Summary of the project description for the Ministry of Education’s pool for trial- and development projects

A co-ordination project among Haderslev Technical School, Herning Technical School, and Itai, Tønder including the regional industrial relations committee in the counties of Sønderjylland and Ringkøbing.

Objectives

Target group

Information technology including the Internet, gives both vocational training programs and manufacturers new possibilities for co-operation. This demands new qualifications and new methods of organisation. One must be able to work independently, in project groups and across geographical distances.

Those manufacturers and countries which understand best how to exploit and implement the new technology, will fare better in the face of increasingly stiffer competition, where speed of information has become a factor.

Manufacturers are working increasingly together as suppliers to each other. For example, functions like production, design, programming and economic administration are awarded to those countries which can deliver these services cheapest and/or best.

The Internet and the new possibilities it gives for electronic exchange of text, drawings, sound and picture gives a new perspective to co-operation between manufacturers and educational institutions.

Physical distances are eliminated and communication can proceed person to person directly, without having to go through an unnecessary and delaying hierarchy.

The structural organisation becomes broader and responsibility delegated, so that problems are solved where they arise - responsibility for self education comes into focus.

The present project is based on experiences acquired at national level, these are wished shared throughout Europe, so that we can contribute to the betterment of Europe’s competitiveness through intelligent exploitation of information technology.

In trial and development publication number 5 - 1998 "The vocational schools international possibilities, status and strategies" it mentions the following targets and strategies which this development project refers to:

The present project should be seen as a pilot project to the Leonardo II initiative project which is shown in the following diagram.

Objectives:

0. To study different European countries industrial education systems i.e. fitter/turner, with the aim of finding suitable partners whose requirements to subjects (I.T., foreign language, workshop), organisation (block education) and equipment match our own.
1. To find suitable firms in Ringkøbing county and Sønderjylland county that can choose co-operation partners in the desired country. (Small and medium sized companies that 1) train fitter/turner apprentices 2) are suppliers to each other.

 

Process:

Ref. 1)Network searching through relevant sources and study visits to the relevant co-operative partners.

Ref. 2) Participation in "Theme meetings about EU’s I.T. in practice" 29.-30. October 1998 arranged by EU’s advisory office in Herning.

Conference on internationalisation for the group of companies within the machine industry that are serviced by Herning Technical School and Haderslev Technical School.

Phase 2: Teambuilding (network)

Objectives:

0. To establish the I.T. related pre-conditions (Physical, qualificational and organisatory) so the project can be carried out.
1. So that participants acquire knowledge to the single countries educational systems, education methods and industrial culture.
2. To establish personal contact between co-operative partners and knowledge of their trade backgrounds so that a trustworthy and constructive co-operation can be built (intercultural competence)

Process:

Ref. 1 & 2)To develop a 2-week teambuilding course in Denmark in which to make clear the educational intentions and the system/qualificational implications for participants.

There will also within the course be a course on intercultural competence development, as well as monitoring of the teaching within "The Global Village" at Herning and Haderslev Technical Schools.

Ref. 3) Throughout the Leonardo I exchange program - area I - for teachers and persons responsible for education, the possibility for respective visits will be sought for the involved teachers to the involved firms.

Phase 3: Testing of introduction project and system test

Objectives :

0. Testing of the established I.T. infrastructure and co-operative relations.
1. To evaluate and report.
2. Development of Leonardo II application.

Organisation