Leonardo da Vinci GEARS Project
This project worked to improve the competitiveness of the mechanical engineering sector in France, Italy, Sweden and the UK. The emphasis was on ensuring that senior / owner managers in engineering SMEs were supported in developing strategic plans for their own companies. It also influenced the creation of modified vocational training systems by developing and demonstrating successful methodologies for the delivery, support (using industry mentors) and e-accreditation of informal learning in the workplace.
This was a multi-partner pan-European project that aimed to tackle skill shortages in the engineering sector that were identified both in EU research and specifically in research carried out in Yorkshire and the Humber, supported by the Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward.
It built on existing human resource capacity in SMEs by increasing the strategic skills of the owner managers, managing directors. It achieved this by promoting learner-centred (and business-centred approaches) through the use, not only of an electronic tool, but more importantly by the recognition of informal learning and the creation of a supported virtual learning community within the sector and the target groups.
Objectives and activities:Development of Quality Assured Methodologies for e-learning and e-mentoring.
Adaptation and implementation of a well-established pan-EU virtual platform to provide support to engineering managers.
Development and implementation of on-line accreditation to demonstrate competencies achieved simply by using the Blueprint.
Collection of Case Studies for illustration as part of the tool and for dissemination.
Development of Strategy Blueprint for use in France, Italy and Sweden
Dissemination was on-going throughout the duration of the project. This enabled potential users to understand how to become involved in the project, to see the business benefits of participation and how to access material, support, new methodologies etc.
Coordinated by MRS Consultancy, who successfully launched the Strategy Blueprint programme in the UK, the project partners included:
EEF Sheffield Association, UK
MyKnowledgeMap Ltd, UK
The European Institute for E-Learning, France, who has contacts and support from both the Université de Technologie de Compiègne and Union des Industries Métallurgiques et Minières.
Università Politecnia della Marche, Ancona, Italy who has links with Federmeccanica, the equivalent organisation to EEF based in Rome and Ordine Degli Ingegneri of the Ancona province.
The Swedish TelePedagogic Knowledge Centre (STPKC) who has a market covering not only Sweden but also Eastern and Western Europe. Established since 1993 it has become a facilitator of cross-European Networks and virtual communities. It's engineering links include VI Svergies Verkstandindustrier.
Progress report
The project has developed an e-mentoring platform using open source software. This is available in three languages, French, English and Italian. The platform is accessible here.
The project is now complete. The final report can be obtained from roy.smith@mrsconsultancy.com
