Smart Made Precision Technology an EU-EFRO grant programme

Timeframe

2017 - 2022

Role

- Program Researcher and Intervention Specialist (2018-2019)
- Project leader (2019-2021)
- Acting commissioned chairperson (2021-2022)
- Consultant for the establishment of the Precision Technology Expertise Centre (ECP)

Objective

The aim of the Smartly Made project (SLim Gemaakt) was to increase the labour potential and reduce the labour market mismatch in Rotterdam South by developing and implementing new, tailor-made vocational courses in the metal and manufacturing industry. It also worked to establish the Precision Technology Expertise Centre (ECP) as a regional Satellite Lab for flexible vocational education.

Tasks and Responsibilities

- Conducting a comprehensive analysis of stakeholders' wants, needs, ambitions, obstacles and present issues (2018-2019).
- Conduct analysis interviews with all stakeholders.
- Drafting and presenting a proposal for improving the approach and cooperation within the project (July 2019).
- Managing the project as project leader from 2019 onwards, including advising on alignment between training facilities and curricula.
- Supervise the implementation of on-sight skillslabs within participating companies.
- Advise on flexibilisation of vocational education outside regular training locations (mid-2020).
- Collaborate with the ECPZH programme manager to establish the regional Satelite Lab and use the Slim Made project as a start-up initiative.
- Advising on establishing the Precision Technology Expertise Centre (ECP) in Schiedam for flexible vocational education.
- Acting as a commissioned (2021-2022) chairperson to manage the administrative and financial aspects of the project.
- Apply for extension from Kansen voor West (European Subsidy Programme) to align the work packages and deliverables with the intended sustainability challenge.
- Advise partners in their final discussions with Kansen voor West programme management and the steering committee after project delivery on 31 December 2022.

Core Values in Practice

- Providing fair opportunities to young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods so that they could gain a full place in society.
- Initiating necessary interventions and addressing complex collaborative issues.
- Ongoing dialogue and cooperation between different stakeholders, including young people, businesses and educational institutions.
- Transparent communication and managing expectations.
- Participating companies and partners put their reputation on the line to contribute to the success of the project.
- Strong focus on a realistic involvement of all partners during the project duration.
- Encouraging responsibility among young people for their own learning and career development.

Impact and Results

- Restoration of cooperation between businesses and educational institutions.
- Successful implementation of skill labs within participating companies.
- Improved alignment between training facilities and student flows.
- Training of 145 young people and retrainers, 44 of whom received a job guarantee.
- Creation of 21 new jobs per year by the participating companies at the end of the project.
- Establishment of the Precision Technology Expertise Centre (ECP) in Schiedam, a regional Satellite Lab for flexible vocational education, where students can engage in lifelong learning, training, retraining and qualification through CRAFT Education.
- Extension of the project until 31 December 2022 to align work packages and performance with the sustainability challenge.
- Investment in modern apprenticeships and the latest hardware and software such as CNC turning machines, 3D CAD software, and robotic arm measuring machines.
- Training and retraining of dozens of in-house employees at participating companies.

Learning moments

- Partners learned the value of intensive cooperation and interdependencies between education and business.
- Participants developed important technical skills and professional competences.
- New training models and learning methods were successfully implemented in ECPZH and can serve as examples for future projects.
- Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alternative methods of recruitment and education were developed, such as online meetings and digital promotion campaigns.
- Students and staff learned to rotate between different companies, leading to broader industry knowledge and increased job mobility.

Skills developed by participants

- Research and analysis
- Project management within European EFRO subsidiced programme
- Stakeholder management
- Intervention and risk management
- Innovation in vocational education outside regular vocational education
- Cooperation between education and business
- Advice and implementation of flexible forms of education
- Governance and financial accountability

References

Precision Technology Expertise Centre (ECPZH)
Press and video publications about the project.