Training the engineers of the future (FuturEng)

Training the engineers of the future (FuturEng)

Innovations in energy, transport, manufacturing, robotics and artificial intelligence are inevitably changing the world, and engineers are and will be playing a key role in improving these industries, especially in the post-COVID-19 era, in the green and digital transformation processes, and, unfortunately, in the reality of the war that is still being experienced in some countries.

The Industrial Skills Strategy 2030 highlights the expected growth of the engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors, with an 8% increase in job vacancies. Europe is already experiencing a severe shortage of engineering talent, with engineering professionals among the 4 most common shortage occupations in 14 EU countries (ELA, 2021).

Most current higher education systems are based on a 20th century framework and do not take into account 21st century industrial and labour trends and expectations. Linear knowledge-based education is no longer sufficient to prepare engineering graduates for the future, especially in the face of increasing competition from robots.

Engineering students in higher education need a more interdisciplinary approach and learner-centred teaching methods that provide them not only with technical knowledge but also with skills that robots and AI cannot provide, such as universal skills and attention to environment.

"The FuturENG" project aims aims to develop training for HE engineering students & educators in collaboration with the industrial ecosystem to drive twin transition & harness emerging technologies’ potential.

Project objectives:

  • Boost HE students’ knowledge of the latest tech trends
  • Promote CBL for boosting students’ digital, green, transversal skills
  • Equip HE educators with tools to support transition of HE students to the labour market
  • Strengthen the knowledge-triangle cooperation to ensure relevant educational offers

Project period: 2023 11 01 - 2026 10 31 (36 months)

Project Ref. No.: 2023-1-RO01-KA220-HED-000155387

Programme: KA220-HED - Bendradarbiavimo partnerystės aukštojo mokslo srityje

Target group: higher education students and teachers

Results:

1. FuturENG Tech Esseantials MAIK (Massive Open Online Courses) for higher education students covering topics such as deep tech, I4.0 (fourth industrial revolution), green and digital transformation, sustainable digitalisation.

2. FuturENG Challenge-Based Learning Toolkit to develop digital, ecological and multifaceted skills in higher education engineering students through online activities.

3. FuturENG training guide and roadmap for higher education teachers.

Project partners:

  1. Universitatea de Medicina, Farmacie, Stinte si Tehnologie George Emil Palade din Tirgu Mures (Romania) - koordinatoriai
  2. Kauno technologijos universitetas (Lithuania)
  3. MACDAC Engineering Concultancy Bureau LTD - MECB (Malta)
  4. Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade (Portugal)
  5. FH Joanneum Gesellschaft MBH (Austria)
  6. Acta Foundation (Bulgaria)
  7. EDITC LIMITED (Cyprus)

VšĮ „eMundus“ participates as an associate partner in the project to publicise the activities and results..

Project website: futureng.projectsgallery.eu