A European Entrepreneurship VET Model and Assessment Framework for Ethnic Minorities Erasmus Project

Project Title

A European Entrepreneurship VET Model and Assessment Framework for Ethnic Minorities

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 : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Open and distance learning; Migrants’ issues; Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education

Project Summary

The project “A European Entrepreneurship VET Model and Assessment Framework for Ethnic Minorities” addresses the need for integrating the rising numbers of migrants and refugees across the EU socially and financially. Ethnic minorities represent an important pool of potential entrepreneurs that can contribute effectively to the EU economy. The percentage of ethnic minority entrepreneurs are often higher than the percentage in other groups, but they often face difficulties and have lower success rates with their businesses survival.
To help promote and support entrepreneurship among migrants and refugees in Europe the EVA projects aims to assess, develop and recognize the entrepreneurship competences and skills of this group. This was done by introducing an online platform developed by involving researches, developers and staff from the partner organisations and relevant stakeholder organisations working in migration and entrepreneurship.
The partnership consists of 6 organisations from 5 European countries:
– VIFIN (Videnscenter for Integration) from Denmark (coordinator)
– CSCI (Consorzio Scuola Communità Impresa) from Italy
– Landeshauptstadt Magdeburg, Germany
– Politecnico di Torino, Italy
– SOS (Solidarity Overseas Services), Malta
– SYNTHESIS – Centre for research and education, Cyprus.

During the project, the partners developed an online platform for potential migrant entrepreneurs. The platform consists of three main parts:

Discover your enterprise skills: This section is an evaluation of the users existing knowledge, experiences and mindset towards becoming an entrepreneur. The questions asked are used to give individualized feedback on multiple areas of competence. The feedback offers insight into which areas of competencies and abilities the user would benefit to work on.

Develop your enterprise skills: This second section of the platform has a collection of links to informational materials, guides and knowledge on entrepreneurship in your country especially suitable for migrants. The materials are split into 5 units with relevant topics: 1. Business Creation, 2. Starting Your Business, 3. Access to Finance, 4. Sales & Marketing and 5. Culture, Language, Communication and Networking.

Test your enterprise skills: The final part of the platform consists of two related elements; a 3D environment with 5 typical situations for new entrepreneurs, plus 5 individual tests, one related to each situation. The 3D environment is a simulation environment, where the user can apply their knowledge to real life situations. The following tests are connected with a certification system which issues digital badges to the user, when they pass.

The platform was tested with users in each country, to ensure its usability and suitable level for the target group. The platform was launched at the final conference in Malta in June 2018, where 90 national and international participants got together to discuss the topic of migrant entrepreneurship.
The impact of the platform is expected to be in the longer run a better clarification process among potential migrant entrepreneurs, ensuring they have the right mindset to start their own business and providing them training possibilities if they need to develop their skills beforehand. This is envisioned to create more successful entrepreneurs and to highlight the full potential of entrepreneurship as a mean of self-support. The platform is to be used by educational and training institutions, and stakeholders working to support migrants in their labour market integration.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 239036 Eur

Project Coordinator

Videnscenter for Integration & Country: DK

Project Partners

• SYNTHESIS CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION LIMITED
• POLITECNICO DI TORINO
• SOLIDARITY AND OVERSEAS SERVICE MALTA (SOS MALTA)
• Consorzio Scuola Comunità Impresa
• Landeshauptstadt Magdeburg