A Micro-Credential in Additive Manufacturing for Personalised Rehabilitation and War Injury Recovery: AM-HEAL

Project Number: 2025-1-IE02-KA220-HED-000356678
Funding Programme: Erasmus+ KA220-HED – Cooperation Partnerships in Higher Education

The AM-Heal Project aims to bridge the gap between Additive Manufacturing (AM) and healthcare education by developing a Level 7 Micro-Credential focused on enhancing digital skills and professional competencies within the healthcare sector. The initiative fosters cross-sector collaboration, improves employability in AM-driven industries, and promotes sustainability, inclusion, and innovation.

In response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, AM-Heal supports the country’s educational recovery by modernising medical education and equipping healthcare professionals with expertise in AM technologies. By integrating digital tools and 3D printing technologies, the project empowers medical professionals to develop personalised medical solutions, including prosthetics and rehabilitation devices, thereby enhancing patient care and rehabilitation outcomes.

Project Implementation

The AM-Heal project will deliver a Level 7 Micro-Credential through a comprehensive approach combining structured curriculum design, hands-on training, and digital learning modules. Key activities include:

Stakeholder consultations and co-creation sessions
Development of e-learning resources and interactive content
Pilot testing and validation of modules
Accreditation of the Micro-Credential programme

Additionally, the project will establish a 3D Printing Hub in Ukraine, organise multiplier events, and ensure broad dissemination of results through EU platforms, academic conferences, and social media channels.

The overall goal is to foster digital innovation in healthcare, enabling the long-term integration of AM technologies into medical education and professional training.

Project Objectives

Designing and developing a Level 7 Micro-Credential in Additive Manufacturing for healthcare applications, ensuring that at least 40 healthcare professionals and students engage in the initial testing and evaluation of specialised AM technologies content
Enhancing digital learning accessibility by creating an interactive e-learning platform with at least 5 high-quality AM training modules available in English, Spanish, and Ukrainian
Providing hands-on practical training through the establishment of a prototype laboratory at Kyiv Borys Grinchenko Metropolitan University, where at least 5 participants will gain direct experience in AM applications for prosthetics, orthotics, and rehabilitation
Facilitating international collaboration between European and Ukrainian institutions through cooperation and collaboration, fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building
Disseminating project outcomes effectively by producing and sharing research-based publications, best-practice guidelines, and Open Educational Resources (OERs), ensuring knowledge transfer beyond project partners.

Project Management and Dissemination

The lead partner of AM-Heal is the South East Technological University (SETU), Ireland, working collaboratively with partner universities from Ukraine, Spain, and Malta.

At the University of Malta (UM), Prof. Cynthia Formosa serves as the institutional lead for the project, with Prof. Alfred Gatt actively contributing to its development. UM holds responsibility for Work Package 5 (WP5) – the Dissemination of project activities and results. WP5 ensures that project outcomes are widely shared and accessible, increasing impact and visibility across the European higher education and healthcare communities.

Kick-Off Meeting

The first in-person kick-off meeting took place in Valencia, Spain, on 6 and 7 November 2025. The event brought together project partners to align objectives, establish work plans, and strengthen collaboration under the inspiring motto: “Walking Life Back.”