Search for European Projects

Better undeRstandIng anD recoGnition of nuclEar skills and qualifications
Start date: Sep 1, 2014, End date: Aug 31, 2016 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The project aims to fill the gap exiting between the use by academic institutions of European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and the use by end-users (industry, regulatory bodies, research and development entities) of Systematic Approach to Training (SAT) in view of future implementation of European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) in nuclear field. Presently, filling this gap requires overlapping of topics from educational and training programs, with considerable costs in time and money. The project main objective is to establish the pillars for creating the bridge between the existing academic ECTS and the end-user’s SAT approach, which will short-cut the expansive overlapping training for a specific job profile. In order to compare the needs, path and methodology to achieve this objective the learning outcomes assessment, validation, transfer and recognition in academic and in training institutions will be analyzed. Therefore the partners of the project are University Politehnica Bucharest as higher education institution, Jozef Stefan Institute and Tecnatom as partner institutions and Energonuclear as end-user institution. The human resources recruiting experience shows that, regarding the acquired by the student knowledge, there is a gap between the provided by academic institution information based on ECTS, and that required by the end-user, SAT based, job profile. It has been observed that, despite ECTS proven efficiency, some flaws prevented the direct beneficiaries of students and trainees coming from academic institutions to have correct information about the knowledge received by a person that is relevant to their future field of work. Stakeholders have found themselves obliged to invest more time and money in an already educated person in order to make better use of each individual working qualities, when compared to its need.First objective of the project is to determine the institutions or companies who are recruiting undergraduate/graduate students to enroll as trainees (in project participating countries). At national level, the analysis of the nuclear industry needs as well as of the dynamics of recruitment will be done. In order to have the wider look, the query will be addressed both to the end-user human resources service, and to the newly recruited personnel. Once the necessary information is gathered, the next step is determining the needs these beneficiaries have regarding the qualification of the personnel. This implies proactive involvement from stakeholders. For a typical Nuclear Power Plant job will be defined the job competence requirements (in terms of knowledge, skills and attitudes) following labor market. Based on a 3 years analysis some rough idea on labor market trend needs will be projected. On this basis the partners of the project will develop an analysis tool in order to determine the training requirements. This tool will be based on SAT principles and is aimed to make the bridge with the academia. Next objective is to determine how the existing in higher education curriculum satisfies the nuclear industry needs expressed in terms of job profile. Each partner institution will analyze the UPB curriculum and will present a projection of the desired pattern of academic curriculum. This way a continuous, SAT based, evaluation methodology will be proposed to be used in higher education institutions. This evaluation methodology addresses the learning outcomes assessment, validation, transfer and recognition, as well as the teaching/training, techniques and will be provided as a “handbook” in design, development and implementation into academic institutions of a SAT model, based on specific industry needs.The expected project outcomes are the continuous analysis of the teaching methodology, the evaluation of the training techniques, the accordance between the curriculum and course contents with specific job requirements, and the recommendations on adapting the curricula and other activities to end-user needs. Although project goals are not to completely change the curricula used by higher education institutions, it must be foreseen as an important phase in making first steps towards SAT implementation and modernization of the education and training programs existing in higher education institutions. Therefore one representative course from the University Politehnica of Bucharest curricula will be adapted according to the proposed handbook. The partners will evaluate the new model of course thus providing a model to implement for entire curriculum. As impact, it is expected that recommended steps towards implementation of an SAT system, based on a continuous analysis of end-user needs could lead to a better management of human resources on a longer term, a more efficient manner in providing necessary and useful information to future employees and less money to invest in human resources in order to obtain the desired qualifications.
Up2Europe Ads

Coordinator

Details

Project Website

3 Partners Participants