Recycling as a sector of economic activity Alternative materials management is a modern and " green" economic activity in the European Union . In advanced countries of the Union , such as Germany , a strong business development activities is presented across the range of recycling . The dynamic sector offers professional and business opportunities and well-paid jobs . But this growth in Greece shows far behind compared to the European average. The discrepancy is not due to lack of funding because by the recycling of products in accordance with Law 2939 of 2001 are provided retaliatory economic resources . By this law all importers or producers are forced either to organize or participate in alternative management systems in order to achieve specific quantitative targets . The lack of domestic expertise and the necessary skills of technicians Specialist machinery works and is guided based on advanced and constantly evolving programming . The economic cost of acquisition is high and for the additional reason that is imported in our country . So the technical staff should have increased skills for the operation and maintenance of these controls . Deterrent to further business growth in the sector is the lack of domestic expertise makes rare existence with technical knowledge and experience in the organization of production and mainly in the familiarity European developments. Respectively the technical - vocational education in Greece is lacking in the provision of related expertise. Our project , entitled «Automation and recycling: advanced skills for technicians and their trainers», attempts to alleviate both sides of this lack . We designed in collaboration with Vitalis GmbH based in Leipzig and CG Beratung und Ausbildung, headquartered in Aachen, Germany, two related and complementary work programmes in the field of industrial automation business recycling and alternative management of packaging , paper and other products . The first relates to the training of teachers and the second on work experience students in the school . The beneficiaries of the project The beneficiaries of the project are fifteen (15 ) teachers as technicians and fifteen students (15 ) who attend in the Fields of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, 2nd Vocational Lyceum of Evosmos . Specifically : in the first action , teachers , that will last one week ( 19.10.2014 to 24.10.2014 ) are included business meetings with members of the German public vocational education and business executives . In the second action , that of students, lasting two weeks ( 15/02/2015 to 28/02/2015 ) are included practical courses in training centers and respective visits to recycling companies , so the theoretical issues in advanced automation and practice of students to be associated with visits to modern professional areas . Deliverable component and sustainability of the project Finally , as a deliverable and sustainability as part of the project , participants will develop a few pages’ technical manual in pdf format will be posted to internet . This manual will be about in automation business recycling and will include basic skills , how the qualifications , potential mobility techniques in Germany and absorbing European funds for the development of business . Expected results and long term benefits In the area where school is located , the are active major industries of Northern Greece , seeking technicians with experience in industrial automation . We hope the content of this project to promote the employability of students as tomorrow's professionals in the labor market . The existence of experienced technicians in the field , will also contribute to local ecological development. Expected results of actions of this plan are: - upgrade the level of vocational education - expanding the educational horizons of students - shaping European Qualifications Framework an increase in the possibility of future supply of commercial opportunities - claiming the higher skilled positions and better salaries , both within Greece and broader in the European Union - support recycling business in the region of origin of students with specialized technical - enrichment of the curriculum participants with an additional asset(Europass ) - the acquisition of unique experiences , broad understanding , growing European consciousness , strengthening confidence and ultimately their development as human beings