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Pilot Project No. LT/01/B/F/PP-137 011
OPTIMISATION OF VET PROGRAMMES FOR EMPLOYABILITY ENHANCEMENT
The need for the optimisation of VET programmes is the result of
the changing demands of the labour market, internationalisation of companies and
technological innovations. The existing structures of VET programmes and
vocations have become too rigid, which creates obstacles for employability. The
project focuses on the mechanics sector, which has lost its popularity and
experiences problems of unemployment.
The aim of the project is to optimise the group of automechanics
sector occupations and to develop a new curriculum meeting the challenges of
technological innovations and the labour market. The aim of the project would be
achieved by meeting the following objectives:
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analysis of qualification needs in auto-mechanics sector;
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analysis of the VET programmes in the selected pilot school
in the partners’ countries;
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development of handbook on methodology for optimisation of
VET programmes.
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development of a modular curriculum meeting the requirements
of auto-mechanic sector;
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testing of two modules of the new curriculum;
The project for the optimisation of VET programmes is directly
related to VET schools and young people in initial vocational training, and
employers, particularly from small and medium sized companies.
The project will result in two products:
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a new curriculum for auto-mechanics; a tutor’s book for
two modules of this curriculum would be published;
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a handbook on methodology for the optimisation of VET
programmes, which could be further on used for the optimisation of other
sectors.
The contractor and co-ordinator of the project will be the
Lithuanian organisation – Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts
(LT). The project management and monitoring will be the task for the co-ordinator
and the Management group composed of representatives of the partners’
organisations.
The project will be carried out by six organisations: all the
partners of the project have the necessary experience in project management and
are competent institutions in VET. University of Bremen and their local partner
– University of Flensburg (D), and Vytautas Magnus University have good
experience in research and analysis of VET system, development of VET programmes,
and standards. Tampere College (FIN) and Marijampole VET Centre (LT) have
programmes in mechanics and will be very important in the process of
optimisation. Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts will be
responsible for the identification of qualification needs in mechanic sector.
The project will last for two years and its mission as well as
outcomes will be disseminated among VET schools, VET organisations, SMEs and VET
departments at higher schools through the network of the partners’
organisations, through various information channels (the Internet page,
publications) as well as workshops and a final conference at the end of the
project.
Lina Kaminskienë, Project co-ordinator
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THE PROJECT PARTNERS
ive formal and one informal partner will implement
the pilot project. They are Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry
and Crafts, Vytautas Magnus University Centre for Vocational
Education and Research, Marijampolë VET Centre, Tampere
College, Bremen University and their local partners – Flensburg
University.
The participating organisations are not newcomers
in projects activities. The German partners have long experience
in vocational training, innovation and international network
projects. Flensburg university particularly strengthens the
content, or professional, side of the project because in the target
sector they make scientific research, actively consult and
co-operate with schools and companies involved in the training
of automechanics.
Tampere College is a training institution owned
by the local municipality and acting in the region of Tampere.
Responding to the needs of the region, the college provides vocational
education and training in several vocational areas: metal engineering,
textile, including footwear, hairdressing, avionics, graphic
art technology, electrical engineering and other. The college
was formed of five separate vocational schools (they are called
institutes now). International co-operation is one of the
strongest points of Tampere College. In this Leonardo project
the college is distinguished by its active and innovative
approach, trying to coordinate both the tasks of the project and
the developmental needs of their own organisation.
Partners from Vytautas Magnus University Centre
for Vocational Education and Research from the very start of the
project have become active and provide valuable proposals
and comments. The merits of these partners are well known in Lithuania.
Due to the intensive international co-operation the centre
has developed an extensive partnership network. In the project
the university is involved as a partner and as a consultant, who
strengthens a methodological basis of the project and helps to
maintain a good balance between the reality of Lithuanian
automechanics sector and the tendencies in the EU.
Marijampolë Vocational Training Centre
joined the project having a clear vision to improve and update the
existing automechanics curriculum so that the centre could
prepare the same level specialists as they are prepared in Finland
or Germany. The school has already proved to be trustworthy
and responsible partner.
Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts is
the co-ordinator of the project. The Chamber is the only organisation
representing employer interests in the project, responsible
for the general management and administration of the project
and ensuring a regular contacts with the business world representatives.
Prepared by: Auðra Misionytë, Aistë Raèkauskaitë,
Danguolë Ðidlauskienë, Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and
Crafts
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Project
partners conducted the research
oN auto-mechanics sector in their countries
The research in auto-mechanics sector in Lithuania
was conducted by the doctoral students Vidmantas Tutlys of the Centre for
Vocational Education and Research at Vytautas Magnus University.
The following findings of this research can be outlined:
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The auto-mechanics sector in Lithuania consists
mainly of the motor vehicle repair and sales companies. The
motor vehicle production is not developed in Lithuania
and there are only a few production companies mostly involved
in the production of the aggregates and parts of vehicles.
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The biggest market share in the motor vehicle repairs
is occupied by the small and medium enterprises.
