TARGET GROUP
The main target group is represented by the dental technicians. They have graduated an initial educational programme (either within a HEI or a VET institution) and they are certified in this occupation as professionals. In depth analyses of national employment statistics (from all the three countries involved) revealed a lack of knowledge of the graduated dental technicians in terms of adopting diverse backgrounds in areas such as materials science, numerical modelling, biomedical image processing, materials processing and latest dental technologies implementation on the basis of new materials and designs, computerised models for custom made dental applications. The project aims to develop a joint innovative transnational and interdisciplinary post-university engineering study programme for specializing dental technician graduates in using smart technologies and materials for dental applications.
The second target group is formed by the teaching staff of the partner organizations and the secondary objective is to support the professional development of the partners’ teaching staff in delivering dental engineering courses using enhanced digital competencies in applying teledentistry techniques. University teachers need knowledge in missing areas of expertise (the new findings in the dental area) to forward latest developed materials and techniques to the graduate students by adapting their teaching courses and practice laboratories
Management Activities
Activities that have been carried out from the beginning of the project until now
and have consisted of creating the project implementation plan, monitoring and controlling the activities, ensuring the quality of the deliverables,
evaluating and reporting progress indicators, cooperation and continuous communication between partners.
Activities
The following activities have been implemented within the project:
WP2: Desk research analysis of the common training necessities of the target groups, focus on digital dimension:itwas made desk research into specific scientific literature, internal organizational documents, in order to identify the concrete training necessities of the target groups from a dental engineering perspective.Another part of the analysis it was the collection and analysis of the existing curricula related to the project topic in all faculties from Romania,Italy and Spain.From December 2023 to May 2024,throughout participation in conferences and project promotions,three sets of surveys were conducted for Romania, Spain, and Italy.It was organized 5 meetings with different stakeholders. Application of an inclusion filter to the training needs of the target groups:The inclusion filter to the training needs of the target groups taking account to vulnerable categories and raising awareness regarding the need for enhanced societal inclusive approaches.
Visibility and dissemination activity: The activities performed assure a proper visibility of the project and adequate dissemination through meetings with stakeholders,participation of the team members at the various scientific meetings in the field of dentistry and engineering, with oral presentations related to the project. Project partner research coordination meetings:The project partner research coordination meetings was organized at UNSTPB, on 17.01.2024,17.05.2024,14-15.11.2024.
WP3: Elaboration of a complete dental engineering curriculum (16 courses) on smart technologies and materials for the training of the dental technicians;Digital training of the academic staff;Visibility and dissemination activity.The courses focus on building competencies in materials and properties of these materials used in dentistry, as well as building competencies in digital technology and 3D printing. 2 peer e-learning stages/exchange of experience was organized in UNICUSANO and in UNSTPB.