<< Background >>Work-based learning and apprenticeships are at the core of VET. European Commission published a report on the 20 guiding principles of high-performance apprenticeships and work-based learning. Systematic cooperation between VET schools and companies was one of the identified principles to ensure high performing apprenticeships and work-based learning. Some years before, Business Europe presented 12 main recommendations on how to improve quality and image of apprenticeships on three levels; the European Union, the Member States and employers’ organisations through cooperation. Latest Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) outlines the European Commission’s vision for high-quality, inclusive and accessible digital education in Europe for the purpose to learn from the COVID-19 crisis and to make education and training systems fit for the digital age. When we put these developments in the context of VET offer, we may observe that wide impact of crises in manufacturing posed by COVID 19 have accelerated transition to Industry 4.0 even much faster. Certain parts of the production process will be outsourced or digitalized and even more of the process will be controlled from central control rooms than on the plant floor. Thus VET should not only follow up digitalisation in the industry but has to boost further developments.Project partners from Germany, Spain, Poland, Greece and Bulgaria which represents VET centres and Association of Companies in metal and electro sector have agreed that many dimensions of the VET-Industry cooperation should be improved in order not just to respond to the demand of the sectors but also to generate change, particularly the change related to transition to Industry 4.0. which has been accelerated even faster during COVID19 pandemic. This cooperation has been seen through a) VET process b) level of cooperation.<< Objectives >>Our project seeks to active following specific objectives: a) VET process: Adapting vocational education and training to labour market needs through skills assessment demand framework which will support the project to develop European training module according to demand of SMEs in metal and electro sector occupations. b) Level of cooperation: Improving collaboration between VET teachers and company trainers/ mentors in their use of digital tools in teaching, having in mind their complementary roles and responsibilities in performance of apprenticeships and work-based learning.<< Implementation >>a) VET: Adapting vocational education and training to labour market needs Cooperation of metal and electro industry with vocational training centres in order to overcome skills shortages through:1. Development of company survey (or skills assessment tool) which is consisted of: - background information on the company- selection of a particular occupational profiles -metal and electro sector;- series of occupation-specific tasks and emergence of any new tasks- questions on major changes and innovations introduced in the organisation and their impact on the selected occupational group and selected job profiles2. Development of European training module based on survey results. - Training module will take the form of the European training module which reflects Industry 4.0. aspects of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence, robotics and automation and process digitalisation and software automation. - Training module will be structured around TOPIC (particular competency); b) SHORT CONTENT, GOALS, OBJECTIVES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, THEORETICAL INPUTS and EXERCISES (in companies).- Training module should be design in a way that each VET centre can introduce it in the core curricula for the metal and electro sector qualifications.b) Level of cooperation: Cooperation of teachers from vocational schools and companies in order to improve quality of teaching (use of digital applications in vocational schools - open source platforms, augmentative reality, internet of things etc.) 3. Blended training programme for VET Teachers and Work-place Trainers -for sharing information and knowledge on digital technologies (online learning and OER, simulation (augmented, mixed and virtual reality and digital assessment tools and credentials)- main aspect of the training is to elaborate how pedagogical innovations and digital learning technologies might be better used in VET. 4. digital JODAlab - updating and sharing educational apps applied in class or during the apprenticeship - each partner upload up-to date elaboration of use of digital tools in VET, ongoing or future projects which deals with development of digital tools for VET and sole digital tools staff will further communicate with VET teachers and workplace trainers in order to inform them about newly created platform and a way how they can make contribution and use the benefits from the JODAlab. - platform will be open to all users at their first visit. - in order to enter the JODAlab platform teachers will have to contribute to the platformOTHER ACTIVITIES:In order to support achieving the key outputs (company survey, training module, blended training and JODAlab), additional activities will be implemented: - Development of NETWORK of at least 150 companies (with focus on SMEs) in manufacturing industry from 5 EU countries – metal and electro sectors in order to participate in survey - Producing TWO DOCUMENTED ANALYSES on skills demand in occupational profiles of metal and electro sector based on survey results in order to summarise intelligible survey results - Organisation of EUROPEAN CONFERENCE - VET-Industry cooperation and introducing training module into curricula for the metal sector qualifications - challenges and perspectives, in order to train multipliers to understand and introduce Training Module in regional VET curriculums - Organization of National workshops in each partner country for VET practitioners in order to replicate European conference to a wider audience - VET practitioners and company mentors<< Results >>RESULT 1: We expect that, by the end of 2022, minimum 30 companies per country (150 in total) from metal and electro sector are involved in process of updating information about skills demand as “occupation task screening”. It means that through developed frameworks i.e.FactCheck skills assessment tool and network of companies, VET centres will have information which will be used in order to make an intervention more effective and efficient. The key success factor appears to be the presence of a committed companies that have the capacity to identify its skills needs and engage in cooperation with educational institutions to have them matched in curricula. However, such capacity is often a function of firm size and therefore it is unlikely that small companies can be expected to be able to initiate this kind of cooperation. Thus in this project we will provide framework for SMEs to imitate and participate in these activities.RESULT 2: We expect that, by the end of 2023, VET centres will have all relevant information to adapt their curriculum according to European Training Module. In order to support this projects, FactCheck project will develop training programme/module based on the survey results. This training programme will be example of good practice for all centres to refresh their modules and programmes. Training programme will take the form of the European training module constituted of identical European learning outcomes in the field of given occupations (focusing on use of innovative software, machines and digital tools used in metal and electro sector). The programme should meet the demands of industry with the VET system in targeted partners’ countries.RESULT 3: We expect that cooperation among teachers and trainers from participating countries will be improved. This cooperation will be possible through work at JODAlab and Blended training programme for VET teachers and Workplace trainers. We expect that minimum 100 teachers and workplace trainers will participate in these activities. Following outputs will be produced within the FACTCHECK project: • NETWORK of at least 150 companies (with focus on SMEs) in manufacturing industry – metal and electro sectors • SKILLS ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT for industry (SMEs). This instrument will be used by companies to update information on skills demand and by VET Centres in order to adapt curriculums according to needs of the companies• TWO DOCUMENTED ANALYSES on skills demand in occupational profiles of metal and electro sector based on survey results • EUROPEAN TRAINING MODULE developed according to task-occupational screening for selected occupational profiles developed• EUROPEAN CONFERENCE - VET-Industry cooperation and introducing training module into curricula for the metal sector qualifications - challenges and perspectives • Digital JODALab developed. Digital laboratory will be developed for active use of VET teachers and Workplace trainers in order to share information and knowledge on digital software and open source platforms and update information on new developed modules in the sector for specific occupational profiles • BLANDEDE TRAINING COURSE for VET teachers and Workplace trainers on use of ICT tools and methods in training courses and workplace training and• National workshops organized is each partner country for companies and VET centres