The Strategic Plan for the LCAMP Alliance is now available

LCAMP partners are pleased to have completed the first deliverable for WP2 – the LCAMP Alliance. The Strategic Plan sets out the premises, challenges, opportunities and vision for the LCAMP Alliance. The Alliance will be the permanent structure that ensures that LCAMP is not only a European project with a finite life. Rather, it will build on the concrete partnerships developed throughout the project by inviting VET centres, research centres, Universites of Applied sciences; Advanced Manufacturing Businesses and SMEs; Policymakers and International Organisations related to Advanced Manufacturing and VET to join a legal structure under Belgian law. 

The LCAMP Alliance will offer solutions to:

  • Underestimation of VET capacity
  • Diversity of European VET system
  • Lack of awareness of the role of VET in S3 strategies
  • Inflexibility of VET
  • Adaptation of VET to the Twin Transition
  • Lack of integration of soft skills into VET systems
  • Underdeveloped CoVEs connections

It will do this by proposing the continuation of LCAMP’s core services, ultimately integrated into the LCAMP platform.

You can read the strategic plan here. 

 

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ADMA TranS4Mer quality mark training for LCAMP partners

On the 28th of February 2023, LCAMP partners participated in a dedicated workshop organized by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), coordinator of the ADMA TranS4MErs project. The Quality Mark webinar has marked the final step in the training programme of more than twenty LCAMP colleagues to become certified TranS4MErs under the ADMA Methodology. This event has been a significant milestone in the LCAMP project Work Package on SME-VET connection, which is co-led by Associazione Fabbrica Intelligente Lombardia (AFIL) and Asociación Española de Fabricantes de Máquinas Herramienta (AFM).

ADMA TranS4MErs is a 3-year Horizon 2020 project running from October 2021 to September 2024, which aims to accelerate the transformation of manufacturing companies into “Factories of the Future” able to successfully approach green and digital challenges. By providing advanced skills and digital competencies, ADMA TranS4MErs’ objective is to help SMEs across the European Union improving their competitiveness, digitalisation and sustainability. The current initiative takes over from European ADvanced MAnufacturing Support Centre (ADMA), that was developed between 2018 and 2021, also with the contribution of AFIL as project partner.

LCAMP Work Package on SME-VET connection is fundamental with a view at bridging the gap between the needs of SMEs and the skills and expertise available in the VET sector. For this reason, since the drafting of the Erasmus project proposal, a strong synergy between LCAMP and ADMA TranS4MErs was envisaged. Then, the effective cooperation began in mid-2022, when ADMA TranS4MErs was already implementing its activities and LCAMP was about to start. With a view at knowing more about LCAMP and providing first-hand knowledge about ADMA TranS4MErs, IMR participated to LCAMP kick-off meeting, which was held in San Sebastián (Spain) at the beginning of September 2022.

Since then, the cooperation between the projects has continued and led to this precious learning opportunity for LCAMP partners. Participating in the ADMA TranS4MErs training has been a significant step forward for LCAMP-ers, as it provides them with valuable insights about the ADMA Methodology. LCAMP colleagues are now qualified to use this useful tool in their work with SMEs (also within the project activities), helping to identify areas for improvement and implementing effective solutions that can enhance their performance and competitiveness.

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LCAMP cooperating with engineering students

On February 1st, six engineering students from IMT Mines Albi presented, within the framework of the 1st edition of the Salon Ingé Innov, LCAMP: Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for CoVEs research on skills and trends on the Advanced Manufacturing sector that they have been carrying out since mid-September 2022 under the tutorship of Mecanic Vallée with the support of the CMQE INDUSTRIE DU FUTUR.

