Training for managerial competences in VET for the small businesses of the crafts sector Erasmus Project

Project Title

Training for managerial competences in VET for the small businesses of the crafts sector

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 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

Entrepreneurs are the engine of economic growth in Europe. It is a well-known fact that SMEs are the most important form of business organization in Europe, representing 99.8% of all enterprises. What is much less known is that most SME are in fact micro enterprises: more than 19 million employ less than 10 people. Many of these enterprises, mainly from the craft and artisan sector, are run by the owner and together employ around 1/3 of the European workforce. The craft company plays a fundamental role in people’s quality of life and dignity and, as it can have an impact on the stability and cohesion of society; it is an indispensable part of the future. However, in a highly competitive economy, a good know-how is not always enough to develop a successful business project

The main objective of STARTCRAFTS is to address the training needs of crafts entrepreneurs in key transversal skills based on new updated research, and strengthen their business activities. STARTCRAFTS is a EU partnership designed to develop core and innovative learning methods that best encourage success in business activities, answering the need for education and training thanks to an innovative proposal based on participation and ICTs.

Throughout the project lifetime, partners expect to involve a large audience over Europe, engaging participants from partners’ countries (Belgium,Poland, Spain, Italy, and Greece) to take part in different training activities and events. Each participating country will collect answers from at least 50 VET educators on skills needs observed and will organise 2 focus groups with participation of at least 5 participants representing crafts business entrepreneurs world. In total, partners expect to involve at least 500 learners in the STARTCRAFTS platform during the project life. 14 external experts will be selected to review all the materials to be developed. National events and a final European conference will also engage more participants in the project.

Partners have determined a work plan in order to reach the objectives set for the project, starting with the preparation of a mobile report about craft entrepreneurship teaching and crafts entrepreneurial skills demand according to representatives from the sector. Then, they will develop specific training contents responding to the competences foreseen, each partner using its specific fields of expertise to contribute to the development of the course. They will develop an online platform to deliver the course with interactive exercises and evaluation system, including a social module, as a meeting place for crafts entrepreneurs and stakeholders for project pitching and peer-to-peer learning. They will develop a market training toolkit specifically designed to provide a market orientation insight to craft entrepreneurial projects, and will finally develop teaching notes addressing trainers in the crafts and entrepreneurial fields.

STARTCRAFTS project will rely on a participative methodology, engaging the target group all along the project implementation. It will also make a strong use of ICT as a catalyst for the project activities impact. A strong focus is given on international activities, being in line with an international scenario for smart growth and boosting creativity through intercultural diversity.

The main project result will be the creation of a complete set of educative materials for crafts entrepreneurs, including an e-learning platform, a market training tool, as well as a teaching notes. The expected impact on the target group is an improvement of the entrepreneurial competences, and thus better efficiency and success in the launch of activities.

As long term benefit, project expect to contribute to the EU2020 strategy encouraging an economy based on creativity and sustainability, thanks to better prepared crafts entrepreneurs for the management of competitive and performant businesses, as well as to the ET2020 strategy, contributing to the development of qualitative open educational resources.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 237094 Eur

Project Coordinator

CHAMBRE OFFICIELLE DE COMMERCE D’ESPAGNE EN BELGIQUE ET AU LUXEMBOURG & Country: BE

Project Partners

• STOWARZYSZENIE CENTRUM WSPIERANIA EDUKACJI I PRZEDSIEBIORCZOSCI
• KAINOTOMIA & SIA EE
• Asociación Valencia Inno Hub
• MARKEUT SKILLS SOCIEDAD LIMITADA
• Stowarzyszenie na rzecz Promocji Kultury i Rzemiosł Dawnych “Wici”
• Smooland di Dell Osso marco