The Eu 2020 target for the employment rate is to ensure that 75% (20-64 ages) are employed by 2020. In 2016, the EU-28 employment rate (ages 20-64), stood at 71.1%. Hungary has rates in the 70%; Italy, Bulgaria and Poland over 60%; Greece and Slovakia below 60%. The self-employment rate of older workers is higher than for other age-groups (56%).Despite these dates, often the older workers have not the right skills or knowledge to manage their enterprises, caused by the lack of: international view and networks; digital and technological innovations; competitiveness and renovated competences. These aspects have caused the following consequences: many people have not been able to find job or have lost their job and many industries have been closed. 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”. Against the background of intensified competition due to the EU enlargement and globalisation, the adults entrepreneurs need to receive specific trainings that allow them in their innovation capacity and the upgrading of qualification and skills (DG Employment, social affair and Equal Opportunities 2009, Guide for Training in SMEs, Final draft). TARGET GROUPs -Trainers for adults; - Adult learners (age 25- 60) : Unemployed or employed with the need of a riqualification of competencies (mainly basic/transversal skills and entrepreneurship), entrepreneurs (and potential entrepreneurs) looking for innovative management skills and a creative approach to improve their performances. GENERAL OBJECTIVEs -To provide trainers with practical tools leading to an innovate method of training related to basic and transversal skills, innovative managerial competencies and entrepreneurial spirit. -To use and promote a non formal approach based on art and music. -To stimulate self-employment initiatives among adults, according to identified unemployed people’s needs and backgrounds. -To promote/renovate managerial skills of the adults and foster the awareness of the importance of innovation and life long learning. -To recognize and validate non-formal learning at European level. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE -To promote entrepreneurship education among adults through an innvoative training approach and to validate the transferred competencies. The project wants to transfer the competencies about the creation and the running of a company to target groups involved, in the first phase to trainers and in the following phase to adults, through the creation of 4 intellectual outputs implemented on the basis of a non formal approach based on the idea that music (in particular the history of Rock music in the present pilot project) can be used as a cue to train adults about management, business and entrepreneurship. The musical genre is not relevant for the planning of the activities. In this way, the project has a stronger replicability. Project Cycle Management approach, that will be used beside the non formal approach based on music, will help participants in focusing on real needs, and in providing potential solutions to these needs through their business ideas. OUTPUTS: -O1: Training tools -O2: Learning platform -O3: Learning Documentary -O4: Protocol for certification of competencies A Training Course (Short-term joint staff training events), addressed to trainers, will be implemented and used as test for the refinement of the outputs. Multiplier events for the promotion of the IOs will be organised in every partner country, by involving also local bands (among those involved in the O1). Transnationality The economic crisis and the business innovations represent two important challenges for the eurozone that require a transnational approach developing a new common pathway addressed to the target group in order to obtain necessary skills needed to succeed in job requalification. The partners share these issues and their solution: “Lifelong Learning” approach, implementing a “pilot” strategy, that can contribute to solve theme. THE INDICATORS FOR ACHIEVING THE PROJECT'S OBJECTIVES ARE: Number of adults engaged directly or indirectly in the SOB project: 10.000 Trainers for adults attending the trainings: 24 + Adult learners involved in the national training courses: 90 References to the training in other training resources - min 3 Educational institutions using parts of the developed teaching material: 8 Number of trainers and learners asking for the certification of competencies according to the protocol:150 Adults starting the process to create their own business: min 5
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.