Advanced Manufacturing skills needed for the future and for the benefit of local SMEs

The six engineering students from IMT Mines Albi had to analyse the needs of SMEs in the advanced manufacturing sector, to define and to set up a technology watch system on the industry of the future to be prepared in conjunction with the interested parties. Companies in the first instance, but also training organisations, and learners, people in training (lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling etc.), trainers and teachers. Then, students were asked to plan a functional specifications and a market analysis/study to consider the marketing of such a project such a project on the market.

Their work started in mid-September 2022 and it was introduced to LCAMP partners during Toulouse’s second partners meeting organised by Mecanic Vallée in January 2023

Thanks to their researcher, students supported Mecanic Vallée to identify the skills and trends needed to complete the future LCAMP Skills Observatory, as defining the current skills trends and gaps within the sector is necessary.

About Salon Ingé Innov

The format of the fair was composed of 24 presentation stands to exchange with students and project leaders around prototypes, a pitch area to discover the entrepreneurship projects, and a presentation of research results in the form of posters. In the presence of innovation support organisations: ADEME, Pôle Eco-Conception, JIMA (Junior Enterprise IMT Mines Albi), BPIfrance…

LCAMP partnership would like to thank the students involved in this project:

  • Bescond Marie: Responsable Marketing
  • Bredel Jimmy: Responsable Design
  • Bouchez Emma: Coordinatrice du projet
  • Galzin Yann: Responsable Bibliographie
  • Maigret Manon: Responsable Transition écologique et sociale
  • Ramz Yassir: Responsable Financier

LCAMP project moves towards the first Advanced Manufacturing Platform in the second partners meeting in Toulouse

The Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for Centre of Vocational Excellence (CovEs) meeting took place on 17-18 January in Toulouse (France), hosted by Mécanic Vallé in cooperation with Campus des métiers et des qualifications d’excellence at the Maison de la Formation Jacqueline Auriol, a regional Training / Research / Innovation and Technology Transfer centre dedicated to aeronautics and aerospace. 

LCAMP partners met for the second time since the EU-funded project kicked off in 2022. The LCAMP project aims to support and empower regional Advanced Manufacturing for the Centre of Vocational Excellence to become more resilient, innovative and better equipped to train, upskill, and reskill young and adult students to successfully face the digital and green transitions. Furthermore, LCAMP supports regions to grow and be more competitive through their VET systems.

In Toulouse, LCAMP partners were welcomed by the French Director of the Academic Region for Initial and Continuing Vocational Training and Apprenticeship, Mr Nicolas Madiot, who stated that regional authorities would like LCAMP to become the European reference for VET and training centres in its ambitions and network of organisations. He encouraged LCAMP partners to keep working together on the development of the first Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for the Centre of Vocational Excellence, as, he said “alone we go faster, but together we go farther.”

Parallel workshops: a collaborative process

Following the inspiring words of Mr Madiot, the partners started their collaborative sessions. During  the two days, parallel workshops were organised to advance LCAMP activities to build the future platform.

On 17 January 2023, workshops were focused on the future Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Observatory (WP3, led by Mecanic Vallé), on the Open Innovation Community (WP4, led by TKNIKA) VET-SMEs Connection (WP7, led by AFM and co-lead AFIL – Associazione Fabbrica Intelligente Lombardia) and finally, on the content of the Learner Centric Training for AM (WP5, led by DHBW).

The Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Observatory aims to build on the best practices from existing Advanced Manufacturing platforms and observatories. The observatory will then filter and analyse relevant information, providing a high-value report to Vocational Education and Training stakeholders. Students from the Telco-Mines Schools Albi-Carmaux (France) presented their insights about how the future Observatory could look and match students’ expectations.

The Open Innovation Community (OIC) aims to promote applied research and development projects, mainly between CoVEs and SMEs. The first stage of creating the OIC is desk and field research that points to the importance of VET for technical innovation. Moreover, part of the work of the OIC will be considering how the Community could promote innovations in Advanced Manufacturing SMEs through the ADMA  model.

