On the 17th of December 2020, the European project METVET - JOINT HIGHER VET COURSE IN THE METAL SECTOR held its final dissemination forum, organised by the European Vocational Training Association. The event focused on three main aspects: the general presentation of the METVET Project and its outcomes, the presentation of the Memorandum of Understanding and its live signature by the project partners and a round table of discussions on the topic of ‘’Future challenges for the Aluminium and Metal Technicians Training’’ Mr. Nikolaos Vourdas, Panhellenic Federation of Craftsmen in Aluminium & Metal Constructions’’.

The event gathered project partners, experts from the Metal Sector Industry and the public, interested in knowing better the project outcomes and it is considered a landmark moment for our partnership signalling the official closing of the project’s funding period.

During the first part of final dissemination forum Ms. Katerina Kalaitzaki from the Sivitanidios School of Trades and Vocations gave an overview of the METVET Project, providing the background of the creation of the project as well as the roadmap used to reach the expected outcomes. Firstly, a list of joined skills needed - that are currently not met by existing training concerning the metal and aluminium sector - were identified aiming to the creation of the professional qualifications profile. The next step was the development of a completely new curriculum aiming at EQF level 5, which does not currently exist at a European Level for the specific sector, followed by the creation of an Evaluation method and a certificate mechanism with a qualification standard based on ECVET and ISO/IEC 17024, an international standard recognised worldwide. Finally, a path to exploit the METVET work was foreseen and developed.

The second part of the final dissemination forum saw Ms. Barbara Archesso from ENAIP NET presenting the Memorandum of Understanding establishing among others that each signatory organisation:

• is aware of the current gap in the knowledge, skills and competences directly linked with the needs of the market in the Aluminium & Metal Constructions sector;
• in order to cover these gaps, the consortium has developed the joint higher VET course for the Aluminium & Metal sector, which will be the driving force of business development in the coming years in a highly competitive business environment that is transforming rapidly;
• commits to follow correctly the curriculum and the training plan and feels responsible to achieve the common outcomes;
• will promote the use of METVET course in the national and international context;
• will be engaged in the intensification of cross-border cooperation of the various stakeholders in the field of vocational training for the Aluminium & Metal Constructions sector, reinforcing the mobility in the EU labour market.

The Memorandum of Understanding also illustrates the three scenarios for exploitation of project results based on Initial and Continuous VET.

Finally, the third part of the final dissemination forum started with a short presentation from Dr. Nikolaos Vourdas from the Panhellenic Federation of Craftsmen in Aluminium & Metal Constructions, followed by a moderated conversation from his side on the subject of future challenges for the Aluminium and Metal Technicians Training. The focus was given on critical issues relevant to the issue at hand, such as (i) EU Policies, from a new strategies / new limitations perspective, (ii) the Market prospect, (iii) the Company size, (iv) the Product characteristics, (v) the evolution of the occupational Profile, (vi) the Certification requirements and finally (vii) the training characteristics.

To learn more, watch the full METVET Final Dissemination Forum.