A new exciting project where Danish, Spanish, Belgian, Italian, Finnish, and Lithuanian markets are part of a strategic partnership. The project, however, is expected to expand to other European countries through the Space network. Graduates from studies with high unemployment rates throughout Europe are able to find new job possibilities in SMEs. This can, surely, be seen as a long needed boost for the European economy. The quality of the project is ensured by: Addressing foster citizens’ potential and simultaneously ensure employability. Students from humanities, theology, and philosophy that possess VET competences are going to be matched with SMEs thereby making a smooth entrance into the labor market. This happens by integrating the world of work in the last year and Unemployed graduates from humanities, theology, and philosophy gain VET competences are matched with SMEs thereby making an opening into the labor market. This happens by giving them intensive VET courses in cooperation with the world of work. The above is done in order to enhance the matching of skills and stimulate the competiveness of the SMEs globally. Furthermore the SMEs are then able to focus on new employee groups. The project addresses the following needs : In several member states youth unemployment, poverty, and inequality have increased. Employers fear that graduates are lacking skills and that the actual shortages of skills are going to be problematic in the developed nations due to the overall aging of the population. SMEs have problems to innovate, grow, meet quality standards and mismatches where not enough young people are trained at the needed levels and the young people that do have the right qualifications are not employable. Project goals regarding test methods • The qualitative skills mismatch occurs when companies give VET skills to graduates from studies with high unemployment rates (e.g. humanities, philosophy, theology etc.) • The quantitative mismatch where not enough young people are trained to be employable by giving the students in study programmes with high unemployment rates (eg. humanities, philosophy, theology etc.) the possibility of acquiring VET skills Both groups should be trained to enhance internalization in SMEs thereby making them better at competing on the global scene. To support and aid SMEs the new employee groups should be trained to assist SMEs in cultural understanding, develop strategies for internationalization, assess international market potential, and the expansion into foreign markets. Furthermore the understanding of business culture in different countries is vital for SMEs to expand and go global. Another positive side effect is to cross culture train unemployed graduates so they are able to assist the SMEs in conquering new markets. DIGAS is going to find ways of bringing the world of work to academia and fight the mismatch of competencies to the benefit of the SMEs. The knowledge of real life assignments is gained from the Nordplus and EU projects: NOBANET (lead ARCADA), EU-VIP and ProVip (partner Tietgen) To sum up it is important to increase the internationalization and competitiveness of the SMEs in order to achieve growth cross culturally. Other important aspects are the recognition of competences and fighting unemployment by integrating the world of work to the benefit of the local communities. You kill two birds with one stone by matching graduates from study areas with a high unemployment rate that are taught VET skills with SMEs that must enhance their understanding of business cultures in different countries in order to further their internalization strategies and international market potential.
Context/background of the project: Strategic Partnership DIGAS – Developing Innovation Agents for SME’s The inspiration for the DIGAS project origins from the successful Danish ESF project “IGA”, Innovative Globalisations Agent (www.iga-project.dk) that came to an end in March 2015. The consortium behind the DIGAS project consists of partners from Spain, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Denmark. The project has furthermore spread to other European countries through the SPACE network. The DIGAS project has been an European project focusing on bridging students and graduates from studies with high unemployment rates with SMEs in need of academia when striving to bring their business abroad. The activities have therefor been both transnational and cross-cultural. Both for the SMEs involved, for the trainers, and for the students and graduates. Objectives: The project addresses the European target: "foster citizens' potential and ensure employability" by: • Matching companies need for young graduates with VET competencies • Smoothing transition of young labor market entrants - with education with low employment rate - to the labor market by integrating world of work in the last year • Enhancing better skills matching • Stimulating higher competitiveness for SMEs in a global market and opening the SMEs for new employee groups Number and profile of participating organisations: • Pic: 950186490, Tietgen Denmark (lead), Organisation, Other • Pic: 949316982, Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen, Other • Pic: 949506035, FLORIDA UNIVERSITARIA, Other • Pic: 942767639, SPARK, Other • Pic: 944733441, Istituto Formazione Operatori Aziendali, Other • Pic: 950182222, SPACE European Network for Business Studies and Languages, Other • Pic: 949241613, Högskolan Arcada Ab, Other • Pic: 944452723, V.A. Graiciuno aukstoji vadybos mokykla, Higher education institution (tertiary level) Describtion of undertaken main activities: Management • Management report 2014-2016 • Biannual Management Report • Plan for the project results sustainability • Plan for the consortiums future Training programme adaption for European focus • Best practice collection • Programme and learning materials development Analysing academic competencies versus company needs • Mismatch pattern report Pilot training • VET training for unemployed and/or last year students • Pilot project report Platform for internship and real life assignments • Platform • Online support Quality monitoring and evaluation • Impact Audit report • Digas quality and evaluation plan • Compilation of Status reports • Expert review Dissemination • Dissemination strategy and plan • Project website • Project identity manual and templetes • Leaflet and brochure • Video • International conference International conference • AGM SPACE/DIGAS conference, Ghent, Belgium LTT-activities: Intensive studyprogrammes for learners and Short-term joint staff training events DIGAS: Results and impact attained: The target groups were first and foremost graduates, students and SMEs. In addition to these target groups other relevant stakeholders were • NGO’s • former partners and Co-operators and potential partners • HEIs and VET adult learning centers, • Local, Regional and National governments • NPO’s • Universities and other members of educational associations in partner countries • Labour market participants The DIGAS project has clarified that SMEs are in need of academia when going abroad. It has also clarified that graduates and student, when given VET competencies, can create jobs in SMEs. Jobs that are not present before academia is introduced. Therefor this project will contribute to creating brand new jobs, leading to growth. ‘Europa 2020’ is the EU’s growth strategy for this decade. In the executive summary of ‘the Europe 2020 strategy’ three mutually reinforcing priorities are put forward. They are: • Smart growth: developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation. • Sustainable growth: Promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy. • Inclusive growth: Fostering a high-employment economy delivering social and territorial cohesion. The activities in the DIGAS project have supported these growths pillars. From the beginning of the project the consortium outlined a dissemination plan (see attached) in order to make sure that the results would reach the target groups and stakeholders. We fully believe to have achieved this aim. As an important part of the dissemination plan we set out to create a website including a platform where the different members of the target groups and stakeholders can reach each other, even after the duration of the project.