The Community will pave the way to improve the SMEs-VET Connection, which through LCAMP will be accelerated the delivery of advanced manufacturing for SMEs by linking digital transformation journeys with training delivery from VET Centres.

The first day was closed with brainstorming on how to define the qualifications, respective skills, and competencies needed for the digital transformation towards Industry 4.0 and 5.0. This Learner Centric Training will create a service on qualifications/training offers and Micro-credentials for Advanced Manufacturing, which will be added to the future LCAMP platform.

On 18 January 2023, partners turned the future Collaborative Learning Factory (WP6, led by VET Centre Miguel Altuna) and the “Platform” (WP8 led by KIC).

Partners contributed to the first steps to set up factory labs for advanced manufacturing training, through internationally connected Learning factories. They will build and connect real and virtual scenarios where they integrate Industry 4.0 and 5.0 enable technologies for training purposes.

The LCAMP final product will be the “Platform” which is devoted to providing a one-stop-shop service for accessing all services, data and information generated by the project. Both the OIC and Observatory will be integrated into the platform. During the workshop, partners started to jointly establish the data information (job descriptions, skills, competencies or courses) that will be present within the platform, to help to define the final user experience.

Aerospace Valley cluster

 In order to expand LCAMP collaboration to other sectors and EU Projects, partners had the opportunity to learn more about the work of the Aerospace Valley cluster. Maude Perier-Camby, European Project Manager, explained that their goals are to lead the network and support the members in innovation and in particular to guide partners in their digital transition, environmental transition and international development and competencies and skills. Both actions are related to LCAMP’s goals to support and empower regional Advanced Manufacturing VET-SME ecosystems to become better equipped to train and upskill students to face the twin transition.

Next face-to-face meeting

The next project meeting will be hosted by the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of National Education (Kocaeli, Turkey)  in June 2023.

Stay tuned

EARLALL, as the Dissemination and Communication Partner, invited all the partners and interested parties to follow LCAMP activities via its social media channels (Twitter and LinkedIn), website or by subscribing to the recently launched newsletter. In a near future, a leaflet and a promotional video will be available. Visit the media section!

Let’s talk with… Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus-Dieter Rupp (DHBW-Heidenheim Professor)

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Prof. Dr.-Ing Klaus-Dieter Rupp is a professor of industrial engineering since the year 2000 with a bachelor’s degree. Awarded the Baden-Württemberg German State Teaching Prize 2011. In addition, for 10 years he was a professor in the Integrated Engineering master’s program and scientific director at the Graduate School Ostwuerttemberg. With a focus on automation and robotics. He is heavily involved in Research Programs and the strategic development of our study programs.

New skills to support students

DHBW-Heidenheim is working to adapt the curricula to new competencies/skills/courses to support students meet the needs of the AM industry. In particular, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Klaus-Dieter Rupp believes they had to move away from teaching technical competence to imparting methodological competence and overarching competencies. In his opinion, Advanced Manufacturing needs to be experienced and not just taught. He explains that they need new forms of teaching that initially appear to be very complex. He stresses that this development can be spread over many shoulders in cooperation with the partners.

Students need some basic skills to install and manage software systems. You need the ability to cope with changing conditions and adapt to change. Analysing and evaluating systems to develop solutions for them. Specifically, we developed new modules: networked systems, data science, IoT, software engineering and the technology seminar.

Going one step further in the AM future curricula

DHBW-Heidenheim is one of the partners of the LCAMP project, therefore he considers that the LCAMP project can help Research Centres and Universities to describe the required capabilities for future applications. He refers for instance to the concept of the collaborative learning factory which is a platform for imparting future skills. “Connected to the network, which also allows us to expand internationalization, we have new opportunities for further development. In cooperation with the partners, a lively exchange can take place”, he explains.

LCAMP involvement

The EU projects help Research Centres and Universities such as DHBW-Heidenheim develop their maturity level in teaching current and future skills.

