European Initiative WACOM Launched Successfully
Duisburg (GER)/Athens (GR), April 2010 - WACOM (WAter COmpetences Model Transfer) is the European Leonardo-da-Vinci Project for the transfer of a competence model to the water sector. Its integration and harmonization with the European Qualification Framework (EQF) for competence modeling throughout Europe is another aspect of the effort.
The target group of WACOM includes experts on competence modeling and the water sector. Also addressed are providers and users of VET opportunities and products on the topic of management and operation of sewage treatment plants such as universities, vocational schools and training providers.
The Competence Model can be adapted and used within any water sectors and within all other branches in the future. It will improve the transparency, competitiveness, and mobility both for the citizens as well as for the enterprises towards a better European VET and society. Furthermore, it has been submitted to the European Standardization Committees (CEN/TC 353) as the input to launch a standardization project for a harmonized European Norm (EN).
"WACOM brings together the vocational education and training and water experts to develop the first competence model for the water sector", explains Christian M. Stracke, competence expert from the University of Duisburg-Essen and WACOM coordinator.
The kick-off meeting for WACOM took place in Athens, Greece, initiating the ambitious European project for the water sector. This meeting between the international partners harmonized expectations and coordinated the first steps to be taken during the WACOM project.
The project is supported and funded by the European Commission through the Lifelong Learning Program as a Leonardo da Vinci Transfer of Innovation project. It aims to transfer the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and the German Reference Model for the Competence Modeling PAS 1093 into the European Vocational Education and Training (VET) in the water sector. The pilot project of 24 months duration started in October 2009 and involves seven organizations from Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Romania.
WACOM project partners are:
- University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany) - Coordinator
- German Association for Water, Waste Water and Waste (Germany)
- Agro-Know Technologies (Greece)
- Technological Educational Institute (Greece)
- Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (Romania)
- Regional Training Centre for the Local Public Administration (Romania)
- VITUKI Environmental Protection and Water Management Research Centre Non-profit Plc. (Hungary)
