One of the main challenges in vocational education is the lack of motivation among young people and low interest in the specialties in demand in the local labour market. The College Modusi Innovations Laboratory plays a major role in the process of awareness and popularization of professional education in Rustavi municipality.
Fablab Modusi was established in 2016 by the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia with the support of the Innovation and Technology Agency of Georgia. The development of Fablabs is important for the economic progress of the country, for establishing new start-up businesses and creating jobs. On December 27, 2016, the laboratory became a member of the World Association of Fablabs. Fablab Modusi met all the criteria for joining the association and appeared on the world map of Fablabs.
In order to develop creative and entrepreneurial skills among students, a presentation is periodically held about the specifics of the lab's work and students who are interested about it become members of the fablab club. Within the workshops, club members share ideas with each other and under the direct guidance of the fablab manager, in the process of prototyping ideas, they learn to assemble drawings in 2D/3D programs and work with modern equipment.
The FabLab is headed by a manager who acquired the necessary knowledge and competences during his studies at the college and improved the teaching methodology in the lab, in particular, he developed a hybrid teaching method, which made it possible to study the programs remotely. Under his leadership, in order to share experience and start new projects, face-to-face/remote working meetings are systematically held between lab managers across Georgia, which results in the planning/implementation of new projects; For example: "Creative Lights Competition", "New Year Village", "Easter Competition", in which about 10 colleges took part.
In the college, fablab promotes the implementation of modern technologies within the framework of professional programs. In this direction, students and teachers, under the mentorship of the lab manager, have implemented a number of projects; we present practical projects that were implemented with the involvement of professional students:
The students of the sewing production program created a dress decorated with details printed on a 3D printer in the lab;
As part of the sewing program, the sensor embroidery machine in the lab is actively used to decorate national clothes;
Using a laser cutting and engraving machine, various design details are cut for clothing models;
Through 3D and laser equipment, students create accessories (bags, earrings, bracelets) that are used in various displays.
Electrical engineering students actively participate in providing lighting systems for models created in the lab.
With the involvement of the students of the undercarriage vehicle and engine repair programs, the details of the engine and undercarriage parts were printed on a 3D printer, and during the teaching period, before the practical training, the models created are used for demonstration.
Lab resource is actively used by the college to decorate the interior; for example: sticky coloured stickers were cut out on the Sasser plotter and the college space was decorated with benchmarks.
In the college, the functioning of lab clubs provides the development of digital and modern skills among students, provides various employment opportunities and promotes the creation of self-employment start-ups. Using the knowledge/expertise gained at modus, fablab in college, garment production students created a start-up - InoFashion. Within the framework of the start-up, exquisitely designed luminous bags were created, which also have the function of charging a smartphone.
Teaching and Learning Setting
Innovation Dimension
Education Sector