NANOEIS

Nanotechnology Education for Industry and Society

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Nanotechnology is an emerging area with strong implications for European society and industry. It is a challenge for the education system to integrate this interdisciplinary and transsectoral subject into curricula shaped mostly along classical disciplines. NanoEIS will evaluate how nanotechnology education has been integrated into secondary schools and universities, how cooperations between different partner institutions were implemented, and in which ways industrial and non-industrial (social) employers have been involved. NanoEIS will make, based on a thorough assessment of employer needs, recommendations for curriculum contents as well as for best practice strategies to implement them. This will help to resolve the problem that education contents are not always well matched with the needs of the job market. Improving this situation will benefit both graduates seeking jobs, and industrial / social employers who need specific skills in the professional environment. Nanotechnology education has to start at secondary schools, since nano is by now part of the daily environment and schools need to teach about relevant issues to allow informed consumers to take full advantage of nano-enabled products in a safe and sustainable way. NanoEIS will develop novel teaching and assessment tools for secondary schools. In addition, career choices start in school when decisions about study subjects are made, which should be based on full and relevant information, to achieve a good match between the interests of students and the contents of their studies and courses. A website based on the existing NANOfutures site will be set up, as one-stop shop for information on nanotechnology education for all stakeholders, including secondary school students, university students, educators and education administrators, and both industrial (large industry, SME, start-ups) and social employers (regulatory agencies, media, legal and IP services etc.).'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Nanotechnology is the new frontier of science and technology in Europe, creating innovative products that will make positive impacts on citizens' lives. An EU initiative aims to bring nanotechnology training in line with industry needs.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Current nanotechnology education and training at universities and vocational institutes do not meet the requirements of the job market. What is more, young people lack basic understanding of nanotechnology and how it might impact their lives.

To address these issues, the EU-funded 'Nanotechnology education for industry and society' (http://www.nanoeis.eu (NANOEIS)) project is creating synergies between academia and industry, and integrating nanotechnology into secondary school teaching.

Project partners began by mapping European industry and employer needs for nanotechnology education and training in different organisations across Europe. They explored how secondary school education contributes to smoothing the transition to university. They also looked at how applicable secondary and tertiary teaching and training in nanotechnology is to industry and the labour market.

The findings enabled the team to propose educational content and best practice cases for secondary schools as well as implementation strategies for nanotechnology programmes at universities.

During the second reporting period, NANOEIS will develop an online model curriculum for university studies based on the needs of the nanotechnology industry and other employers. This will be complemented by the creation of online teaching modules and assessment tools for secondary schools.

NANOEIS will benefit university graduates looking for jobs and employers who need specific nanotechnology knowledge and expertise. The project envisions a society where secondary school students embrace the benefits this key enabling technology can bring to all citizens and the economy.