Background
This project continued where the initial 3D printing project ended. The initial 1.0 project generated such positive results and high energy, that all 4 partners, together with 5 new partners, signed up for a follow-up project to push the students’ and teachers' learning experience to the next level. The below schools partnered in this project (six from Europe and 3 associated partners from the US):

• BBS Soltau (Germany)

• BBS Verden (Germany)

• Teknikum Växjö (Sweden)

• Pauliskolan Malmo (Sweden)

• Nova College Beverwijk (Netherlands)

• Talland Zaandam (Netherlands)

• Oakton Community College (United States)

• Pasadena City College (United States)

• La Guardia College, New York City (United States)

Aim
The 2.0 project also focused on developing and delivering better, more fun, higher-impact technical education to young people. The 2.0 focussed even more on:

• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• Enhancing digital skills (e.g. digital drawing, 3D printing, managing files in the cloud (Google Drive), setting up conference calls);
• communication skills (English as a second language, writing, talking, presenting, reporting);
• and personal soft skills (listening, collaborating, problem solving, dialogue skills).

Learning Activities
VET students learned how to design, draw and 3D print building blocks of (eventually) adult-sized statues, expressing their vision about a more sustainable world. The blocks were printed from bio-based filaments with the use of the latest technology 3D printers.

Deliverables
The Global Printing 2.0 project was built on the results of the 1.0 project. In the 2.0 project the curriculum and learning materials were finetuned, professionalized and digitized(learning goals, assessment  criteria, instruction manuals/YouTube video’s, best-case practices, templates, etc.) for both teachers and students. If schools are interested to receive these materials, please contact us via e-mail or phone. 

Results
We are proud to say that, now the project has ended, that we delivered on the deliverables! Students and teachers were proud to be part of this project. For many students it was their first international experience, the first time they had to speak English in public. In short: a high-impact learning experience they will never forget. As an acknowledgement of this success: three out of the six partners decided to continue the journey in a (non-subsidized) 3.0 version of the project!

Follow-up projects
• Three partners (BBS Verden, BBS Soltau and Nova College), together with new partner UCRS from Denmark, decided to extend the project with one year at their own expenses. Thus unsubsidized project (January – December 2026) is ongoing, with many beautiful results along the way

• After a presentation at the 2024 Innotecs conference in Bilbao, three new partners (CIFP Santurzi and Miguel Altuna from the Basque Country and ElektrostrojarskaSkola from Croatia) got excited to join the 1 for all foundation in a small scale project (see elsewhere on this page). This project is also ongoing (September 2025 – February 2027).

• With three Scandinavian schools we are in the application process of another small scale project.

Global 3D Printing 1.0, December 2020 – July 2023 

Background
Our first project started in autumn 2017 at a teachers exchange with the question: "What can we learn from each other?". After a successful pilot, completed in 2018, NOVA College (Netherlands), Technicum (Sweden) and BerufsbildendeSchulen (BBS) Soltau (Germany), together with associated partner Oakton Community College in Chicago (USA), successfully collaborated in the Erasmus+ supported (KA2) project ‘1 for All, Global 3D Printing’ (2020-1-NL01-KA202-064706). The objective of this project was to create a shared (through live and online international exchanges) curriculum (including training the teacher) on 3D printing for level 2 (secondary vocational education) students. 

Aim
The project aimed to enhance student’s digital (3D design and print, cloud-based file management, setting up and conference calls), and (intercultural) communication (English language, writing, presenting) and  collaboration (listening, problem solving, planning) skills.


Learning Activities
• The students learned how to use CAD/CAM software to digitize their designs

• They learned how to use 3D printing software and get familiar with the possibilities and limitations of this equipment.

• In international exchange weeks (carousel rides) they learned how to work together with students from other countries, improving their intercultural and language skills

• They improved their presentation skills as they presented their designs at the end of every carousel ride to an audience of 3D and communication experts.

Tangible results
The project results were literally impressive, as a 3-meter statue of 3D printed building blocks was erected in all partner institution locations. More importantly, students enhanced their skills and expanded their horizon through international cooperation.

Follow-up project
During the project Nova College, the project lead of thisproject, indicated that it very much appreciates the innovative teaching in the project, but that it did not wish to continue its project lead position. This leads to the notion that future international cooperation between schools may benefit from a small and flexible coordinating organization, acting as a project lead and secretary for future  projects. This resulted in the foundation of 1 for All Education, an Amsterdam based foundation with the aim to enhance innovative tech education with a focus on international exchange, sustainability, and digital skills. The 1 for all foundation successful applied for the Global 3D printing 2.0 project (see elsewhere on this page)

Kick-off week  3D printing project ‘Building bridges, boosting skills’
In the week of 19 to 23 January 2026, 16 students and 7 teachers from 4 European VET schools met for the kick-off week of the 3D printing project 'Building Bridges, Boosting skills'. In the coming months, the students will be working on a statue consisting of 3D printed 'tiles'. On each tile, they depict one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results will be presented at the closing event in Amsterdam in June. Aner Orbegozo, student at the Miguel Altuna college (Spanish Basque Country): "It's great to meet so many new people and work together towards a goal. My English is also improving a lot!". Els Wester, co-organizer of the project: "It's about connecting, understanding each other and creating together. More important than ever in these days". Thank you for the hospitality of Miguel Altuna and Santurzi and the support of Elektrostrojarska skolan (VarazdinCroatia) Nova College (Beverwijk) to make this project possible.