EIfEL European Institute for E-Learning (FR)
Universita Politecnica delle Marche (IT)
Swedich Telepedagogic Knowledge Center (SE)
The Ingineering Emplyers' Federation (UK)
MyKnowledgeMap.com (UK)

The engineering sector in the EU has been identified as being in need of higher level strategic planning skills. Findings indicated that a lack of business strategy skills was the main factor in hampering progress and increased inward investment which could lead to continuing success of engineering companies within communities already hit by decline in other traditional industries. There were also indications that it was difficult to find appropriate training for senior personnel that was readily accessible.  The areas needed to be covered included strategy development, mission and vision building, creating a change organisation, awareness of world class manufacturing techniques.

The project target group comprises owner managers, managing directors and senior managers, that is, key players who input into the strategic planning of a company (SME).  The target sector is the Engineering, Manufacturing and Metals Sector.

Project objectives are:

A.  The Development of Quality Assured Methodologies for: 

• enabling the establishment of skills needs by high level managers
• recruitment and training of sectoral mentors in accordance with industry and European e-learning professional  standards of competence
• provision of support for managers via a secure virtual learning community
• e-accreditation of skills acquired by SME Managers
• dissemination to other end-users in engineering and manufacturing SMEs

B. The adaptation and implementation of a well-established pan-EU virtual platform to provide support to engineering managers in terms of:

• mentoring
• peer groups
• employer federations
• higher level skill institutions

C.  Development and implementation of on-line accreditation to demonstrate competencies achieved

D.  Collection of Case Studies for

• use in the tool developments in France, Italy and Sweden
• dissemination of project methodologies
• dissemination of positive effects on businesses

E.  Development of Strategy Blueprint for use in France, Italy and Sweden

F.  Establishment of a Transnational European Partnership

This project will improve competitiveness of the Mechanical engineering sector by ensuring that senior / owner managers in engineering SMEs will be supported in developing strategic plans for their own companies that take account of management theories.  This learning will be based on higher-level skill development but will be directly focused on immediate application to their own real business world and therefore will have an immediate direct effect on their competitiveness. 

This project will put into place methodologies involving non-formal / informal learning in the workplace for Managers to tackle the sectoral skills shortage.

Leader of WP12 Quality Management. Contributor to other WPs.

• Recruit SMEs for pilot programmes
• Become a e-mentor

Contact : maureen.layte@eife-l.org