Developing a strategic European framework for digital competences for adult education organisations Erasmus Project

Project Title

Developing a strategic European framework for digital
competences for adult education organisations

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 2020

Project Topics

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

Project Summary

Digital technologies are developing fast and offer tremendous opportunities to third sector organisations (TSS) and social enterprises (SE). Not only can digital technologies help in marketing, awareness raising and fundraising, they also enable efficient governance and internal communication as well as innovative ways to reach target groups and deliver social impact. In the recent COVID-19 context, the need for their effective and efficient use by TSS & SE is more pressing than ever before, as it is crucial for their impact and sustainability.

Although initiatives are being developed to support a variety of target groups in developing digital skills and competencies, such as the DigComp framework for European Citizens, no tailored programmes or learning materials are available specifically for third sector and social enterprise leaders&professionals. EU3Digital will develop a European framework of Digital Competences (FDC) for Third Sector and Social Enterprise leaders&professionals.

The framework will be developed based on extensive research on digital needs and skills in the third sector through questionnaires and focus groups, with close involvement and engagement of ‘fellows’: third sector and social enterprise leaders from the project countries (UK, NL, Portugal, Spain, Croatia) who will be involved at key moments in the project to consult the project partners in the development of the Intellectual outputs. The engagement of fellow guarantees that the project results are relevant, adequate and responsive to the needs of third sector leaders across Europe.

In addition to the FDC, the project will gather and develop online & offline training materials for third sectors leaders to assess their digital skills and develop specific skills and competencies through an open-access online knowledge centre.

Finally, the project will also share its learnings in a Policy Paper, presenting to the European Commission and other relevant stakeholders what is important to know about digital skills in the European third sector.

The project will be implemented by 6 partner organisations from the 5 project countries, one of which is a European network covering 12 countries, therefore able to reach out to 8,000+ beneficiaries across Europe. The consortium includes knowledge partners, universities with an expertise and track record of research in respectively digital skills development and third sector leadership; and practice partners – organisations with a strong local and/or regional network for outreach to social enterprise and third sector leaders -as is the case of the project Coordinator. The project has a duration of 30 months.

OBJECTIVES of EU3Digital:
* To create a framework of competences for European third sector and social enterprise leaders

* Gather and develop training materials for specific relevant digital skills and competences for third sector and social enterprise leaders across Europe

* To develop a strategic partnership among key organisations for digital skills and competences in Europe

* To build capacity for dynamic and swift adjustment of the third sector to major societal changes, using digital tools & skills

* Translate research findings into policy advice to the European Commission and other relevant
stakeholders to inform initiatives for developing digital skills and competences in Europe’s third sector

IMPACT:
1. 1. Increased value and sustainability of third sector initiatives.

1. 2. Improved access to digital tools and dissemination of good practices and resources.

1. 3. Increased perceived value and effective application of digital competencies in the European third sector.

1. 4. Empowered, strengthened and intersectional aligned action of the Third Sector as a whole.

1. 5. More efficient and integrated advocacy for digital inclusion in the Third Sector.

SUSTAINABILITY
The project is designed with a long-term perspective:

* The European Framework of Digital Competences will lay the groundwork to further develop the online knowledge centre, to include training materials covering all identified competences. The resources will continue to be publicly available
* The Emergency Tool Kit will be an open resource for third sector organizations to use creatively and strategically, in the development of flexible internal management and sustainability strategies and procedures as well as innovative products & services that will better prepare them for survival and positive impact, no matter the contextual scenario;
* The policy paper provides the basis to further pursue advocacy for to develop digital competences for the benefit of the European third sector, unlocking additional funding and resources to build capacity of third sector and social enterprise leaders.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 290683 Eur

Project Coordinator

ESLIDER PORTUGAL, ASSOCIACAO & Country: PT

Project Partners

• ASOCIACIÓN BIENESTAR Y DESARROLLO
• DKolektiv – organizacija za društveni razvoj
• EUCLID NETWORK
• UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
• THE OPEN UNIVERSITY