The project idea is based on the priorities of the “Erasmus+” program and on the growing needs of low-qualified unemployed people and the tools to ease their access to training opportunities. Low-qualified people are particularly vulnerable group among unemployed. The high percentage of people in need of upskilling and qualification in each participating country in the project is a problem that can be solved through easing the access to training and guidance. This project will contribute in achieving the priorities of qualification and upskilling through bringing together unemployed people and training providers in an online platform in order to find the most appropriate and suitable training courses. The project involves four partners from Bulgaria, Portugal and Greece. The target group is unemployed adults. The creation of the platform will be based on unemployed needs for qualification analysis, already prepared by the partners, aiming to improve the qualifications of the target group. The Bulgarian coordinator DEV has experts with vast experience in education, management and cross-border cooperation programs and projects. The Portugal partner "Braga Mobility" is very experienced in mobility, training and international projects. The Greek organization has a background related to ICT trainings and education. The Bulgarian partner "Anatolia consult" has a vast experience in training, consulting and guidance in the field of labor market. The objectives of the project are to create preconditions for acceleration of the integration process and to create an e-platform for training search open unemployed adults, where training providers will register and offer training opportunities. Another objective of the project is to disseminate the e-platform through promotion in mass media, social media and relevant institutions. The activities involve four Transnational Project Meetings (TPM), four Multiplier events, one Short-term joint staff training mobility and one Blended mobility and a creation of one Intellectual output. On the first TPM in Bulgaria will be elaborated a working program with Action plan and Rules of Financial Management and Cooperation. Each partner will analyze and process the unemployed adults' needs of qualification research they have made prior the start of the project. The second TPM will be organized by the "Braga Mobility". The partners will present their analysis and data on the needs of unemployed for qualification with a plan to include the target group in the development process. The 3d TPM will be in Greece and will be discussed the design and features of the e-platform. The 4th TPM will be organized in Bulgaria by the "Anatolia". The platform will be presented, tested and adjusted by all the partners. On it will be elaborated a manual for training and use of the e-platform. The project foresees four events for dissemination of the results. The 1st Multiplier event will be after the second TPM in order to inform the interested organizations and to collect a bigger audience. The 2d,3d,4th dissemination events will be after the completion and final test of the platform and will gather unemployed adults, interested organizations, training providers and employers. The coordinator will be involved in all the tasks leading to the production of the intellectual output, will supervise the activities of the project partners and will be responsible for the creation of searching criteria in the e-platform, based on the analysis made by all partners on the needs of qualification in the adult education sector. The design will be done by the Bulgarian "Anatolia Consult" and the Greek "01 Infonet". The feedback method implemented in the intellectual product will be task for the Portugal partners "Braga Mobility". The project foresees two Learning, teaching, training events. The first is planned to be a Short-term joint staff training event, the second is planned to be Blended mobility. The project will combine two existing project management methodologies. The traditional “Waterfall” and the so-called “Joint Application Development” methodology. The expected impact on the target group is to ease the access to training opportunities of unemployed adults and thus to improve their qualification and adaptability to the labor market. What we expect as an impact on the participating organizations in the project is the creation of a strong partnership and sustainable effect. The training providers and unemployed people will be provided with an innovative tool – the e-platform. A bigger and additional impact will be to improve the levels of unemployment through rising the percentage of qualified adults. The project requires active participation from all partners and massive informational campaign during the process of creation of the intellectual product and after the completion.
CONTEXT/BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT The project is based on the priorities of the Erasmus+ Program and on the growing needs of low-qualified unemployed people and the need for tools to ease their access to training opportunities. Low-qualified people are a particularly vulnerable group among the unemployed. The high percentage of people in need of upskilling and qualification in each participating country in the project is a problem that can be solved through easing access to training and guidance. To address this issue, the four partners from the UNEM project came up with the idea to contribute to achieving the priorities of qualification and upskilling through bringing together unemployed people and training providers in an online platform in order to find the most appropriate and suitable training courses. OBJECTIVES The main objective of the UNEM project was to create preconditions for the acceleration of the integration process and the upskilling of low-qualified adults. This was done through an integrative approach, using ICT tools, digital, and research methods, which resulted in the creation of a platform for training search open for all users, available in four languages, where training providers will register and offer training opportunities (www.coursetojob.eu). NUMBER AND PROFILE OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS The project team included partners from three different countries: Bulgaria, Greece, and Portugal. The Coordinating organization is a vocational education provider, the other three partner organizations provide adult education and training, work in the field of Erasmus+ mobility, and consultancy. All partners brought their specific competencies to the project. DESCRIPTION OF MAIN ACTIVITIES The activities of the UNEM project involved four Transnational Project Meetings, three Multiplier events, two Learning, Teaching, Training events, and the creation of one Intellectual output - the Coursetojob platform. The project followed a dissemination plan, implementing and envisaging activities during and after the end of the project. Was adopted an Evaluation methodology of project activities and deliverables, which monitored the elaboration and quality of project activities and results. RESULTS AND IMPACT ATTAINED The UNEM project team explored the qualification needs of unemployed people and low-skilled individuals in three different countries, how their needs could be addressed through the use of digital tools, and how their access to qualification can be improved. Project products include technical materials, researches, and learning activities implemented during the project meetings and events. As a result, was created an online platform, aiming to ease the access to training opportunities of unemployed and low-skilled adults and thus to improve their qualification and adaptability to the labor market. The participating organizations created a strong partnership. The target group was provided with an innovative tool – the Coursetojob platform (www.coursetojob.eu). As an overall result, after the end of the project, we expect to contribute to the improvement of unemployment rates by raising the percentage of qualified adults. Project results in numbers: - 28 people participated in the online learning, teaching, training event, increasing their knowledge, understanding, and skills in assessing digital tools and content, and in giving feedback; - 198 participants in three online multiplier events in Bulgaria, Greece, and Portugal - 81 registrations at the Coursetojob website until the end of January 2021 - 467 organic followers of the UNEM Facebook page - Marketing promotions, reaching more than 7,000 users from Bulgaria, Greece, and Portugal - E-mail marketing campaigns, reaching 62 representatives of the Employment Agencies; 104 VET centers; 71-course providers, and 800 training centers LONGER-TERM BENEFITS The most relevant longer-term benefit is to improve and extend the supply of high-quality educational opportunities, tailored to the needs of low-skilled or low-qualified individuals. The platform offers easy and free access and will stress out the most relevant professions, the professions of the future, and those with a shortage of staff - aiming to inform the users and to guide them on the most suitable professional path. On the other hand, training providers will be fostered to organize courses, that will benefit the attendees and will help them find a job. The active role of the partners in maintaining the platform "alive" after the end of the project plays a major role in the informative character of the Coursetojob. We aim to publish news, analyses, and important information, which will be useful for the users and will inform them about the labor market trends. The online space gives the opportunity to provide extended information about the course provider, his activities, the trainers, the program, location, fee, period, etc.