STARTUPPER, INNOVATION MANAGER, NETWORK MANAGER: A VOCATIONAL TRAINING PATH ON ENTREPENEURSHIP TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS AND LABOUR MARKET Erasmus Project

Project Title

STARTUPPER, INNOVATION MANAGER, NETWORK MANAGER: A VOCATIONAL TRAINING PATH ON ENTREPENEURSHIP TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS AND LABOUR MARKET

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 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

The realization of the educational path confirmed the validity and contents of SETUP: it has valued the personality of teachers and entrepreneurs in meeting young people, essential for the transmission of competences. The implemented actions served students’ inclinations in the respect of the project objectives. A further confirmation was the international openness that increased the capability to utilize links with European enterprises. In 2015 DEDALO started the project SETUP “Start-up manager, Innovation Manager, Network Manager: a vocational training path on entrepreneurship to fill the gap between educational systems and labor market” funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Program. The Coordinating educational institution DEDALO involved 2 technology parks – Technopark Gliwice and ComoNeXT – and education institutions in Portugal, UK and Romania. SETUP aim was to address the difficulty encountered by educational systems in increasing entrepreneurship and reduce the gap between education and labor market. An initial survey highlighted separation between theoretic knowledge and practical competences: to anticipate trends/technologies, to create collaboration networks, to manage project budgets or open innovation and has identified professions needed by international markets: Start-up Manager, Innovation Manager and Network Manager. The objectives of the proposed vocational path are: to increase participants’ competitiveness in international labor market, develop entrepreneurial capabilities and business experiences and to deepen their linguistic and IT skills. These objectives were achieved through innovative methods and tools: practical and theoretical courses, immersion into enterprises, travels and stage experiences abroad, workshops. The consortium has created a model allowing participants to meet professionals from innovative enterprises corresponding to the profiles emerged from our survey. The course layout was realized by the Coordinator in collaboration with the participating schools and technology parks. The course contents, proposed in the three Countries in a flexible way maintained coherence and unity grace to shared educational field: the formal aspects of business management, marketing, human resources, creativity, self-presentation, management of partnerships, business models and innovation, budgeting, funding and certifications, business plans and feasibility studies, laws and patents, internationalization and market analysis. SETUP offered participants a real international experience through mobility and placements in enterprises abroad. Some examples: collaboration for software development in a law firm; participation to knowledge management in an automotive company; know-how acquisition on innovative geo-informatics techniques; collaboration in enterprises producing innovative mechanical technologies compliant to international regulations. Grace to these mobility experiences abroad participants developed their linguistic and communication skills, reinforced self esteem and worked in a multicultural environment. Significant was the involvement of participants into an international team, during the collaborative business game simulating an enterprise. An online platform allowed the sharing of educational materials. Participants were allocated to different project phases leading to the realization of a product and its introduction in the market. The final event in Rome was extremely positive for participants. SETUP allowed partners to value and increase international relationships; schools and universities met innovative European enterprises, better understood labor market needs and opened to changes. The positive results led DEDALO to activate e new post-degree course for mechatronic technicians in collaboration with another institution in Lombardy Region. The Italian institution promotes a vocational training course for young people aged 15-16 years. APECEF started in September 2017 the first edition of 4UP, a course derived from SETUP experience, with 14 students and in 2018 the second edition with 16 students. A fundamental aspect derived from SETUP is the strict link with labor market. based on these premises and this work method, 4UP allows participants access to a continuously updated education, leading to high possibilities of employment. Without SETUP project this offer would not exist. Finally ComoNeXT has developed a new initiative adopting SETUP methods and approach.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 392928 Eur

Project Coordinator

Dedalo scs ONLUS & Country: IT

Project Partners

• APECEF
• St. Joseph Foundation UK
• COMONEXT SCPA
• Asociatia “Aldo Moro”
• Park Naukowo-Technologiczny “Technopark Gliwice” Sp. z o.o.