Training material and programme for social and business entrepreneurial competence development by virtual learning methods for multinational and multicultural groups, and recognition and validation of the acquired competence Erasmus Project

Project Title

Training material and programme for social and business entrepreneurial competence development by virtual learning methods for multinational and multicultural groups, and recognition and validation of the acquired competence

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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Migrants’ issues; ICT – new technologies – digital competences

Project Summary

According to research data, permanent European Union citizens tend to have a negative perception towards immigration, as they associate it with public issues and with deterioration of the national economy, these associations usually make the integration process of newcomers more complex.
Society wants to receive a contribution from immigrants regarding the economic growth of a state. However, these people are not initially familiar with the host country’s environment, and most of them face difficulties, when trying to find a suitable job. If they had enough knowledge about the environment and general order of things, which can be useful for establishing their own business, it can be beneficial for the whole society.
At the beginning of the VLM (2017-1-LV01-KA204-035469) project a survey was developed and conducted in order to better understand the specific target group of the project and their needs. Also, additional information received during the implementation of the project from 3 partner countries (Latvia, Lithuania and Italy) served as a basis for further:
• research not only on the most cost-effective, but also the most suitable training solutions and platform,
• training guideline development,
• testing methodology development,
• training program, materials and practical task development.
The developed project training platform includes not only country-specific, easy-to-adapt study materials in English, Latvian, Lithuanian and Italian language, but also information regarding the project itself and project partners. As this training platform will mostly be used by the NGO partner-organizations (responsible for the sustainability of the project results) after the project is closed, also their contact information is available in case some of the visitors of the training platform have questions regarding the available training solutions. On this platform all the interested parties will also be able to find not only the training materials, but also all the other aforementioned intellectual outputs of the project.
The main aim of the developed training guideline is to define approaches and methodologies in order to support migrants and refugees in arranging their own training on social and business entrepreneurship and project management. This guideline can also be used by teachers and coaches to arrange training for migrants and refugees.
The testing methodology describes the methodology, which must be applied in order to carry out the testing phase, from the very beginning to the overall evaluation report. It provides instructions, timing and objectives useful for the project partners, for the trainers and coaches, the migrants and refugees involved in the testing phase to perform the tasks assigned.
Also, guidelines for mentoring were developed during the project, describing not only the stages of mentoring, but providing information, for instance, on such topics – who can be a mentor, what skills and experience is required.
The developed training program consists of 8 training modules, which are created for individual, remote learning online. The program can be also easily adopted for classroom training. Some of the offered modules of the training program – “business forms”, “Taxes” and “Support opportunities” – are localized for Latvian, Lithuanian and Italian audiences, thus providing an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the country’s business environment.
After the development of the training solutions a webinar training session was provided for educators within the project, who participated in the pilot training activities, meant to test all the developed training solutions in order to identify if any improvements are required.
The selection and training of participants representing the target group for the pilot training activities was done by the NGO partners. To test all the developed training solutions, blended learning methods were applied – online, classroom training methods. After the pilot training activities technical improvements were made to the training platform itself and the practical tasks included in the training program.
After completing the training program, the participants of the pilot training activities (representing the target group), were able to participate in mentoring activities where they met entrepreneurs, who were also initially immigrants in their host countries before starting up a business, the participants were able to receive any necessary consultations from the NGO organizations regarding all the issues related to setting up a business in their host country.
After the conclusion of the project the NGO partners (responsible for the sustainability of the project results) will keep providing any necessary consultations and support, if a user of the training platform will be a newcomer (representative of the target group of the project) in the host country, who wants to realize his own business idea.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 170696 Eur

Project Coordinator

Baltijas Datoru akademija & Country: LV

Project Partners

• Social-educational initiatives centre PLUS
• UAB “Baltijos kompiuteriu akademija”
• Associazione caritativa diocesana “Giustizia e Pace” onlus
• Training 2000 psc
• Shelter “Safe House”