES IN TECH CENTERS.
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LEARNING ACTIVITIES
In this project, 6 VET student mobilities have been carried out from 2 educational centers in Cartagena (SPAIN) and 1 educational center in Kato Achaia (GREECE).
The fundamental objective of the internship has been to develop in students the specific skills of the student in a work environment, promoting the VET student’s capacity for analysis and critical thinking during their internship in a company.
Throughout the three months of the mobilities, the students have had the opportunity to participate in technological innovation projects focused on the main areas of the technological company.
Thus, the students have been able to strengthen their employability, facilitate their transition to the labor market, as well as have the opportunity to have an emancipating experience that marks their professional, social and personal future.
The mobilities have had the modality of internships in companies. The main features have been:
- The VET students have carried out a defined working day in which they have had to make an effort and take responsibility for the tasks entrusted to them (always consistent with the degree to which they belong).
- VET students have enjoyed the work schedule established by the technology company.
- VET students have received a monthly salary according to the minimum interprofessional salary of the country of destination.
- VET students have been accommodated free of charge for the duration of the mobility.
- VET students have included in their mobility the costs of the first mobility trip to the workplace, as well as the last trip back to their country of origin.
- The VET students have had a tutor in the technology company who has monitored and guided them at work throughout the mobility.
- The VET students have had a tutor from IKASIA TECHNOLOGIES who has advised and supported them throughout the mobility.
- VET students have had access to free training (e-learning course, language training…).
Participation in these mobilities has allowed these 6 students to have the opportunity to:
- Participate in technological innovation projects.
- Develop functions and work processes specific to their VET studies.
- Learn new concepts.
- Learn to function at work in a technology company.
- Develop 6 of the 7 basic skills established by the European Union.
- Develop critical thinking.
- Live a unique emancipatory experience.
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TRANSNATIONAL MEETINGS
FIRST TRANSNATIONAL MEETING
Date: April 27, 2020
Place: Skype
Description:
The situation we meet in the whole world due to COVID19, has prevented us from holding the first transnational meeting in person due to the closure of borders.
However, we have carried out this meeting in a virtual way, as we consider it important to maintain fluid communication between all the project partners and to advance in the development of the materials and objectives of the project from the very beginning of the project.
In this interesting and productive first transnational meeting we had the opportunity to get to know each other, especially with those entities that had not collaborated in previous projects. Thanks to this meeting the contents and objectives of the intellectual results were discussed.
Likewise, the methods were defined to advance with the campaign of presentation and visibility of the project by each of the partners.
The participants of the meeting were the representatives of each of the partner entities, which facilitated decision-making on the topics discussed at the meeting.
SECOND TRANSNATIONAL MEETING
Date: September 10, 2020
Place: Skype
Description:
Due to the circumstances of the COVID19 pandemic, we continue to hold transnational meetings virtually. We believe that it is very important to continue holding these meetings, even if we do not have the opportunity to hold them in person.
In this meeting we focus on the intellectual results O1. ON YOUR SIDE and O2. PERSONALIZED DIGITAL COURSE. We also discussed an overview of the project and assigned pending tasks.
Members of the project’s partner entities have participated in this meeting, allowing us to advance according to the planned schedule and hold a meeting with fluid communication.
THIRD TRANSNATIONAL MEETING
Date: July 15th, 2021
Place: Valencia (Spain)
Description:
On July 15th we held the third transnational meeting of the E+ Project at Ikasia Technologies facilities, in Valencia (Spain).
After evaluating the current situation of the Project, in this meeting we have focused on the progress of the intellectual output O1 “ON YOUR SIDE” and the intellectual ouput O2 “PERSONALIZED DIGITAL COURSE”, as well as the tangible results carried out.
In addition, in order to monitor the Project, we have analyzed the planned Schedule.
In this meeting have participated 9 partners from the Project entities, which has allowed us to advance in the development of the ouputs, as well as the to compy with the planned Schedule
FOURTH TRANSNATIONAL MEETING
Date: February 11th, 2022
Place: Braga (Portugal)
Description:
On 02.11.2022 we held the FOURTH TRANSNATIONAL MEETING of the E+ project “VET STUDENTS INTO TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES” in Braga at the Somatica, Materials & Solutions facilities.
At this meeting, which was attended by the heads of the partner entities, we had the opportunity to present the final design of the intellectual results of the project. In addition, we take the opportunity to visit the facilities where the students are going to carry out the mobility, as well as to get to know the projects in which they are going to participate and the people with whom they are going to work.
FIFTH TRANSNATIONAL MEETING
Date: 16th May, 2022
Place: Valencia (Spain)
Description:
The fifth and last transnational meeting of the Erasmus Plus project “VET STUDENTS INTO TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES” has taken place in Valencia, at the Ikasia Technologies facilities.
