INNOVATIVE & OPEN FOR JOB-RELATED LEARNINGHow do you bring together what does not fit together?The shift in ICT technology is fundamentally changing the economy and society. Software has become the primary driver of the economy’s growth. In the automotive sector, both the entire industry and individual automotive companies are affected. Autonomous driving, alternative drive systems and connected cars characterise the sector. A trend leading to an increasing demand for skilled workers and engineers with ICT skills. The EU education systems (VET & HE) are expected to offer training in new technologies and impart practical digital competences for new technology fields.The aim of Car2Lab was to demonstrate (the automotive sector as use case) how to close gaps in training that emerged with the rapid technological development, and how to enhance vocational training and their orientation towards the future in Europe. The project’s target groups were trainees in automotive professions as users of the new learning models, teachers from VET & HE as well as authorities and regulatory bodies as users of our conclusions and recommendations. An important feature was the particularly close cooperation between VET with science and industry. To achieve this goal, BGZ bundled the expertise of ten partners: scientific institutes, VET schools and companies from four EU countries.They have implemented a set of consecutive activities forming working groups, involving learners in the implementation of the project, development of a digital learning tool for vehicle telematics with a modular curriculum and learning units for use in VET & HE, testing the model with learners, development of recommendations and a concept for permeability between VET & HE. These activities were accompanied by workshops with multipliers & PR actions with the aim to attract supporters (chambers, administrations, companies) in each country and engage with them in regular discussions.A great success of the close collaboration is a learning model for telematics applications in motor vehicles. With innovative teaching and learning tools such as the unique Telematics Box, the project successfully exemplified how a transition from hardware to software could work. We demonstrated how to communicate the basic knowledge areas in telematics and how to design modern capacity building measures. As a parallel outcome, the actions provided instructions for practical implementation. They offer a high applicability since both practical & theoretical aspects have been taken into consideration.The learning model enables practical learning for both trainees & bachelor students. At the same time, the teaching materials ensure the practical application of the technical and didactic instruments for teaching digital competences in VET & continuing education.Car2Lab unfolds its sustainable impact. The project partnership benefitted in particular from the innovative thrust that enhanced the performance of the instructors/specialist teachers as well as the structures and technical equipment of the educational institutions. Since 09/2017 ZSS Poznan has been operating as an industry school; the PSSG vocational school in Vicenza has widely modernised its structures; the automotive engineering bachelor's programme at HTW will place a stronger focus on electrical, electronic and programmable systems in the near future. Car2lab made it possible for learners to discover automotive systems & digitisation for themselves. The demand for training and study courses in the field of new technologies is growing continuously.Car2Lab clearly proves that with the right technical solutions and teaching strategy, good learning performances can be achieved even in the field of complex technologies, without overburdening learners.The teaching tools & the new competencies of the teaching staff proved that teaching digital skills to the learners of the automotive sector is a feasible approach. The Telematics Kit and other project results are in great demand and are already being used at national level (DE; DK; IT; PL) both in training and at university level. They are highly suitable instruments to improving the quality of VET.All outputs are practical & easily adaptable to the EU level (also for related professions). The intensive collaboration between VET, HE and industry has had a positive effect on the improvement of the professional competencies of all participants.Digital change in economy and work environments have a substantial impact on the modernisation of European VET systems. As a result, the demand for innovative learning concepts, such as Car2Lab, is continuously increasing.The longterm benefits are: increased competitiveness of the automotive industry, attractive employment opportunities for young skilled workers, better service quality for consumers, and widespread application of digital solutions, for example to strengthen environmental protection (optimised transport).