ABOUT mSysTech PROJECT

The mSysTech project is based on the positive results and experiences in two European pilot projects: Leonardo da Vinci project "Internet-based Performance Centred Instruction - the Link between Work and Education" (IPCI) and Socrates/Minerva "On-line Learning Mathematics and Sciences" (OnLine Math&Sciences).

Within the IPCI project a complete set of courses covering microelectronics design, technology and packaging were developed. There are not many frameworks that unify these subjects in an attractive way. This became possible thanks to the financing of the Leonardo da Vinci programme on European level and the transnational work. The different courses have been developed by the experts who are (ones of) the best in the corresponding specialisation in Europe, e.g. University of Twente, the Netherlands - in technology, BUTE, Hungary - in packaging, CIME Nanotech, France - in microsystems and analogue systems design. The performance centred approach has been proven to be more effective than the traditional lecture-practice-test (expository inductive) in training higher order skills, for preparing learners for self-learning, improving, adapting for changing tasks, jobs.

In mSysTech the performance-centred job-linked training approach will be used also and the selected content from the courses of IPCI will by adapted and up-dated for the needs of Romanian and Bulgarian electronic sector and education. The new learning materials on the microsystem technology and the evolution of nanosystems during the last three years (after the end of IPCI) will be developed and used by all partners in the project, as well by the partners from the IPCI project who are not in the mSysTech partnership.

Within OnLineMath&Sciences a learning platform for stand-alone learning, simulations, group-working at a distance and Scenari - software for multimedia course development was created, full courses in mathematics, physics and chemistry for the first two years of university education were designed and implemented in the regular curricula. In the mSysTech project we will select the Java applets for simulation of selected content, Scenari for the design of new multimedia materials in microsystem technology.

In the proposed project in order to meet the needs of Romanian and Bulgarian SMEs and vocational schools we will select the content from IPCI courses, adapt it and develop new in the microsystems technology with the performance-centred approach and the content will be work-linked. The added value will be:

selection and adaptation of e-learning courses for strengthening the Romanian and Bulgarian electronics industry and engineering education;

multimedia training materials for simulations and demonstrations developed in the OnLineMath project for education in physics and chemistry will be transferred (selected, adapted, upgraded) in the training courses in microsystems, as in this multidisciplinary science new physical and chemical phenomena are applied;

and last but most important added value is that courses will be up-dated with the content in the new multidisciplinary science - microsystems technology and packaging

The coordinators and main developers of the two previous projects are partners in the proposed project.