Through standardization, LCAMP will help reduce the effort involved in running sophisticated modules. We will achieve many outcomes for our international programs and help us meet the needs of the labour market. Last but not least, we can offer attractive study programs for our students.

Meet LCAMP partners

About “People in focus”

In this section, we put forward the human-centric approach to the LCAMP project. Through talks with industry representatives, learners, teachers & trainers, academics & researchers and public authorities – local, regional and European levels-, we will discuss the Advanced Manufacturing sector’s future from their perspectives.

Let’s talk with… Karlos Etxaniz Suinaga (Advanced Manufacturing Learner)

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Karlos Etxaniz Suinaga is an Advanced Manufacturing student at the VET Centre, Miguel Altuna (Bergara, Basque Country). He was unemployed while he was looking for a job he was informed about the sector alternatives. He found it very interesting and decided to join this new career path. 

Karlos’s main goal to join an Advanced Manufacturing course was to learn and understand the concepts related to Industry 4.0.

The Miguel Altuna VET Centre is offering the training that Karlos was looking for. The VET Centre offers academic programmes that are addressed to students to be employed in the AM-related Sectors. A wide range of technological offers is available at Miguel Altuna, updated to the current needs of the industry, with cutting-edge technology, including the integration of Cyber-Physical Systems, digitalized shop floors and labs, and other Industry 4.0 related pieces of equipment.

In the future Karlos sees himself:

In the future I would like to be able to apply the acquired skills, if I have a job that demands it. Therefore, I would like to be able to work in the industrial sector and thanks to this training I hope to get some opportunities. Moreover, in the next 5 years I see myself working in a company and helping it to move forward on this path towards Industry 4.0. “

Karlos considers that for VET Centres, such as Miguel Altuna, to participate in EU-funded partnership, such as LCAMP or other Centres of Vocational Excellence, is a gateway to stay connected to the latest developments in the industrial sector.

About “People in focus”

In this section, we put forward the human-centric approach to the LCAMP project. Through talks with industry representatives, learners, teachers & trainers, academics & researchers and public authorities – local, regional and European levels-, we will discuss the Advanced Manufacturing sector’s future from their perspectives.

UNESCO International Conference counts with the participation of LCAMP

On 25-26 October 2022, the International Conference: UNESCO strategy for TVET 2022-2029 took place in Bonn (Germany). In this framework, it was presented the new UNESCO strategy which sets out the path to recovery, resilience building & the reimagining of education and training. The conference gathered more than 100 participants from different countries in the world, including  LCAMP representative Iñigo Araiztegui.

During two full days, a distinguished set of speakers discussed several aspects related to the future of VET in the world from very different perspectives from the point of view of countries (all continents were represented), types of institutions (the whole so-called strategic triangle was present in the event), and fields of interest.

The UNESCO-UNEVOC strategy “presents UNESCO’s vision to transform TVET for successful and just transitions during the period 2022 to 2029, by promoting skills development for empowerment, productive employment and decent work, and facilitating the transition to more digital, green and inclusive economies and societies.”

Iñigo Araiztegui, TKNIKA’s Director of Internationalisation, Basque Country (Spain) was invited to present the LCAMP project at the session “Bridging Innovation and Learning in TVET (BILT) – Innovation and Learning Practices” on the second day. Araiztegui presented EXAM 4.0 and LCAMP Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVES) as best practices that can bridge innovation and learning in TVET. The EU-funded project, ExamHub 4.0, developed a pilot European platform of excellent advanced manufacturing VET centres, which today continues in the format of a new EU-funded Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE), LCAMP. This project is offering partners from different countries the opportunity to work together on how to adapt learning spaces and labs required by Industry 4.0 training. LCAMP goes one step ahead of ExamHUB 4.0, as it will design five activities (skills and jobs observatory, an open innovation community, a learner-centric training and a collaborative learning factory) all working towards the development of advanced manufacturing ecosystems with a human-centric approach. Furthermore, LCAMP will closely cooperate with SMEs and with other EU-funded projects working in the same field. On top of all of this, LCAMP will establish the first Learner-Centric Advanced Manufacturing Alliance.

