The SHARPEN project is a network of five universities from five EU countries that are aligned around collaboration with one main objective: Human Resources Attraction, Retention and Performance Enhancement in Small and Midsized Enterprises (SMEs).All five universities are situated in regions where the strongest economic power and majority of work opportunities are held by SMEs. From previous surveys it has been found that the majority of graduates who are leaving regional universities tend to migrate out of the regions to find attractive jobs closer to capital cities and in large companies. The reason is on both sides: students are not prepared and educated practically to be able to enter SME jobs and fulfill the specific needs of SMEs and SMEs are not sufficiently attractive and therefore in general cannot recruit and retain graduates. Furthermore, the regions already face or will face in the near future challenges with successfully integrating immigrants into local jobs.Therefore the SHARPEN project will focus on training HR teachers in the universities to prepare students to start their careers in SMEs and to be ready to meet the needs of SMEs. Furthermore, the project will prepare and educate SMEs about how to create appropriate conditions and to be attractive employers for young graduates, but also for people with other specific needs such as disabled people, elderly people or immigrants. HRM learning modules in English will be useful tools to deliver these objectives to students who will also visit SMEs and work in real practice. Various seminars, lectures and conferences will be prepared to disseminate findings for SMEs. International training and workshops for teachers will be held to share knowledge and best practices mainly on new HR methods and inclusion issues from regions where they already have this experience (Germany and the UK) to the other partners (CZ, FIN, LI) which will enrich current knowledge amongst the participating institutions.Intended objectives: graduates finding jobs more easily in the region where they studied the university, mainly in SMEs, that are the largest group of employers in these regions; HR teachers who are better equipped with knowledge and expertise based not only on HR theory but more on daily practice and needs of companies, particularly SMEs; programmes that combine the needs of SMEs with the expectations and competences of graduates, foreigners, elderly people. Understanding that regional employers have to be flexible and adaptable to fill open job positions successfully with local unemployed people.This project will include up to 15 HRM specialists and teachers working on the HR project courses. Five specialists will be dedicated to direct and continuous communications with SMEs in their respective regions, directly involving 75 students who are active in international mobility. There will further be approximately 500 students attending HRM courses during the project and approx. 50 SMEs in the regions who will collaborate with preparing case studies, and developing a knowledge-base and exemplary practices for the content of the handbook chapters. The eHandbook will be than delivered and available to hundreds of SMEs to guide them with effective HR policies and processes.The activities will include workshops facilitated by HR teachers, the creation of HR modules for students, research on current HRM trends in SMEs, seminars, lectures, conferences, social-media communications and other dissemination activities. Key knowledge production methods used will include questionnaire-based research conducted amongst SMEs, together with active collaboration with students and SMEs which will inform the research study, case writing and handbook chapters.Summary of intended project results and impact: First, the development and modernisation of the curricula on HRM and business administration courses related to SMEs within the collaborating universities will be key success factors. More relevant, up-to-date and highly practical HR course content, based on real needs and case studies conducted in SMEs will lead to better educated students whose expectations and competences will be matched more closely with the needs of the SMEs that are seeking new employees. Second, SMEs participating in the project and benefiting from its outputs will better understand how to facilitate their working conditions and define their employer brand to become more attractive employers that will more easily recruit and retain young workers and other job seekers with specific needs to boost the sustainability of local economies.
The SHARPEN project was developed to improve and promote Human Resource Management (HRM) both in higher education and in practice in regional SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises). SHARPEN stands for 'SMEs HRM Attraction, Retention and Performance Enhancement Network'. It was funded by Erasmus Strategic Partnerships for Higher Education over three years during 2016-19. Five tertiary education institutions partnered on the SHARPEN: Kajaanin Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy (KAMK), Finland; Technická univerzita v Liberci (TUL), Czech Republic; Zwickau Westachsische-Hochschule (ZUAS), Germany; University of Huddersfield (UoH), United Kingdom; Socialiniu Mokslu Kolegija Klaipeda (SMK), Lithuania. All team members from the partner institutions are professionals with expertise in HRM and managing SMEs, and extensive experience in teaching, research and management practice. The objectives of the project were to apply people management knowledge, experiences and competencies of all the partner universities in collaboration with SMEs and professionals to develop outputs using technology, innovative methods, and creative approaches to generate practical impact through unique local and international networks. SMEs are seen in many regions as anchors of the economy and important drivers in job creation and well-being. The combination of knowledge and experience of academics, businesses, professional organisations and working with students was very beneficial and innovative. The results of these co-creation and co-production activities are reflected in all the project outputs. The main outputs (results) comprise an innovative learning module related to human resource management in regional SMEs, a handbook for SMEs, and research publication drawing on primary data collected across all five regions. The research publications include “People management challenges for SMEs in five European regions: Spotlighting the (in)visible and the (in)formal and embedding SME HR issues firmly in the business and knowledge environment” prepared with all project members from a five-country survey focusing on HRM processes and key challenges. These insights led to key themes being identified which were discussed in two further outcomes generated: an SME Handbook and selected topics in the learning module. The main results of this publication were also cross-referenced in other outputs. The Handbook “A Good Practice Guide to Managing Human Resources in Regional SMEs” is a unique publication wherein nine chapters and more than 200 pages, topics are covered such as strategic workforce planning and resourcing, recruitment, employer branding, corporate social responsibility, workforce integration, development and retention etc. Each chapter of the book consists of a theoretical overview emphasising particular features of SMEs, short case studies, a practical toolkit and a checklist, questions for reflections and a glossary that are important for readers and their feedback. During the SHARPEN project, the design and delivery of the English-language learning module HRM in SMEs were phased into three stages: theoretical and methodological training of students, a one-week intensive study programme annually and application of the knowledge in the third phase into case studies and practical tools. As an output, eight chapters of the module were prepared as curricula in which an innovative approach was adopted and up-to-date information incorporated from the project. The results of the other two outputs are used here (survey findings, case studies and practical tools all related to the specific characteristics of managing people in regional SMEs). All three outputs are available for free public access and use from the SHARPEN website sharpen.ef.tul.cz. Additionally, the SHARPEN project includes insights into current and emerging labour market needs in the partner regions and research collaborations by the SHARPEN project partners with key stakeholders. The project also aimed to increase digital proficiencies, cultural and language competencies of the partner institutions, both staff and students. SHARPEN has had a positive impact on the participating regions (regional companies, public bodies, universities and students). Regional SMEs benefit from the SHARPEN project through intensive work with individual students (75 students in three years worked on 40 case studies), numerous dissemination events as well as the SME-specific content of the handbook. The students who took part in the project gained theoretical knowledge as well as methodological skills, enhanced language and intercultural skills as well as practical entrepreneurial experiences. Longer-term benefits include direct improvement in HRM capabilities in regional SMEs, implementing new curricula into the programmes of the partner countries, the creation of networks and partnership between academics, SMEs and professional organisations which will continue beyond the end of the project.