Enhancing the digital competences, e-commerce skills and climate adaptation of vulnerable small businesses Erasmus Project

Project Title

Enhancing the digital competences, e-commerce skills and climate adaptation of vulnerable small businesses

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: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

In general, small businesses are more vulnerable and have less opportunities to compete with large transnational companies while also tackling the adverse effects of climate change. It can be even more severe in case of businesses exposed to the phenomenon of seasonality, especially in the rural areas. Innovative digital solutions can provide efficient tools to overcome these challenges. However, people (owners, managers, employees) involved in these types of businesses (small enterprises, individual entrepreneurs, craftsmen, seasonal greengrocers etc.) very often have only low or medium level of IT knowledge. Furthermore, contrary to multinational companies, these businesses neither have the opportunity to employ experts in online marketing/IT/environment protection, nor have time and budget to educate themselves in these areas. Additionally, there are less opportunities concerning finding expertise and learning opportunities in the countryside than in the cities.
The overall objective of the #keepup project is to develop a training package for these target groups covering (1) digital entrepreneurial competences, (2) e-commerce and (3) climate adaptation. The partnership would like to spread innovative practices in the digital era and prepare the stakeholders how to benefit from the advantages of digitalisation. The importance of e-commerce is significant as the market is expected to continue to grow, and traditional shopping habits are changing, especially due to the current external effects. Moreover, climate change causes a shift in travel behaviour, not to mention its effects on agriculture, environment and seasons. With the developed learning materials, even small, rural businesses affected by seasonality can be more competitive, more open to sustainability and more flexible on climate-adaptation.
From the four intellectual outputs of the project, three will create training modules in the three main topics. The fourth IO will not only cover the development and testing of an innovative learning platform, but the partnership will also create a manual and a handbook for facilitating its use as paying attention to the possible lack of IT knowledge of the adult trainees.
The #keepup team consists of expert partners interested in adult education from 5 different countries. The Lead Partner is the Hungarian Neumann which has great experiences in the field of digital competences and in developing training and e-learning materials for businesses. They also have experience in project coordination and collaborations on national and international level. Neumann will be the main coordinator and will be responsible for the overall quality of the project.
The Hungarian CAM will be the leader of the climate adaptive entrepreneurial knowledge module. CAM has participated in several international projects and is currently coordinating an Erasmus+ project. CAM has developed numerous training materials in the recent years, prepared an online learning platform with international partners, and organised adult education trainings in various subjects, such as sustainability and RES.
The Italian DLEARN is an EU-wide network made of 27 different organizations. They will be responsible for digital competences module. DLEARN is active in the field of education and digital learning at various levels, collecting practices and ideas to reflect, think and trigger new initiatives, with special attention to entrepreneurial learning and education.
The Slovenian BSC, as a regional development agency with over 20 years of experience in EU funded projects, is aimed at sustainability and climate change adaptation to develop the region. BSC is not only an ideal partner to contribute to the materials, but also an influential organisation with a widespread network that can enhance our dissemination activities.
The Slovakian CCIS will coordinate the e-commerce module, as they have deep knowledge on the topic: they actively helped some of their members to develop their e-commerce business providing consultancy on legislation, logistic and SEO. Moreover, CCIS has a broad experience in educational and training programmes and in the successful implementation of international projects.
The Spanish FUNTESO will be responsible for the development of the e-learning platform, as they have serious experience in designing education and training platforms. The organization provides digital literacy trainings, workshops and other events, and has participated in several national and international projects.
Concerning the dissemination activities, CCIS will be responsible for the coordination with the help of DLEARN, but all PPs will actively contribute with inputs and by spreading the project in their partner network. The partnership efforts will result in the multiplier effect of the results and getting in touch with local stakeholders. All PPs will hold two multiplier events: once half-time, and then at the end of the project.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 177925 Eur

Project Coordinator

Neumann János Nonprofit Közhasznú Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság & Country: HU

Project Partners

• CAM Consulting Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
• FUNDACION TECNOLOGIA SOCIAL
• European Digital Learning Network
• BSC, POSLOVNO PODPORNI CENTER, DOO
• Taliansko Slovenska Obchodna Komora