PORTO SALVO, Portugal - March 6, 2018 - PRLog -- The European Employment Strategy (EES) is focused on driving initiatives that will contribute for more and better jobs throughout the European Union, including the role of vocational education and training to fulfil the promise of the knowledge-based economy. The structural economic changes underway and the expected industrial productivity growth both require a highly skilled and adaptable workforce to face the European economic and social challenges for the new future. The need for trained welding specialists with extensive knowledge towards risk management in welding fabrication exists since it poses many risks, from health personnel to product quality and environmental issues, but at the moment there is no authorised body providing training courses comprising all these aspects. One hurdle for broader dissemination of skills and the labour mobility lies in the disparate qualification systems, which lead to the fact that other countries do not recognise existing national qualifications.
Driving a broader adoption of qualifications, EWF is participating in a unique project to develop a training course on Risk Management in Welding Fabrication that will be later integrated into the EWF network and national educational systems in the partner countries. The resulting harmonised guideline will be promoted and implemented by a transnational network that congregates knowledge and experiences, either from experts or specialized organizations from different countries, and will later be implemented through pilot courses in two of its member countries.
The success and adoption of the guideline will be further strengthened by the incorporation of the Training Guidelines in compliance with EWF requirements, as it manages a training system successfully deployed in 31 countries, as well as by the implementation of ISO 31000 and ISO/IEC 31010 requirements. The consortium will actively raise awareness of the need to comply with European standards to relevant stakeholders in the project, namely SMEs, Training Centres and businesses that are involved in the welding fabrication industry and that will be most affected by the standardisation process.
Also, through the project, participants will improve their competitiveness and employability in the labour market. By integrating the RMWF course into the EWF network and national educational systems in partner countries, the latter will be better aligned to the needs and opportunities offered by the labour market and closer linked to business and community.
The project's objectives are to develop a new training course and to train the first groups of specialists in the field of risk management in welding fabrication. Through these goals, the project contributes to the recognition of skills and qualifications, making the first steps towards adding a new qualification. Once the project finished, it is expected that the newly created course curricula be integrated into the EWF network, ensuring European recognition of the qualification. As a part of life-long learning philosophy, the consortium will also develop an e-learning scheme for the training courses. http://www.rmwf.eu/
Addressing the skills mismatches and shortages through Vocational Education and Training
Based on the Europe 2020's Agenda for new skills and jobs, the European Employment Strategy (EES), highlights that" despite progress in recent years, Europe is still not sufficiently skilled. But at the same time, it has to be stressed that those with low qualifications are much less likely to follow lifelong learning and upgrade their skills." The industry has strong requirements for qualified personnel, with the current issue consisting on the difficulty to recognise qualifications between countries. The target group of this project comprises welding personnel already qualified in basic welding, having already an IWE/EWE/IWT/EWT diploma.
Currently, risk management in welding fabrication training is not harmonised, although some countries have already started looking into that. Furthermore, there is a need to implement two standards which are intended to harmonise risk management at an international level (ISO 31000 and ISO/IEC 31010), creating thus the framework for optimised risk assessment and easier exchange of know-how between specialists in different countries.
The development of a training guideline, providing a detailed structure and the necessary materials for training personnel in risk management to welding fabrication will only have a significant impact if approached from a transnational perspective. The National R&D Institute for Welding and Material Testing Timisoara (ISIM), a centre of excellence in the field of welding and material testing is the project coordinator and organiser of the first pilot-course.
The project's partners: University of Miskolc (UoM), TVE Mérnökiroda Kft. (TVE), Quality Management Software (QMS), European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF), address this issue, by bringing their unique experience and competences, from Academia to Industry and Accreditation Bodies.
About the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting
EWF is a pioneer in implementing a harmonized qualification and certification system for joining professionals. Through European projects EWF has been innovating in training methodologies, and involved in the development of new technologies and uses for joining. Through its member organisations, EWF has established a firm link to the local industry, providing knowledge and training as well as participating in research initiatives that address the most pressing questions and challenges in the field of joining technologies.
http://www.ewf.be
Contact
EWF
Monica Sibisteanu
***@ewf.be
Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)
Read Full Story - New training program for risk management in welding fabrication will ensure employees are ready for the new challenges faced by industry | More news from this source
Press release distribution by PRLog
