aLIFEca: Virtual Open Course of Automotive Life Cycle Assessment

Applicant

VSB-Technical University of Ostrava

Partners

Newton University, a.s.
Scoveco, s.r.o.
Silesian University of Technology
Spin 360, SRL
University of Zilina

Associated Partners

ACEA: European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association
ASA: Automotive Skills Alliance

Project identification code  

2021-1-CZ01-KA220-HED-000032222

Project duration

1/11/2021 – 31/10/2023   

Budget

276 970 EUR

Financed by

Erasmus+ Programme, call 2021, round 1, key action KA2, Action type KA220-HED- Cooperation partnerships in higher education

The main project priority is to develop a highly specialised and professional course of top quality on life cycle assessment (LCA) in automotive which will be in a form of massive open online courses (MOOC). MOOCs represent innovative teaching and learning in their own character, being run online, aimed at unlimited participation worldwide and open access via the web. The project focuses on a MOOC with the certification framework and practical examples, covering the area of sustainable approach in automotive industry to enhance the quality life-long learning opportunities and contribute to the transformation to Digital Europe. The MOOC will reflect the specific needs of latest skills and specific requirements in green mobility in view of the EU green strategy and European Green Deal plan. At the end of the project, it will be mapped into EU-wide database of training and education courses offered towards Automotive Ecosystem.

Objectives

to develop a massive open online course (MOOC) with certification framework and practical examples, covering the area of sustainable approach in Automotive industry, including LCA, to enhance the quality life-long learning opportunities and contribute to the transformation to Digital Europe,

to reflect on the course the specific needs of latest skills and specific requirements in green mobility in view of the EU green strategy and European Green Deal plan, 

to share the training and project results publicly and also to Automotive Skills Alliance (ASA) partnership 

to map the training to EU-wide database of training and education courses offered towards Automotive Ecosystem

What is LCA?

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method used to assess the environmental impact of products and services over their life cycle, from the acquisition of raw materials and their processing to the manufacture of goods, throughout the operation phase until their end-of-life disposal. This holistic analysis makes it possible to compare the environmental aspects of different products as well as technological solutions, and to choose products or solutions having the smallest environmental impact throughout their life cycle. The LCA method covers the life cycle from cradle to grave. This approach enables calculation and comparison of the energy used and the relevant environmental impacts for different products across the supply chain. It enables to consider environmental impact over the entire vehicle life cycle from the production stage, through the vehicle manufacturing process, the operation stage, to the end of life cycle of a vehicle, including waste management. Therefore, the method of LCA is used as a means to comprehensively evaluate processes, material choices and their effects on life cycle emissions of GHG as well as other impact and damage categories.  This method provides the opportunity for companies and policymakers to consider the organisation and its impacts on the entire system, rather than a single link within the supply chain.  The LCA approach offers one of the most comprehensive analysis tools how to assess the transformation of the automotive industry and its transition from conventional fossil fuels such as diesel and petrol to alternative ones such CNG, LPG, electricity and hydrogen.

Project Contribution

Increase the environmental and sustainable awareness in the automotive ecosystem

Transfer of knowledge and good practice in the automotive ecosystem 

Graduates and workers with appropriate knowledge and skills reflecting the requirements of today labour market in the field of automotive

Development of international cooperation in LCA training in the field of automotive 

New opportunities for LCA training in other fields 

Promotion of open access to educational resources

Improvement of teachers’ competence in interactive teaching through massive open online cours

Target group

future green automotive/mobility workers 

such as university students, early stage researchers/Ph.D. students, secondary students, current automotive/mobility workers and employees including managers and engineers dealing with sustainability topic and future product development, mobility strategies and support for green automotive development together with entrepreneurs interested in environmentally sustainable innovations.

lecturers, trainers, teachers 

who can use the course aLIFEca MOOC or its chapters created within the project for their trainings, lectures and lessons.