Finspång, Sweden – 15 May 2025 – Nearly 200 educators, innovators, and industry leaders from across Europe, the United States, and Canada gathered in Sweden from 13–15 May for the LCAMP 2025 Conference: Networking Camp, a landmark event dedicated to the advancement of vocational education and training (VET) in advanced manufacturing.
Organised by LCAMP – Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs), and hosted by the project partner Curt Nicolin Gymnasiet, this three-day conference united VET teachers, centre managers, and policymakers to explore transformative educational practices, strengthen international partnerships, and tackle the future challenges of workforce development in the era of Industry 4.0.
The conference featured a lineup of keynote speakers, including representatives from Siemens Energy (Sweden), the Erasmus+ National Agency, and Rold Academy (Italy). These thought leaders addressed the evolving relationship between education and industry, highlighting how collaboration is essential to meeting the growing demand for highly skilled professionals in the energy and manufacturing sectors.
A Platform for Innovation and Collaboration
Held in the industrial hub of Finspång, the event opened with remarks from Mats Annerfeldt, Chairman of the Municipal Council, and Anders Södergren, Director of Curt Nicolin Gymnasiet. They were joined by Thomas Wiktorsson of Siemens Energy, Daniela de Lucia of Rold Academy and Ellen Gosdoum from the Swedish Erasmus+ National Agency, emphasising the importance of regional and European cooperation in modernising technical education.
Throughout the event, participants engaged in:
- Interactive workshops and hands-on training sessions focused on integrating cutting-edge technologies into the classroom.
- Panel discussions and working groups on emerging themes, including generational diversity in the workforce, job evolution, and the role of Learning Factories in education.
- Industry site visits to Siemens Energy, and KL Industri AB, offered attendees a firsthand look at innovative industrial practices and technologies in action.
In his keynote, Thomas Wiktorsson emphasized Siemens Energy’s active role in shaping the future workforce by fostering meaningful connections with schools and training centres. He detailed the company’s investments in educational programs across Sweden and its strategic alignment with climate goals through talent development. Siemens Energy, employing over 3,900 people in Sweden, sees vocational training as key to achieving its goal of climate neutrality by 2030.
Speakers such as Daniela De Lucia from Rold Academy stressed the need for adaptable training programs that reflect the expectations of both younger and older generations. Rold’s training model, which has already delivered over 8,500 hours of instruction to students and employees since 2021, served as an example of how SMES can lead in lifelong learning and talent development.
In her video message, Ellen Gosdoum from the Swedish Erasmus+ National Agency, emphasised that skills will be the currency of the future, underlining the urgent need to equip individuals with the right competences to thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market. She invited participants to actively engage in dialogue and knowledge exchange with Swedish stakeholders, highlighting the valuable opportunities offered through Erasmus+ mobility and cooperation projects. These initiatives, she noted, provide a powerful platform to foster innovation, share best practices, and build strong cross-border partnerships that drive skills development forward.
Spotlight on Learning Factories and the Collaborative Learning Factory (CLF)
One of the central themes of the conference, introduced by Unai Ziarsolo (Scientific Coordinator of LCAMP, MIGUEL ALTUNA LHII), was the practical implementation of Learning Factories—dynamic environments where students gain real-world experience using advanced manufacturing technologies. The Collaborative Learning Factory (CLF) initiative, set to launch in September 2026, was presented as a future-forward model for interdisciplinary, challenge-based education across EQF levels 4–5.
The CLF promotes collaboration between students in design, mechatronics, and automation, while aligning curricula with real industry needs. This approach not only enriches the student experience but ensures VET institutions stay agile in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
The conference also featured Learning Factory Labs from several international partners, showcasing diverse strategies to embed Industry 4.0 into VET training, including: CMQ (France), SANTURTZI LHII, ARMERIA LHII, and TOLOSALDEA LHII (Basque Country), GETKIM VET (Türkiye), DHBW (Germany), MADE (Italy) and CAMOSUN (Canada).
These labs exemplify how interdisciplinary, hands-on education prepares students for dynamic industrial environments.
LCAMP Activities: From Tools to Community Engagement
A dedicated session on LCAMP Activities aimed to integrate participants into the project’s ongoing initiatives and offer hands-on understanding of tools developed throughout the platform’s journey. Key presentations included:
- SME-VET Connection – Pili Alonso (Director, TKNIKA)
- LCAMP Skill Finder – Diana Miceli (Senior Researcher, KIC)
- Learning Factories Self-Assessment Tool – Unai Ziarsolo (CIFP Miguel Altuna LHII)
- Joint Activities: Mobilities – Arvid Carlsson (Curt Nicolin Gymnasiet) & Rikar Lamadrid (CIFP Zornotza LHII)
These tools are designed to support educators, policymakers, and institutions in improving the relevance and quality of advanced manufacturing education across Europe. Noelia Cantero (EARLALL’s Director) invited the participants to be part of the future of LCAMP by joining the LCAMP Alliance, as cooperation is key.
Empowering Educators Through Workshops and Tools
The conference featured six practical and forward-looking workshops, offering tools and strategies for educators and institutional leaders:
- Training in Learning Factories
- Mobility Projects for Students and Teachers
- GLOW – A coaching initiative for women in VET
- Siemens Energy Project – Insights on industry–VET collaboration
- Career Horizons – Motivating youth towards technical education
- Digital Twins and VET/SME Connections
These workshops provided an opportunity to exchange best practices, develop new collaborations, and gain new pedagogical insights aligned with the future of vocational training.
The LCAMP 2025 Conference facilitated valuable exchanges on how to shape resilient, inclusive, and future-proof education systems.
Experiencing Innovation on the Ground
On the second day, participants had the opportunity to step beyond the conference halls and into the heart of Finspång’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Site visits included Siemens Energy, a global leader in energy technology committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating the energy transition. Attendees gained insights into how the company leverages innovation to make energy more reliable, affordable, and sustainable.
The group also visited KL Industri AB, a prominent local provider of high-quality solutions for power distribution. Known for its expertise in manufacturing metal and concrete substations, transformers, and switchgear, KL Industri offered participants a real-world view of industrial reliability and innovation in action.
Another stop on the tour was the Visualisation Center, a one-of-a-kind facility blending interactive experiences with cutting-edge research.
On the third day, the focus shifted toward research and academic excellence, with a visit to Linköping University’s Department of Management and Engineering (IEI). There, participants explored groundbreaking work in electron beam-based 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing. T
Looking Ahead
As the project coordinator, Iñigo Araiztegui Arraiz remarked, this is not the end, but the beginning of the LCAMP journey—and it’s only through our collective efforts that it will continue to grow.
The LCAMP 2025 Conference was not just about sharing knowledge — it was about building a movement. Attendees were invited to become part of the LCAMP Alliance, a growing community committed to learner-centric innovation in advanced manufacturing education. Interested organisations can join by contacting info@lcamp.eu.
CONFERENCE MATERIALS
Presentations
- Anders Södergren, Director of Curt Nicolin Gymnasiet
- Thomas Wiktorsson, Vice President, Siemens Energy
- Daniela De Lucia, Elettrotecnica Rold Srl – Rold Academy, Italy
- Learning factories in partner institutions
- LCAMP Activities
Photo gallery
