EUROLEARN-EUROPEAN WELDER: BLENDED LEARNING
FOR WELDING ENGINEER EDUCATION

Efstathios Mavrotheris, Open University of Cyprus, Cyprus; Erik Engh, QM Soft, Norway; Maria Meletiou-Mavrotheris, European University Cyprus, Cyprus

This paper provides an overview of Eurolearn-European Welder, a EUREKA funded project that aims to develop and validate an innovative pedagogical framework for organizing, and delivering vocational skills development by using a blended learning training approach. Utilizing an application from the welding industry, and harmonized training guidelines from industry standards bodies, the project developed training for welding engineers that combines an online learning environment and lab practice. The paper describes the LAMS based, train-the-trainer program, and reports on the feedback received from its evaluation in various EU member States. The authors argue that the same training principles could be transferred to a wide variety of industry sectors.