At this meeting, which was attended by those responsible for achieving the results of the partner entities, we focused on the dissemination phase, specifying the activities and the multiplier event that we will carry out throughout the phase. In addition, this meeting allowed us to evaluate the implementation phase.
On the other hand, the participants in the meeting had the opportunity to learn about the experience and the work being carried out by the four students of 1st epalgematiko lykeio kato achaias who are doing the mobilities at Ikasia Technologies. This not only allowed us to evaluate the effectiveness of the mobilities themselves, but also the quality of the results that the students themselves have been able to test throughout these months.
MULTIPLIER EVENTS
E1 – MONCADA
On May 27, 2022, Ikasia Technologies held the first multiplier event of the Erasmus Plus project “VET STUDENTS INTO TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES” at the IES ENRIQUE TIERNO GALVÁN educational center in Moncada (Valencia).
The multiplier event allowed us to present the results to students and teachers who are direct recipients of the results and can take advantage of and implement them. It was a great opportunity to spread the project, but especially the results achieved within the framework of the Erasmus Plus project.
E2 – VALENCIA
On June 9, 2022, Ikasia Technologies held the second multiplier event of the Erasmus Plus project «VET STUDENTS INTO TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES» at the Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (CBIT) of the Universitat Politècnica de València, a research center leader with extensive experience in hosting internships for students at educational levels from vocational training to PhD. Its team includes internationally renowned researchers, teachers and numerous laboratory technicians.
This multiplier event allowed us to disseminate the intellectual results to those responsible for research centers, department heads and laboratory technicians who can make use of the results and implement them.
In addition, the students who are doing the mobilities at the Ikasia Technologies facilities participated in the event presenting the work they have done during the mobilities, as well as their experience using the intellectual result O1 «On your side».
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PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION CONGRESSES
EDULEARN21
On July 5 and 6, 2021, we participated in EDULEARN21 to present the Erasmus Plus project “VET STUDENTS INTO TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES” to more than 700 education experts from more than 70 countries.
EDULEARN21, the 13th Annual International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies is one of the largest international conferences on education for teachers, researchers, technologists and professionals in the education sector. It is a meeting place where education experts from around the world come together to present their projects and share knowledge on innovative learning methodologies.
The main objective of EDULEARN is to promote and disseminate experiences and innovations in Education and Research in all educational areas and disciplines.
EDULEARN21 focused on education and educational research methodologies and experiences, as well as new learning technologies. The thematic areas addressed include COVID19: Distance Learning in Times of Crisis, Experiences in Education, Curriculum Design, Pedagogical Innovations in Education, Career Development and Training, Experiences in Educational Research, Projects and Collaboration Networks, Impact of Education on the Development, 21st Century Skills, e-Learning, Computer Assisted Collaboration, Emerging Technologies in Education, Serious Educational Software and Games, E-Content Management and Development.
In addition, EDULEARN is an ideal platform for the creation of international strategic networks. It provided many different networking activities where participants shared and discussed different educational perspectives, including teaching and learning in times of COVID-19.
The Evaluation Committee was made up of members from many different countries and from all continents, who did a thorough job of selecting articles for publication. Specifically, the following points were evaluated: content of the information, general structure, relevance, originality, relationship with the themes of the congress and disciplines. The language of publication was exclusively English.
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ICERI2021
On November 7 and 8, 2021 we participated in ICERI2021 is the 14th annual International Conference on Education, Research and Innovation for researchers, technologists and education professionals to present their innovations and projects on education and technology to present the Erasmus Plus project “VET STUDENTS INTO TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES”. Participation in this congress is a great opportunity to share the progress of the project’s results, as it brings together more than 700 experts in education from more than 70 countries.
ICERI is an annual congress in which professors, researchers, technologists and experts from the education sector meet to present their projects and innovative learning methodologies.
The scope of ICERI2021 included the following topics: COVID19 Distance Learning, Educational Practice Trends in Primary and Secondary Education, Best Practices in Higher Education and Postgraduate Education, Teacher Training and Support, Curriculum Design, Pedagogical Innovations, Flipped Learning, Collaborative and Problematic based on learning, creativity and design thinking, inclusive learning, cultural diversity and special education, professional development and training, experiences in educational research, research management, international projects, assessment and evaluation, university/industry experiences, e-learning, m-learning, massive open online courses (MOOC), social and digital media, educational/serious games and software, digital libraries and repositories, e-portfolios.
In addition, ICERI2021 was a great opportunity for strategic networking, as activities were held where participants could interact with other delegates for future cooperation.
The articles selected to participate in this congress were subjected to a very detailed evaluation, in which a committee of international experts evaluated the content of the information, general structure, clarity, relevance, originality, relationship with the themes and disciplines of the congress.