Objectives of this study:1.Investigate the competencies developed in European undergraduate curricula and highlight the gaps in competencies developed across courses in Europe;2.Determine the essential competencies for radiographers from literature and surveys/interviews to stakeholders (i.e. radiographers, heads of service/HEIs/professional bodies and service users);3.Identify gaps in specific skills deemed very relevant for the TR;4.Identify the skills gap among radiography professionals across Europe;5.Offer online educational actions to close these gaps and ensure that the TR are educated with the necessary skills to enable them to practise across the whole of Europe;6.Disseminate the results and online teaching tools to ensure a maximised exploitation of this project.Long term outcomes:1.Improvement of employment rates for TRs;2.More efficient movement of TRs across Europe;3.Improved safety for patients treated by TRs;4.Improved efficiency of radiotherapy treatments;5.Improved radiotherapy treatments;6.Evidence-based regulation of TR profession;7.Extending and developing TR competencies for the future development of the profession.The work is distributed across 12 work packages (WP) and results obtained to date are as follows:WP 1&2: A website has been established to help manage the project and disseminate information, In addition various accounts have been set up on social media platforms e.g. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. An initial face to face meeting was held in the UK in February 2019, monthly consortium skype meetings have been held throughout and the first steering meeting was held in Malta, February 2020 to coincide with the Internal Conference. Quality assurance (QA) of the project has been maintained throughout.WP3: A survey has been completed investigating the competencies for TRs administering radiotherapy. A list of competencies essential to the graduate was designed and published on the consortium's website. A manuscript on the results of this WP is in press. This work was also presented at the International Conference on Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy (7th-9th Feb 2020; Malta). A Webinar lecture plan has been completed on underdeveloped skills of the linear accelerator TR. WP4: Research is nearly completed investigating the perceptions of European stakeholders on TR competencies required. Qualitative data analysis is in progress. The results will be presented at the next educational event organised by the consortium in Poland.WP5: A literature review on service users' perceptions across AHP professions is ongoing. We are awaiting ethical approval to start gathering data on patients' perceptions of TRs' competencies.WP6: The literature review investigating the importance and applicability of circular economy in radiotherapy and relevant aspects to include in therapy radiographers' education is underway. WP7: Data collection (surveys) investigating the Digital Skill requirements for TRs is in progress across Europe and has been completed in one centre. The questionnaire is currently being translated into English to disseminate across Europe. A peer reviewed paper is in progress.WP8: A systematic literature review investigating Advanced Practice for TRs is underway. Joint objectives for the WP have been agreed and a detailed work plan is being implemented. WP9: Results have been disseminated at the International Conference on Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy (7th-9th Feb 2020; Malta). Project updates from WP3 and WP7 were presented by G. Couto, S. McFadden, B. Barbosa and D. Gonçalves. Results of the project were also presented in other scientific events such as ECR 2019 (Vienna, March 2019), the 2nd International Congress of Health Workforce Education and Research (Nicosia, May 2019) and CNART 2019 (Lisbon, Nov 2019).WP10-12: These WP are at discussion stage and have not yet commenced as they are dependent on results of previous WPs.

Introduction: The main objective of this project is to extend and develop the competences of educators and to compare current European Partners Education models offered in the field of Equine Facilitated Interventions later referred as EFI's.The field of EFI's encompasses several equine assisted therapies, activities and educational programs offered to individuals with special needs. Currently there is no European regulation or standardisation in this area. We believe this Best Practices project is an important step to take to provide transparency, efficiency and safety in current education and training provided. It is envisaged that by providing such transparency it will further increase trans –European employability. Currently a lack of standardisation may have detrimental effect not only on those availing of these services, but also on the area of research as well as those taking part in the education and training. Methods: This project is aimed primarily at the educators and trainers which makes a total of 19 participants bringing a varied background of expertise in research, teaching and rehabilitation to the project content. The partners who will be joining this project will be provided with the space to share ideas as well as gain knowledge from one another. It is proposed that by collaborating in this way that partners can stand to gain a great deal from each other in relation to each organisations current curriculum model, programme overview and research basis. It is also proposed that in learning more about what each country offers may open the door to learners qualified from partnering countries to travel and partake in internships and training by collaborating in this way. The teaching methods utilized in this project will include direct observation, demonstrations, hands on learning, presentations and group discussions of key elements of best practice in EFI. Results: on successful completion of this project educators and trainers will develop their individual skills and competences, which will help them to improve their capacity to carry out effective training. Partner organizations will have identified models of good practices in the delivery and execution of EFI VET and this information will be disseminated within each partner organisation and other organisations working with the same or similar target groups in the partner organisation's country. Partner organisations will be able to identify models of good practices in the monitoring and evaluation of their own training programmes and to make alterations to their curricula if needed. A proposal of standard of best practice in education and training will be developed through collaboration and transparency in EFI education. Conclusion: This project will allow target groups to benefit from the collective knowledge, research and experience of several European Education and Training providers who will aspire to provide training and education at a high standard thus enabling transparency and recognition at a European level. Finally the project aims to utilise the shared knowledge and experience to potentially open the doors to the further development of agreed key standards and competencies required in the safe and effective provision of education and training in EFI's in Europan level.

