Project Impacts

RAINBOW Impacts

The results to be achieved by the project are expected to generate a significant impact in the entire EWF Qualifications System, as the creation of a common methodology for referencing Welding Qualification to the EQF will serve a large spectrum of qualifications. RAINBOW results are being integrated and extended to the EWF network, which is composed by Welding institutes from 30 European Countries.

RAINBOW results can be further explored to support the work of European and national organisations in field of VET (e.g. EC, EACEA, EQF Advisory group members, NQAs, VET providers and HE institutions) as well as Private Organisations/Associations from different sectors aiming to develop Technical Qualifications aligned with Industrial Requirements.

In this context, RAINBOW has proposed CONCRETE ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS that can be replicated to support stakeholders in the development of International Qualification aligned with both national and industrial requirements namely:

Recommendation 1 - Establishment of a Sectoral Framework;
Recommendation 2 - Inclusion of Technical International Qualifications/Modules as a part of National Qualifications;
Recommendation 3 - Assurance Mechanisms for Quality Assurance and Transparency;
Recommendation 4 - Guarantee a Continuous Update and Involvement of Stakeholders.

At political level, RAINBOW results can be used for policy reform in education by establishing common criteria and procedures that can support Member States in developing Quality Assurance Mechanisms to support the uptake and recognition of International/Private Qualifications at national level.

At educational level, RAINBOW methodology addressing the development of International Qualifications based on a modular and learning outcomes approach represent a way of accelerating the implementation of qualifications in emergent technologies /processes (e.g. Additive Manufacturing, WELD 4.0), thus ensuring that qualifications delivered in each country are relevant to address skills gaps and avoid skills mismatches between VET and the labour market at national and European levels.

At industrial /economic level, RAINBOW methodology for designing and awarding International Qualifications based on a Structured Quality Assurance System, is already being benchmarked to other sectors (CECIMO, EFNDT, Additive Manufacturing). For companies (SMEs, medium and large) which hire these professionals, it is a guarantee that these workers have the required skills in advanced technologies and processes, aligned with the set of industrial standards issued by CEN and ISO. International Qualifications represent an opportunity for workforce mobility and recognition across border, thus implying greater chances of employability for these professionals. Finally, a concrete demonstration on how RAINBOW results are being used, is the case of the Additive Manufacturing sector, where the Methodology for designing International Sectoral Qualifications /Competence units is being applied in a Sectoral Skills Strategy in Additive Manufacturing. SAM intends to build AM skills platform at European, Regional and National levels capable of monitoring and anticipating those skills until 2030.