About the UNESCO-UNEVOC

As UNESCO’s designated centre for technical and vocational education and training (TVET), UNESCO-UNEVOC supports Member States in their efforts to strengthen and upgrade their TVET systems. TVET is focused on the acquisition of knowledge and skills for the world of work and helps youth and adults develop the skills needed for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship while supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

UNESCO-UNEVOC promotes increased opportunities for productive work, sustainable livelihoods, personal empowerment and socio-economic development, especially for youth, women and the disadvantaged. Through its innovative projects, capacity-building programmes and collaborative activities with more than 220 UNEVOC Centres around the globe, UNESCO-UNEVOC is working towards ensuring access to quality skills training and development for all.

Read more

Background materials

  • Conference Materials (agenda, videos, presentations) are available here.
  • UNESCO strategy for TVET 2022-2029 is available here.
  • LCAMP´s presentation is available here.

ADMA TranS4MErs: webinar on how to become a service provider and join the network – 29 November

On 29 November, ADMA TranS4MErs is organising a live info session “Become a Service Provider and join our network“.

ADMA TranS4MErs was launched in October 2021 with the ambition to drive the transformation of European manufacturing SMEs into Factories of the Future embracing present ecological, digital, and societal challenges. Read more

About the webinar

Do you provide innovative services and tools for the digital transformation of manufacturing SMEs? Would you like to become part of the ADMA TranS4MErs pan-European network and connect with ambitious industry professionals in your region and across the EU?

Apply to join the programme, gain the ADMA TranS4MErs Quality Mark and showcase your services and tools in our go-to catalogue of transformation-related toolkits!

Join the live webinar led by Hanna Kim (IMP3ROVE) to learn more about the onboarding process and the business opportunities offered by the ADMA TranS4MErs project.

Click on the following link to register https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpcOuhqzMuG9ywQNL2SFLAqEj5nE9s-mPJ  

LCAMP presented during the EU Vocational Excellence Forum 2022

On 15-16 November, LCAMP: Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for CoVEs partners were invited to participate and present the project during the 2022 Vocational Excellence Forum which was jointly organised by the European Commission and the Basque government, with the support of the European Training Foundation (ETF), Cedefop and EACEA, as well as the Community of Practice on CoVEs in San Sebastian (Spain).   

The first edition of the 2022 Vocational Excellence Forum- Global Partnership for Vocational Skills gathered more than 260 participants (in-person and online) to discuss the latest developments in the European initiative on Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs).  The LCAMP project was represented by project partners Firat Arslan y Hasan Burçin Menteş de KPDoNE (Kocaeli Directorate of National Education), Noelia Cantero (EARLALL); Hervé Danton (Mecanic Valleé); Jasmina Poličnik (Knowledge Innovation Centre); Jan Bundschuh (DHBW); Liher Errasti  (Miguel Altuna); Susana Espilla, Iñigo Araiztegui y Unai Ziarsolo (Tknika) and Josu Riezu (AFM). 

The Forum was opened by representatives of the Basque Government, the Spanish Ministry of Education and the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. All the representatives stressed their commitment to CoVEs initiative and to advancing the importance of the Vocational Education and Training. 

Centre of Vocational Excellence 

During the panel ‘From Policy to Practice – Examples of Vocational Excellence’, Unai Ziarsolo, from the Basque VET Applied Research Centre, Tknika, International Project Manager, was invited to present LCAMP as a project that “seeks to become a European reference platform for knowledge, generation and exchange, collaboration, and service provision for VET/HVET centres and companies working in the Advanced Manufacturing sector.” Ziarsolo explained that the “Learner-Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs) (LCAMP) aims to become an international collaborative learning factory in the advanced manufacturing sector.” He added that “the project will create a network between VET/HVET centres and companies/company associations working in the Advanced Manufacturing sector, to reduce skills gaps in the industry and to transfer knowledge between VET centres and companies.” 

