Italy – 30/05/’22 – 03/06/’22
The student mobility was hosted by FabLab Messina in the beautiful city of Messina, Sicily, Italy.
Students participated in the following hands-on workshops:
- Personalised tote bag with project logo
- Creation of FabLab logo LED display with wooden base
- Aurdino project
- Creation of CARES smart watch
We visited the local STEM company called Smart Me, which specialises in the design and implementation of hardware and software systems based on IOT Open Source technologies for the management and care of complex environments in industry, agriculture 4.0 and smart cities. Born as a spin-off of the Engineering Department of the University of Messina, today it is a digital innovation company that collaborates with companies, universities and research centres all over the world.
It was truly enjoyable to observe the interesting process of a customised firmware and to hear from staff how they lead digital innovation. Students felt very motivated after the company visit and working in teams, they presented the various STEM jobs they came across during the company visit. The following jobs were presented including job description, experience and qualifications required and potential salary:
- Software Engineer
- Production and Supply Chain
- Hardware Engineer
- OpenStack Developer
- Blockchain Developer
- Artificial Intelligence Expert
Romania – 19/09/’22 – 23/09/’22
The joint mobility was hosted by Liceul Technologic “Valeriju Baniste” Lugoj in Romania.
The staff and student mobilities were implemented at the same time to achieve a more comprehensive exchange of knowledge and best practices between partner institutions. It allowed partners to gain a new perspective, and to master novel techniques in a new environment.
The staff mobility provided teachers with opportunities to participate in professional development trainings linked to Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), Digital Skills and STEMM; and to learn from partner institutions’ practices, methods, and teaching techniques, so that they can integrate new knowledge and skills into their home institutions. The mobility also fostered stronger relationships between the partners and promoted collaboration on future projects.
The student mobility provided hands-on STEMM learning experiences, exposed participants to various STEMM careers, fostered creativity and promoted gender diversity in STEMM. The program involved creating a robotic arm, which incorporated subjects such as biology, IT, and coding, and required 21st-century technical skills. The workshops enabled students to explore scientific concepts and technologies in an engaging way, enhancing their 21st-century skills, and increasing their interest in STEMM subjects. The mobility also aimed to increase the participation of females in STEMM education and careers by aiming for a 50-50 gender ratio. The program also enhanced teamwork and collaboration skills and encouraged inquiry-based learning.
The mobilities were a complete success as they provided opportunities for both staff and students to gain new knowledge, skills, and experiences in their respective fields. Through these international exchanges, they were able to learn about different cultures, teaching and learning methods, and gain new perspectives. This has led to improved teaching practices, increased motivation among students, and enhanced research collaborations. The mobilities also contributed to the development of a more diverse and globally connected educational community.
