Project acronym: HEIn4

609939-EPP-1-2019-1-BE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP

Type of the project: Regional Multi-Country Joint Project

Project duration: 15 January 2020 – 14 January 2023

grant amount: 973 240,00 €

Priority: University-enterprise cooperation, entrepreneurship and employability of graduates

Partnership:

EU

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Portugal

Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, Sweden

Volvo Cars Gent, Belgium

Georgia

Business and Technology University

Akaki Tsereteli State University

Batumi Shota Rustavelli State University

Georgia's Innovation and Technology Agency

Ukraine

Donetsk National Technical University

Lutsk National Technical University, Ukraine

National Metallurgical Academy of Ukraine

Odessa I.I.Mechnikov National University

Enterprise “Festo”

Project goals and objectives:

Wider objective is to reinforce the role of HEIs in assisting industrial trans-formation in Georgia and Ukraine under Industry 4.0 paradigm.

Specific objectives:

Activities:

• Study of teaching methodologies and curriculum of EU HEIs in relation to Industry 4.0;
• Development of methodology concept and content of curriculum;
• Study of capacity building practices for collaboration with industry
• Development of Case Studies;
• Development of short courses for industry;
• Development of Industry 4.0 Business Management module for Master students;
• Development of recommendations to update Engineering curriculum;
• Setting Virtual Factory Learning Labs;
• Training of the staff for Virtual Factory Learning Labs;
• Development of content and capacity for consultancy services;
• Implementation of internal and external quality control measures;
• Dissemination of project activities and results on national and international levels;
• Piloting and adjustment of the project results, development of sustainability measures;
• Coordination and operational management of the project.

Expected results:

• Human resource developed in Georgian and Ukrainian HEIs in response to emerging Industry 4.0 paradigm:

-          academics familiar with the advanced European teaching methodologies and curriculum in relationship to Industry 4.0 – 36 in Georgia and 48 in Ukraine;

-          HEI administrators acquainted with the European capacity building practices for collaboration with industry – 18 in Georgia and 24 in Ukraine;

-          staff members (full and part-time) of Virtual Factory Learning Labs – 18 in Georgia and 24 in Ukraine.

• Concept for methodology and content of curriculum in response to Industry 4.0 (Higher Education 4.0 Concept);

• Case Studies representing the EU HEIs experience and practices to wider audience;
• Recommendations for updating Engineering curriculum delivering the insights on the new transdisciplinary competencies required for operating the factories of the future and how this can be addressed in higher engineering education;
• Taught module "Industry 4.0 Business Management" (5 ECTS credits) developed and embodied into existing Master programs;
• Short courses for upgrading industrial staff (3 ECTS) offered by Georgian and Ukrainian HEI;
• Virtual Factory Learning Labs set in each Georgian and Ukrainian HEI and complemented with their international network as a focal point of collaboration in the Industry 4.0 context.
• Permanent colloquium for retraining of teaching staff regularly held at each HEI;
• Consultancy services for the industrial companies available at each Virtual Factory Learning Lab;
• Stakeholders’ round tables led by the Virtual Factory Learning Labs and integrated into HEIs practice;
• Business Sustainability Plans for Virtual Factory Learning Lab at each HEI.
• Project’s website, paper-based and on-line publications disseminating the best practices gained and promoting the project to other HEIs and industry in Georgia and Ukraine.