Microcredentials And Guidance on Industry 4.0 Competencies

<< Background >>A microcredential is a qualification evidencing learning outcomes acquired through a short, transparently-assessed course or module. They are an inclusive form of learning allowing the targeted acquisition of skills and competences.The flexible nature of these qualifications allows learning opportunities to be opened up to citizens, including those in full-time employment. They can be particularly useful for people who want to build on their knowledge without completing a full education programme, upskill or reskill to meet labour market needs or to develop professionally after starting work.European fast-changing society and labour market require more targeted acquisition of skills and competences. Microcredentials are considered a key tool for the adaptation of new challenges. The recognition of specialized skills, highly requested by companies, is the most important factor for job placement.In this context MAGIC project has been created to realize a real and international experimentation of the microcredential model as a key element for employability. The project has been a valuable opportunity to field test the feasibility and sustainability of the methodological framework so strongly desired by the European Commission<< Objectives >>The main aim of the project was to make operational a system for issuing microcredentials to certify the acquisition of skills and competences in Industry 4.0. During the realization of the project, a set of microcredentials in Italy and Portugal has been made operational and data has been collected and analysed on the user experience.The project identified most in demand skills on Industry 4.0 and provided the opportunity to test innovative approaches to assess and validate skills based on microcredentials technologies. The main objectives of the project have been the following ones:-To research on industry 4.0 skills needs:research on most in demand skills in Industry 4.0: map of existing training provisions on Industry 4.0, and identification of main gaps with regards to emerging skills needs,development of modules and learning objects to be integrated in existing training offer;-To create a tool to manage microcredential issuing process (Micoo platform), which was used to issue 3 microcredentials in Italy and 3 microcredentials in Portugal;-To validate the tool for the release of microcredentials in Industry 4.0 by means of a pilot and test phase on issued microcredentials which involved users from Italy and Portugal.<< Implementation >>Activities are reported below and for each of these the sub-activities carried out are briefly detailed:A1 - Administration: project management and monitoring activityA2 - Kick-off: realization of kick-off meeting in Turin, cornerstones and project plan definitionA3 - Training Research & Development: research activity aimed at mapping the most needed skills related to key technologies in the area of Industry 4.0 by means of repositories analysis, surveys and interviews. A4 - Microcredentials on Industry 4.0: development of a microcredential issuing system, that has been used to realize 3 configured microcredentials in Italy and 3 microcredentials in Portugal focusing on the research results on Industry 4.0A5 - Pilot and finalization: test user and assessors identification, basic training and instructions for users on Micoo platform. In the following phase, microcredentials were tested in Italy and Portugal by using Micoo platformA6 - Interim and final evaluation: data collection and analysis in order to improve and validate the system, realization of final meeting in LisbonA7 - Dissemination: design of project website and leaflets, realization and managing of social media account (Facebook, Instagram), dissemination events<< Results >>The main concrete results of the MAGIC project are the following ones:- map of most in demand skills in Industry 4.0- map of existing training provisions on Industry 4.0, and identification of main gaps - development of learning objects to match selected gaps in training provisions, - development, test and improvement of a microcredential issuing platform and system (Micoo platform)- training on Micoo platform for Microcredentials Designers and Assessors- design of a set of 3 microcredentials in Italy and 3 microcredentials in Portugal focused on emerging skill needs on Industry 4.0, focusing on automation in the industrial sector through the use of CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) machines, Augmented and Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence. In particular, AI was found to be of predominant importance in relation to the results obtained by the research phase and in line with industrial needs- implementation of pilot and test activities on microcredentials- pilot results analysis based on a feedback questionnaire administration to users on General usability and User experience, portability, recommendations and improvement proposal- creation of a public microcredentials catalog on Micoo platform