THE SOUND OF BUSINESS – Leveraging the Entrepreneurial Competences of Adults To Extenuate the Business Knowledge Divide Erasmus Project

Project Title

THE SOUND OF BUSINESS – Leveraging the Entrepreneurial Competences of Adults To Extenuate the Business Knowledge Divide

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 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Overcoming skills mismatches (basic/transversal); Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

As declared by the Eu Commission “An agenda for new skills and jobs”, the promotion of entrepreneurship, self-employment, and innovation “can offer a source of innovative solutions to respond to social demands in a participative process, providing specific employment opportunities for those furthest away from the labor market”.
According to the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) manifesto, Adult Education needs to be clearly framed within an overall lifelong learning strategy that considers and gives equal importance to all sectors and all forms of learning (formal, non-formal and informal):
• Adult education is a common and public good and transforms lives and societies.
• Participation of all learners and especially those with low basic skills is encouraged.
• Empowering non-formal methods and methodologies apply the creativity, existing knowledge and skills of learners and provide inspiring learning experiences.
• Professional trainers, Trainers and staff are necessary for applying the appropriate methods and achieving high-quality provision and a successful learner experience.
• Capacity-building and innovation in adult education.
• Cooperation (regional, European, global, and institutional) is crucial for the visibility of adult education but also for peer-learning and innovation transfer.
The Sound of Business project contributed to promote this strategy reaching the following objectives:
• Provided N. 114 adult learners/trainers with practical tools leading to an innovate method of training related to basic and transversal skills, innovative managerial competencies, and entrepreneurial spirit.
• Contributed to use and promote a non-formal approach based on art and music during 1 Short-term joint staff training course, 6 National Multiplier events, 6 national piloting trainings, and a very efficient transnational dissemination campaign.
Involved TGs:
– N. 23 trainers/coaches for adults (plus 1 participant who left the training after two days for personal reasons) equipped with knowledge, skills and innovative tools that blend the Project Cycle Management methodology with business development and rock music.
– N.118 (51 participants in the focus groups + 67 agreements with stakeholders) involved in the initial analysis and needs assessment.
– N. 91 business coaches, adult learners, business development experts, members of the Enterprise Europe Network, training departments of business development institutions acquired professional competence, practical and analytical skills required for business development.
– N. 345 professionals especially interested in non-formal education, CYCLE management, business, and entrepreneurship, as well as music careers, reached and involved in 6 National Multiplier Events and trained about the Sound of Business methodologies.
– 133 aspiring trainers requested for certification of competences.

IOs and Project activities
Due to the COVID pandemic the work plan was changed, and the project was extended till 31.12.20 with official approval of the Slovak NA. All the planned activities were implemented as projected within the changed work plan.
IO1- 1 The Sound of Business Manual translated in 6 languages.
IO2- 1 Online Platform available in 6 languages
IO3- 1 Learning Documentary available in 9 languages
IO4- 1 Protocol of certification od Competences and 1 Promotion Strategy of the protocol

Results and impact attained;
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
a) Quantitative – Project meetings, both transnational partner meetings and online meetings: 44 Participants
b) Qualitative – 93 % positive feedback received on effectiveness of project meetings provided by partners through internal survey following each project meeting- all partners expressed satisfaction with the decisions taken and cooperation with the other countries’ partners during the first TPM.
-8 internal evaluation surveys including 4 meetings evaluations, 2 process evaluations and 2 (interim and final) quality management reports.
QUALITY MANAGEMENT a) Quantitative -93% positive feedback on project management and coordination, provided by the project partners through internal survey in the middle (M14) and at the end of the project (M27).
DISSEMINATION
a) Quantitative
– Dissemination channels 17
– Publications in printed and web-based media:
15 publications (1 article in print media, 1 article in a digital issue of a monthly newspaper, 13 web-based articles)
37 publications in total
174 FB followers:
Website visitors: 4198
Indirect involvement: 694 215
141 page hits of the learning documentary
266 users of training tools through the learning platform
References to the training in other training resources -1+7 cross linked projects
b) Qualitative
-96.83%of positive feedback on MEs in partner countries.

Longer-term benefits.
10 Educational institutions using parts of the developed teaching material
2 Adults starting the process to create their own business.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 170436,56 Eur

Project Coordinator

ICEP s.r.o. & Country: SK

Project Partners

• PRISM IMPRESA SOCIALE S.R.L.
• CSONGRAD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
• EUROPEAN CENTER FOR QUALITY OOD
• SPOLECZNA AKADEMIA NAUK
• ACADEMY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASTIKI ETAIREIA