Description
The project aims to create a common structure, curriculum and content for the “Augmented Reality for Technical Entrepreneurs” interdisciplinary teaching module aimed at Science/Engineering/Business Higher Education stakeholders. The project will develop a training framework to support students in acquiring entrepreneurial skills related to and exploiting Augmented Reality technology, develop an innovative interdisciplinary teaching module, as well as course support, project website, various case studies, etc. The outputs will be directed at students and business entrepreneurs in the field of augmented reality. The main foreseen activities are: Part 1: Development Phase – Understanding/mapping the augmented reality training needs of young technical entrepreneurs - Joint Module Curriculum development - Module content development Part 2: Implementation Phase - e-learning content implementation - Course pilot testing Part 3: Exploitation Phase - Dissemination & exploitation strategies - Practical workshop - Final Conference and related events
Summary of project results
The project sought to establish inter-institutional relationships between the Lithuanian, Romanian, Maltese and Icelandic partners and the University Politehnica of Bucharest, in the area of innovative digital technologies for educational purposes and to exploit such technology to create innovative business solutions. In this context, the use of augmented reality for technical entrepreneurs, under a common framework and structure for all countries of the consortium was the basis to develop entrepreneurial skills of students based on modern techniques to be competitive on the EU market. A total number of 120 persons were trained during the implementation of the project in all countries of the consortium. The following outputs were delivered: - Joint curriculum - Course content also in e-Learning format - A practical Workshop - A final project conference - A project webpage with access to e-Learning content and other project results. The project outcomes were expressed in terms of learning outcomes for the target audience. Thus, the target audience, after the completion of the proposed Augmented Reality for Technical Entrepreneurs course module is expected to: -have a good understanding of the Principles of Augmented Reality -have been exposed to innovative business case-studies exploiting Augmented Reality Technology -have been exposed to innovative augmented reality applications in Science & Engineering based industries. -have acquired hands-on training -have a good understanding of safe ICT and cyber threat prevention for entrepreneurs -have acquired fundamental business skills necessary or entrepreneurs -have knowledge of different business models based on exploiting Augmented
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership has collectively generated an effective knowledge transfer from partners with expertise in augmented reality (UPB-CAMIS and MECB) to the other partners. At the end of the project, it became very evident that the partners have greatly benefited from this knowledge transfer to the level that many were looking for new opportunities on where to apply this technology. In addition, from a global level, the partnership has managed - through the many different seminars/public events held throughout the project - to influence many individuals from the target audience on how augmented reality can be a new means to support entrepreneurship. For the University of Akureyri, the project provided knowledge on the augmented reality technology, which is not yet common in Iceland. This was a clear result in the original survey on training needs. The Icelandic partner got the opportunity to experiment with the technology, spread it among the local educational community and add it to the toolbox at its Centre for Teaching and Learning. Furthermore, the e-learning material is now available in Icelandic and the donor partner plans to make it available as a course in its curriculum, probably as an elective in the Faculty of Business. Generally, the project partnership was a positive experience for the University of Akureyri where people from different communities in Europe got to know each other and their culture. The partnership’s bilateral relations have been mainly manifested in terms of the excellent exchange of best practices on two levels: a) Knowledge on EU projects related to education and life-long learning; b) Knowledge on Augmented Reality technology and its relevance for business as well as other applications such as in science and engineering. This bilateral exchange was so good that partners are actively seeking new opportunities to collaborate further. In addition, the transnational meetings held during the project in Malta, Iceland, Lithuania and Romania allowed participants directly involved in the partnership to also acquire cultural insights of the countries visited. Overall, this had a positive impact on the bilateral relations established between different partner organizations.