Hands-on, Reimagined: AR Simulation and the Future of Work-Based Welding Training

Hands-on practice has always been at the heart of welding training. But what if learners could pick up a torch, strike an arc, and perfect their technique before even touching real metal? What if the gap between classroom and shop floor could be bridged not by compromise, but by innovation? This EfVET WBL WG webinar explores exactly that — and brings to life what it looks like when it actually works.

As VET institutions across Europe face growing pressure to deliver industry-ready welders faster, safer, and more efficiently, Augmented Reality (AR) simulation is emerging as a powerful ally. Not as a replacement for real-world practice, but as a smarter, safer, and more accessible first step — one that transforms how competences are built, assessed, and connected to genuine workplace needs.

Jointly organised by EfVET and Seabery, this session brings together the perspectives of the VET ecosystem: educators who are living this transformation day to day, an industry employer who knows exactly what skills the workplace demands, and the technology innovators making it all possible.

At the centre of this webinar is a real case: Agrupamento de Escolas de Arganil, a Portuguese VET school that has embedded AR welding simulation into its work-based learning model — in close collaboration with a local industry partner.

Aimed at VET leaders, trainers, tutors / mentors and policymakers, this webinar will address:

• Why Work-Based Learning remains the gold standard for welding VET — and what it takes to make it truly effective in today’s context;
• How AR simulation technology enhances learning outcomes, reduces material costs, and opens training to a wider range of learners;
• The Arganil model: a practical case study of school–employer collaboration powered by Soldamatic;
• What does it mean for the learners who can benefit from AR simulation tools, which accelerate skills acquisition, and ensure they arrive at the workplace truly ready for their Work-Based Learning experience.

Join us in this EfVET WBL WG webinar on September 16th, between 14:00 and 15:00 CET.

Come ready to be inspired. Come ready to act!