Metal Boost, Strengthening cross-border co-operation among metal industry players

Strengthening cross-border co-operation among metal industry players (MetalBoost)​

Total cost of the project: 751 535 € ​

Duration of the project: 30 months, 10/2020-05/2022

Main objective​

The projects main objective is to increase the number of skilled professionals in the industry. The project has three main beneficiaries that will be addressed in reaching this objective:​

• Mechanical engineering companies​
• Vocational education institutions and their lecturers​
• Young people and professionals that are looking to change their profession.

The main beneficiaries of this project are mechanical engineering companies because established cross-border collaboration processes and increased availability of skilled workforce should increase their capacity to grow the business. Additionally, vocational education institutions will benefit from improved profession image and increased competence levels of the lecturers.

Activities​

During the project, multiple activities will be done to reach the main objective.​

• Mechanical engineering industry image and working environment improvements. As the first step towards ensuring a supply of qualified workforce, it is essential to address the weak image of industry professions, especially welders.​
  • Videos for both Russian vocational schools have been created
  • A survey was organized to young 9th and 11th grade students in Karelia.

• Mechanical engineering education is improved in accordance with industry needs. To match companies needs, vocational education needs more competent lectures and better equipment, especially in the Republic of Karelia. It is essential to achieve this in close cooperation between educational institutions and industry companies. ​
  • Kostomuksha Polytechic College’s young students have toured Tekom Prof LLC’s factories to better understand their future professions.
  • 8 sets of modern welding equipment has been provided to Petrozavodsk Autotransport Tekhnikum to be used in training new welders.

• Cross-border enterprise collaboration processes are established. Continuous dialogue among companies from both side of the border would further develop cooperation networks, enable to share information on know-how needs and requirements of other companies. The companies will work on developing processes that will allow them to work together to reach mutual targets.​

Milestones​

The project personnel have set the following milestones to follow during the project:

Planning of promotional activities in Karelia and Kainuu​

During the project, the partners will hold and take part in multiple events and conferences to promote the industry. These include the international conference “The history of the College in the history of the republic: 90 years together” dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Petrozavodsk Auto Transport Tekhnikum, participation in the WorldSkills Russia IV Regional Championship “Young Professionals” and creating career guidance and self-determination activities for young children and their parents.​

Designing training packages for Karelian Vocational institutions’ lecturers and teachers​

During the project, the partners will work with partnered educational institutions, designing and updating current metalworking educational programs to match the needs of the industry. The project will also provide professional internships for teachers and providing equipment to institutions that will be used in the education of future professionals. Different actions, such as attending educational recruitment events and helping in the creation of marketing materials, will be done to help educational institutions recruit new students.​

Benchmarking and developing cross-border collaboration​

During the project, the partners will collaborate in creating analysis’ of the labour market in the metalworking industry and the relationship of metalworking enterprises. They will also part of multiple public seminars and panel discussions. A new mentoring model will be designed based on the Federal Targeted Mentoring Model.​

With the help of these milestones, the project's progress can be planned and tracked to ensure the succession of the project.

Partners​

Metalboost has partners in the educational and professional metal industries.​

Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK), (lead partner) Kajaani, Kainuu​

KAMK is a small university of applied sciences with ~2000 students annually in multiple degree programmes of the technology, business and healthcare fields.​

Kainuu Vocational College (KAO), Kajaani, Kainuu​

KAO offers vocational education for people of all ages in multiple fields, including technology and transport. Besides vocational education KAO provides vocational and special vocational qualifications or training tailored for company-specific needs.​

Škoda Transtech Oy, Otanmäki, Kainuu​

Škoda Transportation Group is a leading European company in the field of transportation engineering. Its products include low-floor trams, electric locomotives, suburban trains, metro trains, electric buses and trolleybuses, as well as control and propulsion systems for transportation systems.​

Petrozavodsk Autotransport Tekhnikum, Petrozavodsk, Karelia​

Petrozavodsk Autotransport Tekhnikum is one of the oldest secondary vocational education institutions in the Republic of Karelia. The technical school implements training programs for middle-level specialists, skilled workers, programs of additional education and advanced training, as well as pre-profile training programs.

AEM-technologies JSC Branch Petrozavodskmash, Petrozavodsk, Karelia​

AEM-technology Joint-Stock Company is a leader in the field of power engineering. The company's structure comprises an engineering centre staffed with experienced design and manufacturing engineers as well as two production sites: Petrozavodskmash Branch of AEM-technology JSC in Petrozavodsk and Atommash Branch of AEM-technology JSC in Volgodonsk.​

Kostomuksha Polytechnic College, Kostomuksha, Karelia​

Kostomuksha Polytechnic College is the youngest secondary vocational education institution in the Republic of Karelia. The school has multiple training programs in different fields, such as mining and automotive mechanical work

Tekom Prof Ltd., Kostomuksha, Karelia​

Tekom Prof Ltd. is a construction and mechanical engineering company with over 40 years of professionalism. The company works as a service provider around Europe and even beyond it.

Administration of urban town Kostomuksha

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