On 25. – 26. March 2026, a meeting of the DiSTT project partners—Digital Skills Transformation Toolkit for a Resilient Labour Market—was held at the brigk innovation centre in Ingolstadt. The meeting, organised during the project’s fourth implementation period, brought together representatives of Brno University of Technology, brigk, FabLab Brno, Happylab Wien, NOI Techpark and FabLab Zagreb.
In addition to discussing the current state of implementation, project deliverables and upcoming deadlines, the participants focused primarily on the results of the pilot activities, lessons learned and recommendations for the toolkit currently under development.
Pilot activities across the participating regions confirmed that hands-on, project-based learning delivers the greatest benefits, allowing participants to work with specific technologies and create tangible outputs. The tested workshops covered areas such as 3D printing, laser cutting, robotics, programming, CNC machining, digital fabrication and design methods. Assessments conducted before and after the activities demonstrated improvements in both participants’ skills and self-confidence. At the same time, the pilots confirmed that long theoretical sessions, overly complex tasks and insufficient time can reduce motivation.
The partners identified modularity as a key principle for the future educational model. Shorter workshops should be able to function independently or as part of a longer learning pathway, while their content must be adapted to the participants’ age, prior knowledge and the needs of the particular group. Continuous assessment conducted directly during the learning process—for example, through discussions, observation or digital tools—proved more effective than follow-up questionnaires. High-quality team facilitation, support for less experienced participants and ensuring that quieter group members have space to contribute also play an important role.
The discussion also addressed cooperation with employers and public authorities. The conclusions of the meeting will inform both the project’s upcoming activities and the final form of the DiSTT toolkit.