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The analysis of the structure of the customers shows
that a the majority are the owners and resellers of second hand
cars.
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The most important specializations in the motor
vehicle repair sector according to the number of companies
involved are chassis repair, motor repair and bodywork.
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Despite the slown growth of the employment in
the motor vehicle repair activities, it still makes a very
small part of the total employed population of Lithuania
(1,2 % - 1,6%).
The results of analysis are shows in the picture 1.
The analysis of the auto-mechanics sector in Germany
was presented by Matthias Becker representing Flensburg University.
This research demonstrates that in Germany motor vehicle production
exceeds vehicle repair and maintenance services both by the
employment and by the production turnover. Therefore, in the
structure of the motor vehicle repair and maintenance service
sector the number of the independent car workshops is almost the
same as the number of franchised dealers: there were 23350 independent
car workshops and 23650 franchised dealers in 2000 (1). The small enterprises
with 1 – 4 employees make the biggest group of the car repair
workshops. Car repair workshops together with the motor vehicle
producers, automobile academies, the guilds, chambers of handicrafts
and other partners participate in vocational training of auto-mechanics
specialists, especially in the field of practical training.
The analysis of the auto-mechanics sector in Finland
was presented by Marjut Salminen. The presented information
demonstrates that the auto-mechanics sector of Finland, according
to its fields of activities, encompasses the producers and service
providers in the field of repair of cars, trucks, busses, agricultural
and forestry machines. Therefore, the vocational training
of the auto-mechanics is oriented to the fields of the motor-vehicle
technology, machinery and metal technology and the manufacturing.
The analysis of the auto-mechanics sector in Lithuania,
Germany and Finland demonstrated rather different profiles
of the auto-mechanics in all these countries. The most similar and
common traits in the auto-mechanics sector of all the concerned
countries can be found in the car repair and maintenance services.
Georg Spöttl, Matthias Bekerr, Universität Flensburg
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ANALYSIS OF VET CURRICULUM FOR
AUTO-MECHANICS
The Centre for Vocational Education and Research
of Vytautas Magnus University performed the comparative analysis
of the vocational training standards and curricula of the auto-mechanics
in Lithuania, Germany and Finland. The information for this research
was provided by all the project partners. The research compared
vocational training curricula and standards of the 3rd
vocational education level. The following parameters of
the VET curricula were compared: programme titles, provided qualification,
duration of the training, entrance requirements, foreseen
specializations, the share of the theoretical and practical
training time, provided competence.
The comparative analysis demonstrated that, according
to the most of these parameters, the analysed VET standards and
curricula of Lithuania, Germany and Finland are similar.
The VET curriculum of auto-mechanics in Germany
compared to VET curricula in Lithuania and Finland provides more comprehensive
and structured descriptions of the competences of motor-vehicle
mechanics. These descriptions of the competences in the auto-mechanics
VET standard of Germany are more closely related to the technological
process of the vehicle repair, more attention is paid to the acquisition
of the competences related to the work process planning, quality
management and control, environment protection and effective
use of material resources, labour legislation and collective
negotiations with employers.
The general competence in the VET standard and curriculum
of the auto-mechanics in Lithuania is not discerned into a separate
group, as it is made in the curricula of the auto-mechanics in Germany
and Finland.
The comparative analysis shows that despite
certain differences all involved partner countries have enough
possibilities for the development of the common VET modules for auto-mechanics
sector, which can be applied in all these countries.
Vidmantas Tutlys, Vytautas Magnus University
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MODULE DEVELOPMENT – AN INNOVATION
IN THE TRAINING OF AUTOMECHANICS
Geographically, Marijampolë County is located on the border
with Poland near Kalvarijos customs, which is open gates from Eastern to Western
markets. Because of this location thousands of automobiles and heavy vehicles
cross the county. After the completion of the project VIA BALTICA the traffic
will become even more intensive. Today in Marijampolë and the surrounding
towns the infrastructure necessary for car repair and technical maintenance has
been developed and expanded. The number of other countries cars, going by
transit through Lithuania, has also increased. These factors condition the
demand for European level automechanics, who are trained in Marijampolës
VET centre. We hope that the participation in the international Leonardo da
Vinci project “Optimisation of VET programmes for employability enhancement”
will help to solve problems related to the training of automechanics.
We are happy to participate in such a matter-of-fact project and
we are also proud to be partners with an important public organisation and
training institutions, which consider our input necessary and useful in the
development and implementation of the automechanics curriculum. The initial
input is the analysis of automechanics curriculum of Lithuanian vocational
schools as well as the qualification needs analysis among car services
owners/employers and employees carried out employing the questionnaire developed
by German partners. This analysis helped to identify the demand for knowledge
and competence, necessary for a young person, who has chosen automechanics as
his/her profession.
