Background
To realise the ambitious growth targets set by each fabrication country in Europe will require a flexible and mobile workforce with the skills and knowledge to implement the new fabrication and assembly methods, and technologies deployed by the leading multinational fabrication and supplying companies. This growth in fabrication must be achieved efficiently, alongside high standards of Health, Environment and Safety regulations, the mitigation of environmental impact and new ICT skills. This necessitates an upgrading of workforce skills and qualifications through the deployment of more innovative and accessible work-based learning systems that can fully motivate and support staff development and the attainment of nationally recognised qualifications that are respected by industry.
How to organize meetings with industry actors at regional and national level?
In the ecosystem for for SMEs innovation should the VET provider invites companies to a ‘kick off ’ meeting to discuss how they can support innovation and entrepreneurship processes within SMEs and take on this regional responsibility. The industry attendees should have mandates to take decisions and engage. The VET provider will arrange follow up meetings and other activities with individual companies subsequently on a selective basis, in order to better understanding innovation needs and identifying essential input factors. Thus, individuals commit time to participate in an event where they feel an immediate and positive benefit, which become amplified by group activities like wortld cafe, brainstorming processes and SME "kick-off" meetings. Businesses meet a lot of individuals in a very short time. A student may participate in 20 dates within 90 minutes.
It is a need to create a new venue that is applying moderrn learning technologies, to combine theory with pactice in new ways. This includes applying active learning methods that combine cases, modern teaching tools and interactive learning services that highlight, demonstrate and initiate discussions among the students. Establishing new partnerships between VET schools and industry will help improving and streamliniing delivery of VET. The VET schools should become the initiators for organizing a common meeting arena towards the industry in order to better support VET demand needs.
Video: CE marking for CPR, developed by Enterprise and Industry, European Commission (2014)
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