Let’s Digital – Digital training methods to support migrant women entrepreneurial learning Erasmus Project

Project Title

Let’s Digital – Digital training methods to support migrant women entrepreneurial learning

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Migrants’ issues

Project Summary

Surveys among SMEs in OECD countries confirm that more than 50% of SMEs have already lost significant revenue and risk being out of business in less than three months due to the COVID-19, (OECD, 2020[66]). This crisis implies that gender employment gaps make women more vulnerable than men to job loss. These fears are particularly acute if we consider that large numbers of female migrant workers continue to work in “informal employment” – jobs that are often unregistered and that generally lack basic social or legal protection and employment benefits (OECD/ILO, 2019[28]). Entrepreneurial learning can enhance the labour participation of migrant women in the European labour market. Entrepreneurship plays an important role in the EU economy and society as a driver of innovation and job creation (OECD/EU, 2017). Unfortunately, access to self-employment for female migrants is still facing major obstacles. Intra/entrepreneurial skills are significantly valuable for them because of their impact on working conditions and skills requirements. During the COVID pandemic crisis, VET trainers and educators experienced difficulties in reaching migrant women at home. Familiar and household care duties, absence of a suitable space to concentrate or simply the lack of a laptop, makes it unbearable for many migrant women to continue their training courses. For our trainers, the COVID pandemic has generated major obstacles to get the migrant women engaged in distance learning. The training sector had to anticipate and adapt abruptly to a new reality. Online environments are being created as the use of WhatsApp or more elaborate IT learning platforms for the delivery and replacement of the traditional classroom. Too often, training courses have simply been transferred without being adapted to the new delivery mode. Thus the emergency situation is an opportunity to develop digital skills both of trainers and of pupils/trainees. Trainers preparation is essential to make this new system work and, to this end, Let’s Digital will train VET trainers to develop their capacity to deliver distance training.

The project aims to better equip professionals who work with migrant women to accompany them on the path to entrepreneurship. Indeed, these professionals lack tools to meet their needs related to intercultural, communication or gender aspects that are crucial to delivering training adapted to migrant women. A specific challenge faced by many women is the balance between work and increased responsibilities within the household, including childcare (e.g. due to the closure of schools in the context of the covid-19 crisis). We want trainers to be aware of the challenges faced by migrant women in starting a business in order to approach the entrepreneurship process in the most appropriate and effective way. The actions of the project will tackle all major causes that prevent the entrepreneurial activity of migrant women in the participating country, namely lack of mentorship and entrepreneurial networks, of entrepreneurial learning, self-confidence and awareness among migrant women. Let’s Digital training methodology will be adapted to the needs of professionals because it will be based on an updated analysis of their needs through an investigation of their readiness, needs and expectations. The project will also transfer new qualifying skills to professionals through a tailored training programme that meets the specific learning entrepreneurship needs of the adult migrant women.

The main target groups of the project are (1) Professionals working in organisations providing VET, counselling services, public and private organisations working to integrate third-country nationals into the socio-economic life of their countries and migrant associations and NGOs, VET trainers, public employment services, mentors, tutors, job counsellors, career advisors; (2) migrant women (migrants, refugees and asylum seekers) who are willing to start a new learning pathway that will lead them to either start up a company or be more independent and entrepreneurial in their professional life.

The innovative training program and methodology will improve the intercultural, digital and entrepreneurial skills of the VET trainers and enable them to be aware and well equipped to face the challenges faced by migrant women in business creation. The mentoring programme will be designed to meet the needs of the trainers and their trainees and to give them the tools to enhance and cultivate and be actually self-aware of the entrepreneurial skills they have acquired. The indirect goal of the project is to motivate entrepreneurship of the participating women migrant, among others in the field of social economy, in order to define their labour market insertion itineraries.

The main results of the project will be:
– Methodological Framework for trainers
– Pedagogical itinerary for VET trainers and piloting
– E-platform for trainers and a mobile app for traine

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 290299 Eur

Project Coordinator

EUROCIRCLE ASSOCIATION & Country: FR

Project Partners

• PROGRAMMA INTEGRA SOCIETA COOPERATIVA SOCIALE
• FRANCAIS POUR L’INSERTION SOCIALE ET PROFESSIONNELLE EN EUROPE
• I BOX CREATE, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA
• ASOCIACIÓN PARA LA PROMOCIÓN Y GESTIÓN DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES GENERALES Y ESPECIALIZADOS (PROGESTIÓN)
• Center for Knowledge Management