"<< Background >>Project ""Education for Industry 4.0 - strengthening the human resources potentialis"" is an international project led by the Jacob of Paradies University in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland. The consortium gathers together partners from Poland, Germany, Slovakia and the United States. The combination of the competences of recognized Industry 4.0 practitioners with the knowledge of university lecturers, especially from Germany and the United States, will ensure the practical and universal nature of the Project. The Project will take into account the guidelines of university lecturers and practitioners as well as the requirements of the job market and the latest global trends and good practices related to Industry 4.0.The Project emerged as a response to the contemporary challenges brought by the global transformation of economies towards Industry 4.0, whose key element is the proper preparation of the human resources that will manage that change against the backdrop of understanding of both the conditions and benefits of Industry 4.0. Managers and engineers at the dawn of industrial transformation need knowledge and competence cross-cutting many areas, which is why it is so important to develop a comprehensive employee skills program of the 4.0 era.The main goal of the Project is to create a learning framework that will significantly improve the competences of higher-education institutions in relation to Industry 4.0, based on the experience and knowledge of international experts and practitioners of modern industry. The specific objectives of the Project are: - improving the quality of education by developing international and innovative education programs and a handbook that will enable the transfer of the most up-to-date, comprehensive and practical know-how on solutions used in Industry 4.0,- expanding knowledge and promoting the concept of Industry 4.0 at universities,- strengthening cooperation between partner institutions in the area of shaping Industry 4.0 competences and increasing internationalization through the exchange of good practices and the development and dissemination of an innovative educational module including curricula and teaching materials.The Project will engage academic teachers, students and graduates of economic and technical faculties of the partner institutions involved, along with the representatives of nongovernmental and sector-specific organizations, as well as entrepreneurs.As part of the Project, two parallel action paths will be implemented aimed at achieving the outlined goals. These are substantive activities related to the development of the Project’s brainstorm results and other auxiliary activities which include efforts for the Project to echo loudly in the socio-economic environment. The Project will first analyze the level of inclusion of Industry 4.0 topics in educational content at universities and identify perspectives for innovation in this area. This will be followed by developing an educational module to be discussed during international training for academic staff and made public during scheduled conferences and other dissemination activities.<< Objectives >>The implementation of the Project will contribute to the increase of knowledge, skills and competences of students, graduates and employees of universities in the field of ecological Industry 4.0. The situation of young people on the labor market will improve. The project will also have an impact on the improvement of the situation of enterprises, because the end result will be properly prepared staff - Managers 4.0 with knowledge, skills and competences in the field of digital and ecological transformation.The implementation of the project will primarily contribute to the development of the concept of ecological Industry 4.0 and the increase in the importance of innovative, pro-ecological solutions in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, i.e. Poland and Slovakia, which in this area are in the vast majority at the stage of the third industrial revolution. Moreover, the EU strategy of the European Green Deal introduces a number of changes to EU directives that determine the future actions of Polish and Slovak companies. When implementing the project, we want to prepare staff for these companies - staff prepared both in terms of digital transformation and issues related to the European Green Deal. As a result of the Project implementation in these countries, the so-called ""Competency gap"" and meeting the staffing requirements of the ecological Industry 4.0. Managers and engineers in the era of digital and green technological transformation need knowledge and competences at the intersection of many areas, which is why it is necessary to create a comprehensive 4.0 employee competence development program. This Project is the answer to this challenge. By implementing the Project, we want to create a framework for education that will significantly improve the competences of higher education in the field of ecological Industry 4.0, relying on the experience and knowledge of international experts and practitioners of modern industry focused on green aspects.We also want to strengthen cooperation between partner institutions in the field of developing competences in the field of ecological Industry 4.0 and increase internationalization through the exchange of good practices and the development and dissemination of an innovative educational module, including education programs and teaching materials.By implementing the Project, we want to achieve material and non-material results. In addition, the implementation of the Project will contribute to the achievement of individual results regarding the participants (increasing competences, increasing knowledge, increasing cultural awareness, improving the learning process), as well as institutional results regarding the organizations participating in the Project (institutional development, e.g. by increasing the competences of the staff, establishing partnerships with other institutions, experience in the implementation of Projects).All activities will be carried out with the inclusion of people with less equal opportunities for women and men, people with disabilities and other people who may in various ways have difficult access to the achievements of ideas in the areas of Industry 4.0.