vet

Technical Progress Meeting

by EventsNews

The New Metro technical progress meeting was held on the 26th of July, 2021, via the GoToMeeting web platform.

The meeting was inaugurated by Leonardo Quattrocchi with a warm welcome. Later on, the partners proceeded to the core discussion. The subjects that were being discussed during the meeting are summarized as follows:

  • Regarding the Intellectual Output 5:
    • a description of each of the 2 Pilot sites for each of the five countries involved in the experimentation,
    • the status of development of respective learning material,
    • the IO5 questionnaire replies.
  • The current status of the project and the possibility for asking request for an extension.
  • Regarding the Intelligent Output 4:
    • a delivery plan for missing learning material and training uploading on the NEW METRO platform.
  • Regarding the general quality issues:
    • criteria for the NEW METRO Sustainability and Exploitation Plan.
  • Dissemination issues.
  • Arrangement of the Next Transnational Project Meeting on November 2021.

The meeting concluded with mutual wishes for happy summer holidays.

vet, mechatronics

A new VET system to increase the employability in Georgia

by News
vet, mechatronics

There is a severe skills imbalance between the vocational education system and its labour market needs in Georgia. To address this problem, the government is working with its development partners to prioritize reforms and modernization of VET education.

Strengthening Teacher Quality in Vocational Education and Training is an innovative and tailor-made project supported by the Good Governance Fund run by the British Embassy in Georgia, which will support industry-led skills for VET graduates and strengthen professional development quality for VET teachers.

The project is based on three pillars:

  1. Presentation of a comprehensive teacher management and development system
  2. Strengthen the training offer for the capacity development of VET teachers and principals
  3. Promote data-driven decision making

The project also provides incentives to attract and retain professionals from the private sector and industries in the role of professors.

By partnering with industries and businesses interested in project implementation, Georgia’s VET system now streamlines professional development and talent acquisition procedures. This is done by introducing teachers who will provide theoretical and practical instruction, integrate and share modern skills and practices with students, and apply relevant industry experience and practical skills in the workplace.

Another milestone of the model is introducing new positions for professional and by-invitation teachers who are already in the system and aspire to advance their careers. As a result, a comprehensive talent acquisition system and people management model will facilitate the advancement of programs while strengthening continuing professional development and mentoring practices.

The project is being implemented in close cooperation with the Georgia Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports.

Source: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/georgia/brief/agile-vet-education-for-increased-employability-in-georgia

 

mechatronics, eqf

An app for NEETs

by News
mechatronics, eqf

The Vodafone Italia Foundation launches LV8 (Level8), a new app to involve young people who do not study and do not work, the so-called Neet (Not in Education, Employment or Training), in digital training courses.

LV8 is a “learning game” that allows to acquire basic digital knowledge and some applications through a video game experience.

Divided into eight levels of increasing difficulty, LV8 provides for the release of 3 Open Badges that aim to enrich the curriculum vitae of the student gamer.

The realization of LV8 was possible thanks to the direct involvement – in three different pilot editions – of about 400 girls and boys from Northern (Turin) and Southern Italy (Catania, Cagliari), called to express their opinion on the definition of the concept and to test the game.

The skills that can be “certified” with the game include use of Google and its Google Workspace applications, Canva to create graphics and posts, SEO basics, Social Media Strategy basics, Google Sheets, introduction to CMS, introduction to HTML coding, and more as defined within DigComp 2.1, the European reference framework for digital skills.

At the end of the game, self-assessment tests are proposed to give young people the opportunity to understand their potentials, such as those offered by Vodafone Future Job Finder, which opens up to young people an access door to new skills and job opportunities in the digital economy. Or from Knackapp, a platform that combines cognitive science, gaming and Artificial Intelligence to unlock the potential of young participants.

At the end of the course, it is also possible to access targeted free classes and other opportunities promoted by LV8 partners.

The LV8 app, available for free on the App Store and Google Play and on www.lv8.eu, was commented by the Vodafone Italia Foundation: “Early school leaving has affected Italy much more than the other European countries. Young people who leave their studies early risk finding themselves in economic and social hardship situations and often have difficulty finding work. LV8 is an accessible, concrete, practical and digital opportunity to get back into the game and grasp your future right away “.

 

Source:https://bit.ly/3wO7s4G

eqf, mechatronics

AI System Discovers New Material

by News
eqf, mechatronics

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm called Closed-Loop Autonomous System for Materials Exploration and Optimization (CAMEO) that discovered a potentially useful new material without requiring additional training from scientists. The AI system could help reduce the amount of trial-and-error time scientists spend in the lab, while maximizing productivity and efficiency in their research.

