Project territory and common challenge: TransAC's project territory comprises 7 regions: Carinthia in Austria, Zenica-Doboj Canton in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Karlovacka County in Croatia, Northern Bavaria in Germany, the West Region in Romania, Vojadina in Serbia, and the Kharkiv Region in Ukraine. The objective of TransAC is to tackle the issue of brain drain in these rural and crisis-stricken regions.  According to Eurostat, rural regions are non-urban areas. Crisis regions are areas that have been cut off from the global flow of goods due to factors such as war.  In the project area, limited job opportunities make life less attractive, prompting many young people to relocate. The population in the project area is ageing, which exacerbates the problem of brain drain and social stress. This is a common challenge.

Overall objective and expected change: The TransAC project aims to address the negative impacts of brain drain and social stress in rural and crisis regions. It will focus on young learners, who are most likely to migrate, as well as vulnerable learners, including the unemployed, early school leavers, women, older people, and workers in carbon-related industries, who are most affected by social stress. Both groups will receive training to improve their future prospects. The project focuses on training for additive manufacturing due to its economic potential for the project territory, as well as the high demand for trainees in this field. To fully realize the potential of the labor and training markets, relevant stakeholders, such as industry/SMEs, policymakers, and schools, will be involved in the development process and throughout the project. The expected change is to enhance the project territory as a good place for learning and living by providing opportunities for learners. We are also committed to look how TransAC can improve the situation of Roma people.
Main outputs and beneficiaries: There are 3 main outputs that reinforce each other. Output 1.2 is the pilot training centre, which serves as TransAC's innovation space for developing training services. This includes the development of course content, laboratory equipment, co-teaching formats, FabLabs, and micro-credentials. Testing will be conducted in all seven project regions before the training services are transferred to the Training Academy. Output 1.3 relates to the Training Academy, which aims to capitalize and commercialize the training services developed in the pilot training center. Stakeholders from industry, education, and policy will be involved to address labor and training market needs. Finally, Output 2.1 focuses on the 572 learners directly reached by TransAC, including 192 school children, 228 university students, and 152 vulnerable individuals. Learners will provide input through interviews and questionnaires on entry points, training formats, content, and methodology. Special attention will be given to the correct handling of vulnerable learners with the assistance of interdisciplinary teams comprising teachers, technical researchers, and social workers.
The main beneficiaries of the outputs will be the learners and stakeholders, ultimately benefiting the project territory and the Danube region.
Approach: The TransAC approach employs a co-creation format using a triple-helix innovation method.  The project unites educational institutions, industry, policy makers, and facilitators to establish an effective framework for education and training. It is suggested that this project should not be limited to a national basis, as it may attract the most talented individuals from other regions. A national project may improve one region, but at the expense of neighbouring regions and nations. If another region were to undertake a similar project, it could attract talent from the first region, resulting in a migration of talent within countries rather than continuous development for the benefit of all. To prevent unhealthy competition between already disadvantaged regions, the TransAC project has adopted a transnational approach.
Innovation: The approach employed by TransAC is innovative and unique. It uses a multidisciplinary approach to additive manufacturing training, integrating expertise in social work, education, and technical research. This approach facilitates the development of high-quality training services and provides learning opportunities for disadvantaged learners. The training academy utilises advanced educational methods, including virtual labs, remote labs, mobile labs, and FabLabs, to provide an interactive learning experience. At TransAC, the Coding School and FabLab are integrated with traditional educational methods to establish a mutually beneficial relationship. Learners have the freedom to set their own goals through models such as micro-credentials. The training academy helps learners improve their skills while managing their work and personal commitments through part-time or distance learning programmes.