The objective of the CeLGas Project is to enhance the co-operation between the EU and East-European universities, rese arch companies and vocational communities in the area of vocational education in the Natural Gas Engineering.
The proposal's objectives are related to all objectives of the present phase of the Leonado da Vinci program.
It is addressed in the common framework of objectives for the LEONARDO programme, the chief of which are:
- promotion of life-long learning by creating a network of educational establishments
- creation of educational packages for self-training
- open, flexible, distance learning
- ensuring the transparency of qualifications
The primary objective of this project is to create a network capable of providing education and training engineers in the gas industry so as to encourage ongoing adaptation of skills to meet the needs of workers and undertakings, contribute to reduction of unemployment, and facilitate personnel development. The main objective of the CeLGas is to develop and maintain the complex of: Conventional and Distance Learning Vocational Centre with highly educated specialists and related competencies in gas field at the European level accessible by the Internet and the interested regional gas companies. The technological distance between the EU and EE states gas industry has to be minimised by continuously introducing the technical, scientific and vocational education progress. The CeLGas proposal provides new-modern tools to link EU technique and educational achievement with EE aspiration to participate in European Community. By creating a means of instruction and technology transfer suitable for use in either distance learning or (later) in an autonomous learning environment, the project will further promote equality of access to continuing training for persons disadvantaged by socio-economic or geographical factors. Besides the eLearning pilot model, the extra quasi conventional model is prepared to enhance the quality of learning in the area, where laboratory and real practice may be necessary.
The project certainly has no discriminatory aspects either with regard to ethnicity or sex, and may indeed favour women who, having had time off for raising families, may wish to refresh their knowledge prior to re-entering the work place. The cost of participation would be limited to that of a telephone connection, a PC and a moderate fee. For some specific topics the extra cost will be travel and accommodation costs for visiting one of educational meeting points (possibly 2 or 3 times per training). Furthermore, the project wholly or partially satisfies the following objectives:
- co-operation between universities and undertakings (wholly),
- transparency of qualifications (partially),
- self-training, open and distance learning (partially),
The project will enhance related knowledge by fostering innovation in training through the transfer of state of the art research knowledge to a local and regional company. Partner Regional Companies that can benefit from the vocational training but also can contribute to the project's activities. One idea can be to attract also companies that are involved in activities complementary to the gas area (gas equipment producers, safety equipment producers), companies or organisations involved in ecological activities. This international co-operation will develop a vocational training methodology in the field of natural gas based on the Management Quality approach that will be based on need assessment and regional training customisation.
The Pilot Project let to transfer the knowledge from the university and research labs level with help of Engineers and Technician Association to the specific regional company level (extraction, distribution, and safety). Participation of engineers from various countries may be occasional giving opportunities for studies under this initiative. The accreditation of the CeLGas Training System at the partnership universities will secure the QUALITY of LEARNING.
MAIN ACTIVITIES has been divided into following work packages (WP):
- WP1: Management of project;
- WP2: Confirmation of needs and demand - survey;
- WP3: Preparation of mixed-eLearning system:
- WP3.1: Gas Production;
- WP3.2: Underground Gas Storage and Sequestration problems;
- WP3.3: Gas Distribution;
- WP3.4: Gas Usage, End User Safety and Environmental Protection;
- WP3.5: Quality Management and Human Resources Management in Gas Industry;
- WP4: Performing experiments;
- WP5: Evaluation, Corrections and Project Quality Management;
- WP6: Diffusion and Dissemination Process;
An additional survey for confirmation of needs (WP2) is planned after start of the project to verify needs of continued education in the gas industry sector. The sub-packages in the WP3 contain vocational educational methodology necessary to publish to regional and local gas companies. In WP3 will allow to construct the Web server and multimedia interactive e-training software
WP4 allows to check the educational system in real situation. After the start of the experiment the process of quality management - WP5 - will begin by an evaluation and a correction of pilot system. Detailed dissemination and diffusion program to promote results of the Project will be done in the WP6. During POST-PILOT phase the Promoter with All Engaged Partners will continue co-operation in the vocational field based on the experience during the LEONARDO program. All Partners confirm willingness to build-up long term Vocational Centre with possibility to long-distance learning, exchange of international experience, use of internet gas engineering vocational forum, etc. The new type of Master of Science in Gas Engineering study based on the Pilot e-learning system may be developed in the future.