MakeMyFuture - Improving Digital Competences for Advanced Manufacturing Industries through Maker Education

<< Background >>The COVID-19 crisis has disproportionately affected certain segments of the workforce, with young people facing heightened risks of unemployment and poverty.Prior to the pandemic, youth unemployment in the EU stood at 14.9%, but surged to 17% in July 2020, resulting in an additional 64,000 young people without jobs. By early 2021, the number of unemployed young people reached 2.967 million, pushing the youth unemployment rate to 17.2%.These figures underscore the pressing need to enhance the transition from education to employment for young individuals and provide them with the necessary skills for secure sectors and occupations. While Industry 4.0 technologies are deemed critical for the future of the economy by the European Union, there remains a dearth of adequate educational programs that impart the digital skills essential for leveraging these technologies. This deficiency not only impedes youth employment prospects but also stifles innovation and obstructs digital transformation efforts.<< Objectives >>The growing Maker movement can help students acquire advanced digital skills necessary for Industry 4.0. Maker activities use the same technologies as advanced manufacturing industries, and European Fab Labs can be used as laboratories to develop study programs focused on these digital skills. The project aims to assist teachers in vocational schools in integrating Maker movement-based activities to teach advanced digital skills to students, in line with Industry 4.0 transformations. The goal is to enhance the employability of students and create links with advanced manufacturing companies. The main target group of the project is VET teachers and educators, along with all individuals involved in students' transition from school to work in the vocational sector. Vocational school students are the final beneficiaries of the project. The partnership involves 8 partners from 5 different countries: Italy, Germany, Malta, Spain, and Poland.<< Implementation >>The partnership has undertaken the following activities: 1. Competence Framework: List of Competence Profiles for Industry 4.0 defined via questionnaires and interviews, and tested by 68 VET teachers. 2. Modules: Maker-based training paths based on the identified competence profiles, and subsequently tested by 78 VET teachers and 107 VET students. 3. MOOC: Online training course designed to equip VET teachers and educators with competence to create innovative maker-based modules aligned with Industry 4.0, tested by 58 IFP teachers.4. Staff Training Mobility: a five-day training course addressed to two VET teachers per partner organization.5. Three transnational meetings involving project staff and local stakeholders. 6. Dissemination activities are carried out through each partner's networks to promote the project's results. 7. Multiplier Events: Involvement of VET teachers and students to promote maker education and enhance awareness of school-to-work transition processes among interested stakeholders.<< Results >>The project provides resources and guidelines to VET teachers and schools to effectively integrate Maker education into teaching, thus adapting learning to the needs of the modern digital industry. Tangible results include:- MakeMyFuture Competence Framework: the framework provides various competency profiles required in Industry 4.0, linking advanced digital skills acquired by students through Maker education to the real needs of the industry.- MakeMyFuture Modules: The modules provide Maker-based training paths for VET students aiming to support the achievement of advanced digital competences in line with the Profiles identified in the MakeMyFuture Competence Framework.- MakeMyFuture MOOC: An online course for VET teachers and trainers to help them implement Maker-based educational modules with students, enhancing their skills in using Maker technologies and integrating them into lessons.- Staff Training Mobility: A training course for VET teachers focused on the development of advanced digital skills, in line with the demands of Industry 4.0 and implementing Maker education.