Kick-off meeting Erasmus+ projekta “Embracing Modular Innovation in Construction – Getting Education Modernised”

V Glasgowu na Škotskem je na City of Glasgow College potekalo prvo srečanje Erasmus+ projekta v okviru katerega pripravljamo nove študijske vsebine s področja alternativnih metod grajenja v gradbeništvu.

About the project

The project aims to modernise the delivery of off-site and modular (OSM) construction advanced vocational education & training (AVET). For this purpose, it develops an innovative training model and competency framework for the sharing of best practices and approaches and for the achievement of commonality in benchmarking and standardising educator training. Emphasis will be placed upon the digitisation of key processes as well as key agendas including decarbonising activity, improving energy and resource efficiency, workplace safety and diversification of the workforce.

The EU construction sector contributes to around 9% of the whole EU GDP, providing 18 million direct jobs. However, the industry has been hit hard by the last financial and economic crisis. The EU Commission identified the major challenges faced by the construction sector, which are improving energy and resource efficiency (buildings account for the largest share of total EU final energy consumption (40%) and produce about 35% of all greenhouse emissions), adopting digitalisation and innovative technologies, and developing specialized educational training to respond to labour skill gaps. This last objective is not secondary if we consider that up to 95% of construction, architecture, and civil engineering firms are SMEs or micro enterprises. In this sectoral context, the need for a paradigm shift from traditional to modern methods of construction has never been greater. Off-site and modular methods of construction (OSM) have been utilised in different ways across Europe and have proven to be cleaner, safer and more productive than traditional building methodologies, as well as capable to provide an affordable housing stock.

Investing in a transnational network of professionals in this field presents an opportunity to accelerate the pan-European response to the education and skilling needs of the construction industry. By February 2022, the objectives of the EMIC-GEM project are: i) to develop an innovative training model and competency framework based upon a preliminary review of the EU landscape in OSM construction; ii) to engage around 2000 individual learners; iii) to provide open online educational resources (co-designed and co-delivered by partners) to support AVET practitioners, including joint teacher and webinars, available in the languages of the represented partner nations; iv) to raise awareness on the adoption of OSM construction practices, particularly among SMEs and micro-businesses.

Project Partners

The EMIC-GEM partnership is led by the City of Glasgow College together with seven partners from five different countries (Spain, UK, Germany, Austria, and Slovenia). It includes AVET institutions in each country with extensive experience within the construction industry as well as a European Institute settled in Germany with a long history of working on European projects.