Ziarsolo emphasised the virtual international dimension of the collaboration, “as international mobility allows students to learn something different, network and collaborate on similar issues faced in different countries, without having to leave their homes.” 

Participants at the 2022 EU Vocational Excellence Forum selected LCAMP, as an ‘international collaborative learning factory’, to be the ‘best secret’ in the vocational excellence projects presented during the panel.  

Moreover, Ziarsolo discussed how LCAMP supports Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by promoting synergies with other EU initiatives, and by therefore sharing the knowledge gathered with the whole ecosystem involved in VET. 

Visits to Basque VET centres and Tknika 

Visit to TKNIKA

On the second day, participants had the opportunity to visit LCAMP partners: TKNIKA the Basque VET Applied Research Centre and Miguel Altuna LHII, VET Centre. 

In the visit to TKNIKA, the Centre which develops innovative projects in the areas of technology, education and management, participants learnt more about the last developments in the local Vocational Education and Training model, such as what they are doing in technological labs (robotics or Virtual Reality), in the bioscience field or in advanced metal manufacturing. 

 

Visit to Miguel Altuna Laurence Gates Sarah Elson-Rogers Chiara Riondino Jorge Arévalo Turrillas Rikar Lamadrid Rūta Gintaute-Marihina

In the visit to Miguel Altuna, participants explored the VET Centre academic programmes which is addressed to students to be employed in the Advanced Manufacturing-related sectors, with cutting-edge technology, including the integration of Cyber Physical Systems, digitalized shopfloors and labs, and other Industry 4.0 related pieces of equipment. 

 

Coming next 

The next edition of the Forum will take place in the Netherlands in the coming year, coinciding with the European Year of Skills.  LCAMP partners will then have the opportunity to present the first results of the project.  

More information

To keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the project, you can follow LCAMP on Twitter, LinkedIn, or via our newsletter. 

LCAMP: Learner-Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for Centre of Vocational Excellence (CovEs) launches its website

The LCAMP: Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing Platform for Centre of Vocational Excellence (CovEs) EU-Cofounded project is pleased to announce the launch of its website, after many months of hard work and dedication from our consortium partners.

The LCAMP project aims to support and empower regional Advanced Manufacturing for the Centre of Vocational Excellence to become more resilient, innovative and better equipped to train, upskill, and reskill young and adult students to successfully face the digital and green transitions. Furthermore, LCAMP supports regions to grow and be more competitive through their VET systems. The LCAMP consortium is composed of 20 full partners from 10 countries, of which 9 are educational organisations, 7 are industrial companies and 4 are VET and industrial associations. The consortium is also supported by 60 associated partners.

In this context, LCAMP’s website is a non-stop online access which will be linked to the future Advanced Manufacturing Excellence Discovery Platform. General audience, public authorities, VET Centres, individual learners, students and lifelong learning learners, SMEs, large companies and industry associations will find interesting articles on the future Advanced Manufacturing and LCAMP’s activities updates such as the launch of skills and jobs observatory, an open innovation community, a learner-centre training, a collaborative learning factory and opportunities to connect between SMEs and Vocational Education and Training sectors at the regional level. What’s more, through LCAMP’s website they will find all the necessary information on how to join the first Learner Centric Advanced Manufacturing CoVEs Alliance in the coming year.

Keep up to date on our latest workshops, seminars/webinars and Advanced Manufacturing excellence announcements in our news section. Furthermore, if you would like to receive news directly in your inbox, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter.

The website has been developed by EARLALL – European Association of Regional & Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning, as dissemination and communications project leader, and KIC (Knowledge Innovation Centre from Slovenia), in close collaboration with consortium partners.

For more information, visit https://lcamp.eu/