In June two representatives from Marijampolë VET Centre had
a chance to share experience in the training of automechanics with the German
partners and to see the process of training in the DAIMLER-KRAISLER factory
training centre. During the second meeting of partners it was decided to develop
a modular automechanics curriculum. For the development of modules Marijampolë
VET centre has formed a group of teachers under the supervision of the head of
the department Romualdas Buckûnas. On the 19-20th of September this group
will be consulted by prof. Rimantas Lauþackas from Vytautas Magnus University
Centre for Vocational Training and Education.
We hope that our graduates trained according to the newly
developed curriculum will have more chances to compete and integrate in the
labour market as well as to properly represent Marijampolë VET centre in
the region and outside its boundaries.
Rimvydas Zygmanta, Marijampolë VET Centre
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SOME IDEAS ON THE PROJECT BY FINNISH
PARTNERS
At the beginning of the project the research in
automechanic service sector was carried out, analysing the problems the companies
(faced during 2000-2002).
It was found out that part of these problems were based
on the very quick technical development in the field of autosector.
Nowadays even in the standard-cars there is guite a lot mecatronic
both in motors and safety systems.
It was not a surprise that as the result of the questionnaires
the problems were quite similar in each partner country.
It was found out that in Finland the knowledge how to solve these
problems is out of reach. It is due to the fact that instructions of repair
are in foreign languages. The knowledge of foreign languages
of the mechanic is insufficient .
It has also been very interesting to learn to know
education systems of partner countries and schools in target
countries. Never-to-be-forgotten experience was in Bremen as the
Project partners visited the factory of DAIMLER-KRAISLER. It was great
to see how the education is organized when the finance is coming
from the private sector. An ordinary teacher can only dream
about the kind of equipment they have there.
The co-operation is going well in the partnerteam
and we have been very pleased with the Information given by
Kaunas Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts. Also it has been very
fruitful to have dicussions with people who come from various
sectors.
We do wait for the Handbook published in this project and
we are sure it will be of great help in problem solving. The objective
in the future is to enhance the students mobility in different
EU-countries. Also the network created in this project is a good
base for other possible projects. The results of project work in metal
sector will be discussed during the project-meeting in Tampere.
Reijo Koskela, Marjut Salminen, Tampere College
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RESEARCH IN AUTOMECHANICS SERVICE
SECTOR
uring the project in all three partner countries – Germany,
Finland and Lithuania – research was carried out in auto mechanic’s
qualifications . The aim of the research was to find out which competences
of auto mechanics are the most important, which competences they
lack and what the similarities and differences are in partner
countries. A common questionnaire was used to interview enterprises
in all three countries. Totally 8 enterprises in Finland and Germany
and 18 – in Lithuania were interviewed, selected according
to the type, size and other business characteristics.
In all three partner countries auto mechanics spend
most of their working time doing repair tasks. In Germany, enterprises
devote a big share of their working time for inspection and maintenance,
and, especially big enterprises, for diagnosis and trouble shooting.
Lithuanian enterprises, especially medium size, do a lot
of body repair tasks.
During the research workers or responsible staff
were asked to assess auto mechanics competences according to
their importance. Inspection and maintenance were assessed
as the most important working tasks of auto mechanics in Germany.
Wear repair of simple vehicle systems, main seasonal inspection,
trouble shooting, fault finding and repair, special diagnosis were
also assessed as very important working tasks. Vehicle care
and administrative service tasks were assessed as competences
of less importance.
In Finland, even five competences were assessed
as very important: inspection and maintenance, wear repair
of simple vehicle systems, main seasonal inspection, service
tasks, trouble shooting, fault finding and repair. Less important
were repair of aggregates, administrative and service
tasks.
The most important working tasks in Lithuania were
trouble shooting, fault finding and repair, repair of faults, main
seasonal inspection. Less important were standard default
and special extension and supplementary installations, vehicle
care, administrative and service tasks.
Summarizing we could state that in all three partner
countries inspection and maintenance, trouble shooting, fault
finding and repair, main seasonal inspection are the most important
working tasks. Whereas vehicle care, administrative and service
tasks are considered less important working tasks.
Managers of vehicle care enterprises asserted
that auto mechanics lack knowledge of modern technologies (computer
literacy, knowledge of new diesel technologies, etc.), foreign
language and knowledge of electronics. In Germany, auto mechanics
participate in trainings of technology, business administration
and IT. In Finland there are organized courses for auto mechanics
of diagnostic, body repair, IT, foreign language and etc. In Lithuania,
auto mechanics mostly participate in repair, body repair
and painting, diagnostic and IT trainings.
Bearing in mind the results of auto mechanic’s qualifications
research (importance of working tasks, lack of certain competences,
organized trainings) and individual needs of all three countries,
we have chosen a common module of Diagnosis of chassis faults
and repair. The module will be based on qualification research
and it will be tested in all three countries.
Aistë Raèkauskaitë, Kaunas Chamber of Commerce,
Industry and Crafts
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SYLLABUS
FOR THE BASIC EXAMINATION OF AN AUTOMATION MECHANIC
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GUIDE FOR OPTIMISATION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES
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TEACHER'S BOOK OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMMES
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