Empowering car repair professionals with the qualifications to handle the industry's new challenges

PORTO SALVO, Portugal - May 21, 2019 - PRLog -- The CARBOREP project has produced a VET profile and training course for car body repair technicians focused on the European Systems for Qualification – European Qualification Framework (EQF) and European Credit System for Vocational Education and Training (ECVET) – in 3 countries: United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain. This comes at a time when the automotive industry in undergoing a profound transformation, with innovations in a variety of areas, that will have a lasting impact on manufacturing requirements. One of the major changes has been the replacement of traditional welding processes with adhesive bonding, forcing car body repair personnel to seek new training and qualifications.

The project's objective, since its inception, has been to improve the quality of qualification programmes available to the automotive industry. The project specifically focuses on content and methods as well as the need for transparency and recognition between European countries. The ECBRT Qualification involves MAG welding, Gas Metal Arc Brazing, Resistance Spot Welding, Adhesive Bonding and Mechanical Fastening, comprising two Competence Units:

• CU01 - Steel Structural Body Construction – Welding Repair;
• CU02 - Steel/Aluminium/Multi-Material Structural Body Construction – Adhesive Bonding and Mechanical Fastener Repairs.

Upon completion of this qualification, students will have acquired the required knowledge and skills to perform some of the latest in car body repair processes.

Elevating the qualification profile of technicians and improving overall quality on delivery

To bring the skillset required from professionals up to par with the new technologies deployed in manufacturing, this project's aim is to ensure that the repair work is able to handle the most recent manufacturing processes. A European Car Body Repair Technician (ECBRT) should be capable of using joining processes to perform repairs in the damaged body of an automobile. Repairs can vary from small damage on non-structural components, up to heavily damaged bodywork structural panels, which require complex and detailed joining (arc and resistance spot welding, adhesive bonding and mechanical fastening) on major structural elements of the vehicle.

The project objectives are as follows:

• Improve the quality of qualification programmes related to the automotive industry, in content, methods as well as transparency and recognition between the European countries (using common EU tools);
• Reach a harmonized standard of qualification in the car body repair sector, aligned with the requirements of the industry, to promote mobility of specialists in Europe;
• Improve and expand the qualification programme available for personnel involved in the car body repair;
• Enhance the integration and exploitation of this programme in countries with lower engagement and access to relevant training;
• Promote language learning and linguistic diversity through the provision of both multi-national materials and pilot training;
• Increase transparency of competences and qualifications for the automotive sector. The European curriculum will promote transparency and mutual trust between I-VET and C-VET systems;
• Ensure the qualification takes into consideration labour market needs through the involvement of different stakeholders (SME and Large Companies, European associations, VET-organisations), aligned with training requirements, while identifying a competence profile. In turn, this will make the VET more responsive to the industry's new challenges and needs;
• Foster the promotion of new learning opportunities, in an easily accessible and career-oriented VET profile;

The project partners comprise a collective partnership of 3 European VET providers – TWI Ltd., CESOL and ISQ – and an European Association (European Federation of Welding, Joining and Cutting - EWF) with members in 31 European countries (which are VET providers).

About the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting

EWF is a pioneer in implementing a harmonized qualification and certification system for joining professionals. Through European projects EWF has been innovating in training methodologies and involved in the development of new technologies and uses for joining. Through its member organisations, EWF has established a firm link to the local industry, providing knowledge and training as well as participating in research initiatives that address the most pressing questions and challenges in the field of joining technologies.


With the support of the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

http://carborep.eu/