Finding new materials usually requires a large number of coordinated experiments and time-consuming theoretical research. Of course, this search is necessary in the field of materials science because scientists seek to discover new materials that can be used in specific applications, such as metals that are light but also strong or one that can withstand high stresses and temperatures for an engine.

Machine learning is a process in which computer programs can access data and process it themselves, automatically improving on their own instead of relying on repeated training. This is the basis for CAMEO, a self-learning AI that uses prediction and uncertainty to determine which experiment to try next.

Therefore this application will be valuable for this purpose and effective while reducing the cost of the laboratory which until now was increased. CAMEO can be used for many other materials applications. The code for CAMEO is open source and will be freely available for use by scientists and researchers.

Sources: https://www.techbriefs.com/component/content/article/tb/pub/techbriefs/software/39251

mechatronics, kets

A wave of new talent is on the way

by News
mechatronics, kets

Uncertainty about the future is a worry: recent polls indicate that many leaders show concern about inflation and a possible return of a pandemic. But COVID-19 will also bring potential “card reshuffle” opportunities to the workforce.

The question is, has the pandemic had a positive effect in creating a pool of “new” talent – potential employees with work experience looking for new career opportunities?

The pandemic has led many people to make drastic choices from a business point of view, out of necessity or due to force majeure. And this is especially true for women.

For example, in the United States, millions of women quit their jobs during the first two months of the pandemic. According to a study by McKinsey and Leanin.org, female workforce participation has dropped to its lowest level in 32 years. Most went away unwittingly to care for children at home from school or relatives who had contracted the virus. Others have been fired, many for reasons we will probably never know. Others took advantage of the pandemic to retire early to retire. These phenomena have been even more pronounced for women in the emerging economies of the world.

This means we can expect a surge of capable people, primarily women, looking for work in the coming months, just as the pandemic subsides. Many are ready to learn new jobs and new skills in an economy that needs such a transition. Those organizations willing and able to train new employees in large numbers will have an advantage in this kind of war for talent.

Leaders now need to consider whether their organizations are ready to welcome the wave of talent we know is coming.

Source: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/are-employers-ready-for-a-flood-of-new-talent-seeking-work

mechatronics, vets

The impact of robots on routine activities

by News
mechatronics, vets

Covid-19 has shown that automation is and will increasingly be an essential part of our work. Among the main drivers are efficiency, productivity, health protection and safety.

In a 2018 article, Graetz and Michaels pointed out that robots contribute to productivity growth across all sectors in high-income countries and that adopting robots does not reduce employment. On the contrary, they can have a positive impact on the employment rate.

Robots seem particularly well suited for performing routine manual tasks, such as sealing, assembling and handling tools. But, through the upskilling of resources, new scenarios and opportunities open up in management roles, supervision and planning of routine activities performed by man.

Furthermore, it is fair to point out that companies adopt robots if it is technically feasible and the profit gains exceed the costs of purchasing and installing the robots. Therefore, improvements in robot capabilities are expected to translate into a broader employment response in high-income countries, where wages are higher than in emerging countries. Indeed, robot adoption reduces the employment share of routine manual jobs in high-income countries but not in emerging markets and transition economies.

In addition, some research shows that robots reduce the demand for manufacturing operations around the world. Still, related technological advances in robotics and artificial intelligence could involve performing more remote service tasks. Nowadays, for many of us, “remote” refers to activities performed at home but at a distance from the office. However, remotely could also mean beyond national borders.

Robotics and co-bots engineering are therefore demanding increased skills and capabilities for their design, manufacturing, operation and maintenance. This is another factual confirmation of the need for a comprehensive and modern approach to mechatronics education, both for students as well as for employees who need to be re-skilled. And this is exactly what the New Metro Project partially funded by the EU intends to do.

 

Source: https://voxeu.org/article/robots-replace-routine-tasks-performed-workers

mechatronics, vet

Brexit and education: technical university colleges in England to bridge the technical gaps

by with No Comment News

Some countries, particularly those that have a long history of vocational education (such as the United Kingdom and the United States), have recently seen a rapid expansion of hybrid schools, providing general and vocational education. The UK government introduced the University Technical Colleges (UTCs) in 2010. These new state-funded institutions (targeting young people aged 14-18) were established to combine academic and vocational education in a new type of hybrid institution.

Denouncing the lack of skills in various technical occupations, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to “end the useless gap between the so-called academic variety and the so-called practical variety of education.” In a recently published research article, it was attempted to understand whether UTCs have successfully educated students and bridge the gap between academic and technical education. The cornerstone of these institutions is a teaching curriculum that combines core academic subjects with technical subjects that meet regional skill shortages (such as engineering, manufacturing, or digital technology). UTCs also benefit from the direct involvement of local universities and employers: industry experts help design and deliver project-based learning by trying to develop skills and attributes valued in the workplace.

