Digitalization of vocational training in Saxony: New 2024 project launched

How can young people and adults be empowered to solve professional problems? How can professional skills be measured digitally? How can this be implemented in a largely digitalized learning environment? The Chair of Vocational Education is addressing these questions as part of the ESF project: "InnoVET-Kfz".

The aim of the project is to further develop automotive training and testing in cooperation with the stakeholders in vocational training in Dresden, the "Gustav-Anton Zeuner" vocational school center, the "Haus des Kfz-Gewerbe Dresden" and two regional training companies. One decisive measure to keep the trade up-to-date and capable is gradual digitalization. This allows technological developments to be quickly integrated into training and taught in a resource-efficient manner.

A key training objective is the ability to diagnose faults, which requires a deep understanding of the increasingly networked vehicle systems. It is currently apparent that around 80% of vehicle trainees remain below the desired level of competence at the end of their training. There are also considerable differences within this group. Some trainees are able to find complex faults quickly, while many others are unable to identify even simple causes of faults, such as a faulty dipped beam fuse, even after a long period of time.

In order to offer trainees individually adapted and more frequent learning opportunities, the "InnoVET-Kfz" project is planning to introduce a digitally supported learning environment across all learning locations. The integrated vehicle computer simulation enables authentic faults to be diagnosed. The focus of the project is on the careful coordination of the learning content and the complexity of the malfunction cases to be dealt with, whereby the adapted support offered leads to an individual learning experience. We expect that the measures will relieve the time burden on all those involved in the training and somewhat mitigate the effects of the current staff shortage.

At the end of training, trainees' skills are measured in examinations. However, there are concerns regarding the quality of skills assessment through the current forms of examination. Studies show that the results of the practical journeyman's examination often deviate from the results of scientifically tested subject tests. One possible cause could be the low level of standardization, as trainees often diagnose different disorders in the same examination. To counter this problem, the project aims to support suitable examination stations with the automotive computer simulation or even replace them completely. This will enable all trainees to diagnose the same fault and diagnostic competence can be validly recorded. This should reduce the human influence on the examination results and at the same time minimize the personnel and material requirements for the examination station.

Until the end of the project on December 31, 2026, intensive work will be carried out to make training and examination practice in the Dresden region efficient, modern and future-proof.