> Context/background: This project is focused on competences, qualification and endorsement frameworks and partners will connect existing entrepreneurial adult education programmes for disadvantaged adults with fewer opportunities. They will use entrepreneurial frameworks to recognise, endorse, and acknowledge prior learning, on the job learning and learning in the educational programmes using Open Badges digital technology. This project is based on supporting adults who often developed specific hard skills, have entrepreneurial knowledge, but lack the right entrepreneurial skills to make an effective business or find the right job around their competences and support themselves on personal and career level. This project will be Improving and extending the supply of high quality learning opportunities for adults by making available flexible learning offers adapted to their learning needs (e.g. blended learning, digital learning applications), and by the validation of skills acquired through informal and non-formal learning. > Objectives: To develop capacity of partner organisations to use Open Badges technology to assess, validate and recognise entrepreneurial skills and attitudes of adult learners; To develop endorsement schemes for adult education programmes, especially for adult learners with fewer opportunities; To create new adult learning opportunities by utilising and developing digital technology solutions available on the Cities of Learning platform; To promote new adult learning opportunities in participating countries and at the European level. > Participant: Participants of the adult education programmes carried out by the partners: - unemployed, non- or undereducated young adults, adults who not yet recognise their prior learning, have an entrepreneurial attitude and need better guidance into becoming an entrepreneur. - refugees who are mid- and high educated residents and newcomers but they are lacking the right certificates to enter the labour market. Staff members partner organisations: - trainers, adult educators, social workers - project managers, staff, communication specialists, policy makers > Description of activities: Intellectual output “Entrepreneurial skills pathways for adult learners” Intellectual output “Endorsement schemes for entrepreneurial skills” Intellectual output“Skills pathways and endorsement functionality on Cities of Learning platform” Staff training on digital technology for pathways to entrepreneurial skills Study visit on adult learning pathways to entrepreneurial skills Study visit on endorsement schemes for entrepreneurial skills Local and international multiplier events > Methodology: Adult education, design thinking, skills pathways, Open Badges, Cities of Learning framework, skills endorsement, agile development approach. > Results: - developed capacity of partner organisations and their staff members to use Open Badges technology to assess, validate and recognise entrepreneurial skills and attitudes of adult learners. - exchanged best practices of adult education programmes focused on entrepreneurial mindset development, especially with adults from inclusions groups; - created new digital pathways to entrepreneurial development using open badges technology; - developed skills pathways and endorsement functionality on the Cities of Learning platform; - created media content and resources to promote new adult learning opportunities in participating countries and at the European level > Impact: - adult learners putting their knowledge, skills and attitudes into actions - adult learners are self-starting to find a job (‘employability’) or to start a business; - adult education organisations may change their approach to teaching and learning; - societal change and social inclusion; - economic growth – because of the new entrepreneurs and new ‘intrapreneurs’, (adding value to existing businesses as an entrepreneurial skilled employees) > Longer term benefits: Our project results will contribute to reaching local, regional, national and European policy objectives. As such, services bringing added value and quality to adult education and entrepreneurial education will remain of high importance at least for the next couple of years, specifically due to the Covid-19 situation where Europe needs entrepreneurial attitudes and skills, making our project relevant over a longer period of time.
The objectives of this project are as follows: 1. To develop the capacity of partner organisations in using Open Badges technology for assessing, validating, and recognizing entrepreneurial skills and attitudes of adult learners. 2. To establish endorsement schemes specifically designed for adult education programs, with a particular focus on adult learners facing fewer opportunities. 3. To create new adult learning opportunities by leveraging and enhancing digital technology solutions available on the Cities of Learning platform. 4. To promote and raise awareness about the newly developed adult learning opportunities both within participating countries and at the European level.
As project partners, we recognized the need for effective means to validate the efforts of disadvantaged adults in developing entrepreneurial skills. To address this need, we wanted to use digital open badges as a solution to provide tangible recognition for their achievements. Additionally, we identified the importance of viewing entrepreneurship as a transversal competence applicable to various aspects of life, beyond just starting a business, to nurture personal growth and foster active societal participation among the individuals we worked with. Therefore, we applied for this initiative to support (enterprising) adults and enhance their entrepreneurial skills, especially in a "low touch economy" following the Covid-19 crisis. Throughout the project, we aimed to implement digital learning pathways that empower disadvantaged adults to succeed personally and professionally. To bridge the gap between education and work, we planned to use established frameworks like 'EntreComp,' empowering them to rebuild the economy with their talents and resources. Additionally, we recognized the need for endorsements as a way to validate and acknowledge their efforts throughout the journey of developing these entrepreneurial skills