The first UTC opened in 2010, with another 58 subsequently opened in England.

The Center for Economic Performance (CEPR) conducted a study on the impact these new academic institutions have had on students and their learning outcomes.

Read the full article to get every detail here:

https://voxeu.org/article/closing-gap-between-vocational-and-general-education

Source: https://voxeu.org/article/closing-gap-between-vocational-and-general-education

mechatronics, vet
mechatronics, vets, kets

The future of work is hybrid

by News
mechatronics, vets, kets

 It is legitimate to think that many companies will not return to the traditional office model in the post-pandemic world but will continue on the last years’ experience by implementing a hybrid model. This is to maintain the advantages of working in the presence and the advantages (to which we have become accustomed by now) of working at a distance.

“The rewards of remote work are truly remarkable. Employees have reported greater job satisfaction due to flexibility and have shown that they don’t waste time just because they are home. And they all quickly adapted to digital tools that enable remote work. But the hybrid workplace presents risks that need to be carefully managed. Chief among these risks is the power differential created when some employees work from home while others work face-to-face,” said Haas Mortensen, associate professor of organizational behavior at INSEAD.

There are pitfalls for both employees and managers.

For employees:

  • On-site employees can take advantage of all the resources available in the office, be it things or people. And employees who are in close proximity can network and collaborate more efficiently. Conversely, remote workers can have difficulty with personal and technical connections, making it difficult to prove their competence.
  • Another primary concern for hybrid workers is visibility. In some circles, out of sight means out of mind. If you have more access to resources and more visibility, this potentially makes you a more powerful and influential person in your team or workgroup.

 

For managers:

  • It is essential that they recognize that each employee will differ in terms of “hybrid competence” and will need extra support from the boss. A manager will need to understand what employees are facing.
  • Managers must also be vigilant about the visibility of workers. They shouldn’t rely on – or reward – only the employees who are with them in the office. They must ensure that they are available to both remote employees and those located together and must not lose track of the people or activities performed remotely.

Haas said he believes the hybrid workplace will be the standard for some time, but it doesn’t mean it will become permanent. Some companies will find great benefits in this, from reduced office expenses to flexible hiring. But other companies may decide that innovation, creativity and collaboration are best when everyone is together.

 

One of the main aims of the NewMetro Project is the experimentation of virtual and hybrid methodologies for learning and reskilling and this matches exactly with what will probably be the future of the workplace and of educational institutions.

 

Source: https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/are-you-ready-for-the-hybrid-workplace/

mechatronics, eqf

New fire-fighting robot aims for better working environment, safer efforts

by News
mechatronics, eqf

The Swedish Realisator Robotics, together with Scanfil and in close collaboration with the major Swedish rescue services for rescue services worldwide, has developed a fire-fighting robot Fumo.

This robot aims to improve the working environment of firefighters and ensure their safety. With multiple search and remote control support, Fumo will be a key tool in firefighting.. The fire-fighting robot consists of a ground module (the robot), a control console, and a base unit for image transfer. On the ground module, different applications can be easily mounted for different rescue operations.

Fumo can be used to put out fires, for example, in electric cars, search for people or dangerous objects in areas with very limited visibility, gas leak indication, pull fire hoses with water, and much more, all with the operator placed at a safe distance.

Sources: https://www.inceptivemind.com/realisator-robotics-fumo-fire-fighting-robot-safer-efforts/19554/

eqf, mechatronics

The importance of preparing for the new way of working

by News
eqf, mechatronics

COVID-19 highlighted discrepancies between employees’ current and future skills. According to a recent McKinsey report, the percentage of business leaders who prioritised skills development rose from 59% to 78% after covid. The ability to nurture talent is critical to long-term growth. he technological advances brought by industry 4.0 are transforming customer needs, business models and markets. For this, highly specialised skills are increasingly needed that many employees do not currently have.

Upskilling refers to improving skills or expanding skills within the same job. Reskilling means acquiring new skills for a different field of work. Both require strategic planning and agility, strengthening the role of training and continuous learning. Only through partnerships with academic institutions, government agencies and companies can workers be successfully retrained and redeployed.

It is also important to point out that training current employees rather than replacing them costs 20% less than external hiring and supports employee engagement and retention.

Forward-thinking organisations are preparing for transformation in three areas:

  • Assessing and predicting the skills needed.
  • Prioritising new technologies and processes required to be agile and future-ready.
  • Adapting to change through coaching, training and support.

 

An effective contributions to organisations, be them industries as well as educational institutions, will be provided by the outcome of the NewMetro Project.

 

Source: https://www.mhisolutionsmag.com/index.php/2021/03/26/preparing-for-the-future-of-work-in-supply-chain/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io