<< Implementation >>The following activities will be implemented under the Project:1.establishing valuable contacts with international partners, which in practical terms means maintaining and developing relationships with proven partners and cooperation with new people dealing with various issues in the field of Industry 4.0 and recognized authorities (practitioners) in this field, as well as building a cooperation network , enabling further initiatives to be carried out in the future - the good cooperation established will most likely generate new projects, and will facilitate involvement, together with proven institutions, in projects of a similar nature;2. building an extremely attractive didactic offer for students of partner universities by creating: education programs for specializations in the fields of economic and technical studies and postgraduate studies in the field of Industry 4.0, as well as didactic materials in the form of a textbook and guide to good practice, using the international experience of several countries; bringing higher education curricula closer to ""reality"" through a more practical approach to learning (skills, not just knowledge) and using the experiences of entrepreneurs;3. development of the teaching workshop of academic teachers by drawing inspiration from the practices and experiences of lecturers and entrepreneurs from other countries;4. incorporating the developed results of the Project into the realities of the activities of the coordinating and partner organization, which will allow the consolidation of the results achieved;5. inclusion of the developed results of the Project in the activities of other organizations / institutions - the results will be presented to external organizations / institutions so that they also have the opportunity to implement the results of the Project.6. publishing the effects of the Project on the network under rulles of open license.<< Results >>The results achieved under the Cooperation Partnership are intended to contribute to the achievement of the priorities. The Project is expected to have an impact on the participants as well as the participating organizations and the defined target groups. The main results are the preparation of the framework for education (education profiles and profiles, education programs with syllabuses, reports on the diagnosis of the labor market and students, didactic materials (textbook, case studies) on specialties related to Industry 4.0 for technical, economic and postgraduate studies. As far as academics are concerned, these will be such results as: increased competences related to professional profiles, greater knowledge of Industry 4.0 education practices, strategies and systems, greater ability to induce changes in terms of modernization and openness to the international community in their organizations education; greater understanding of the links between education and the labor market, better quality of work and activities for students; greater opportunities for professional development and career development; better knowledge of foreign languages ​​and better digital competences, as well as greater motivation and satisfaction in daily work. The activities supported by the Project will bring the organization participating results: greater ability to act at EU / international level: better management skills, cooperation with Partners from other countries; greater allocation of financial resources; better quality in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and follow-up of EU / international projects; an innovative and improved way of working for the benefit of target groups by providing, for example: more attractive programs for students, according to their needs and expectations; improving the qualifications of teachers and academic staff; more effective activities for local communities; a more modern, dynamic, committed and professional environment within the organization: ready to incorporate good practices and new methods into daily activities; open to synergy effects resulting from cooperation with organizations active in various fields: social, education and employment; strategically planning employee professional development in relation to individual needs and organizational goals. In the long term, the effects of this Project in combination with others will have an impact on the education, training and youth work systems of the participating countries, thereby stimulating the promotion of activities. As part of the project's dissemination activities stage, building the awareness of young people of the need to learn. Synergy and links as well as greater permeability between the university, business entities, non-governmental organizations at the regional, national and European level will be increased."

Project Goal: The project responded to the current situation in nursing staff training, specifically the situation in the field of Moving & Handling. Although there are many VET programs in this area, their impact on the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries / disorders in nursing staff is relatively low. There is a gap in the educational and training approaches, which would bring a shift in the training and change the moving and handling stereotypes brought by the old training methodologies. The aim of the project was therefore to transfer the innovative M&H training program developed by Birmingham City University from Great Britain to 4 European countries (to the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania).Partnership: The main coordinator of the project was LINET, the leading European manufacturer of hospital and nursing beds, which is also very active in the VET of nurses worldwide. Other partners were Birmingham City University as a university that developed an innovative M&H programme, two nursing associations (Czech Association of Nurses, Polskie Towarzystwo Pielegniarskie), 1 nurse education centre (Osrodek Ksztalcenia Podyplomowego Pielegniarek i Poloznych) and 2 hospitals (Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas Clinics, SIHTASUTUS TARTU ULIKOOLI KLIINIKUM).Project activities: The project analysed the current state of education in the above mentioned areas and transferred an innovative VET program to 4 countries. Seminars for trainers were carried out and the innovative M&H educational program was then pilot tested. Afterwards, dissemination events took place mainly through the implementation of local workshops and small scale meetings. Within the project, several transnational project meetings were held. At the end of the project the impacts of the program on the target group were evaluated. In general, the target group stated that the use of these new manipulation techniques with patients greatly facilitates their current work, and the transfer and enforcement of these techniques in the educational processes are seen as entirely breakthrough. The nurses evaluated the training course as very beneficial and the target group agreed that the implementation of the project will increase the effectiveness of the education, the education process will be significantly upgraded and the implementation of these techniques among the medical personnel will reduce the number of injuries of the musculoskeletal system at the nursing staff. Outputs of the project: As a result of the implementation of the project a detailed analysis of the state of the art of the above-mentioned issues was carried out in individual countries. There was also carried out a research of the impact of the educational program, which served as input for the final creation of 4 local versions of the training course.The project ran in line with the scheduled timetable and was successfully completed in September 2017.