Mobile Technology Workshop
QUICK: programme-initiative
Mobile Technology Workshop
Country:
Estonia
Education level:
Primary Education, Lower secondary education, Secondary Education, Vocational Education and Training (VET), Lifelong Learning / Upskilling
Year start:
2008
Status:
Ongoing
Short summary:
The Merkuur Mobile Technology workshops introduce various trades, techniques and tools in the metal and wood industries to young people and to offer them hands-on opportunities to try and participate in the tasks associated with these trades in order to raise their career awareness and competitiveness in the fields of technology and engineering. The main objective is to give young people practical knowledge about engineering and technology. By educating young people and giving them early access to hands-on engineering possibilities,the programme aims to increase the interest of students to start a career in engineering.
Description and objectives:
The Merkuur programme has developed mobile workshops to introduce various trades, techniques and tools in the metal and wood industries to young people and to offer them hands-on opportunities to test the tasks associated with these trades in order to raise their career awareness and competitiveness in the fields of technology and engineering.
Merkuur has two mobile workshops and more than sixty different learning solutions to provide young people with hands-on opportunities to carry out tasks in metal and woodwork, electronics, bionics and many other engineering fields. The Mobile Workshops are self-built mobile classrooms and therefore workshop activities can take place all over Estonia. Schools, vocational school and other interested organizations can request the mobile classroom service at their premises.
In the beginning, the Mobile Workshop service and its activities were provided as a form of non-formal learning. Since 2018, the team has consistently worked on developing partnerships with various educational schools, vocational schools and colleges. Teachers and mentors of mobile workshops organise technology lessons, project days and hobby groups in schools. In addition to daily activities, the team has developed a modern methodological material used to introduce CNC equipment to young people and to implement their new knowledge both individually and in teams, while carrying out product development tasks, testing various material treatment methods and preparing metal and wood products with a real purpose.
The objective is to give young people practical knowledge about engineering and technology, which is measured by the number of kids participating in the activities of Mobile Workshop.
The objectives of the workshops are related to a broader government strategy to raise the popularity of engineering as a career choice due to the fact that Estonia is facing a shortage of engineers, failing to meet the current labour market demand as well as the expected demand in the future. In addition, the programme is associated with the aim to develop a research-intensive economy. By educating young people and giving them early access to hands-on engineering possibilities, it increases the interest of students in starting a career in engineering.
Reach:
The Mobile Workshop-concept reaches thousands of children all over Estonia. By the beginning of 2020, the Merkuur team has organised more than 700 science, technology and engineering workshops for about 7000 young people. Mobile Workshops actively cooperate with key figures and entrepreneurs in the fields of nature, the exact sciences and technology.
Impact:
The Mobile Workshop gives the opportunity for young people to get acquainted with the real product development process by applying their critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as modern technologies based on the principles of the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. The team has also developed good partnerships with different schools, therefore bringing the opportunities to the school lessons. With that, the programme contributes to raising career awareness and competitiveness in the fields of technology and engineering.
The Mobile Workshops have a great impact on the areas that otherwise are dismissed or have limited opportunities, for example schools outside the big cities in the countryside. This helps to curb inequality and improve young people's access to science, technology and engineering.
The programme is also acknowledged by the Estonian Research Council as the Best New Initiative inn 2017, Special award for the best social enterprise of Brain Hunt in 2017, by the Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry as the Deed of the Year in 2017, and was awarded by the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications for promoting entrepreneurship and European Enterprise Promotion Awards with the first place of Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills in 2020.
Budget and funding model:
Merkuur Mobile Workshops is funded by several public funds, ministries and other organisations:
ERASMUS+ project “Mobile laboratories for improvement of STEM knowledge”;
Estonian Research Council and FESTO cofunded project “Engineering inspired by the nature”;
Project “Mobile Workshop for introducing the careers in wood and metal industry” funded by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research, Estonian Youth Work Centre, European Social Fund and Republic of Estonia;
Local governments and schools.
Winner EEPA 2020 Investing in Entrepreneurial Skills Mo...
Friday, 25 June 2021
In 2020, Merkuur's 'Mobile Technology Workshops' won several awards and recognitions, including the EEPA award, as well as recognition by the Estonian Ministry of Economic Aff...