The third sector (TS), consisting of civil society associations and foundations, volunteers, and other citizen organisations and activities, offers unique renewable and sustainable resources for social and economic problem-solving, democracy, and civic engagement in Europe. In times of social and economic distress and enormous pressures on governmental budgets, not to mention the ongoing COVID- 19 crisis, this sector is even more important than usual – not as an alternative to government but as a fully-fledged partner in the effort to promote economic development, active citizenship and social cohesion in Europe. The leaders of TS organizations are not perceived as very enterprising or innovative nor digital. However, encouraging innovation and digital transformation is essential, not only because of the complexity of the social challenges faced by NGOs, but also as a way of diversifying their sources of income and dealing with financial constraints. Innovation capacity and digital transformation is no longer optional, but should become a prerequisite for today's social leaders. In addition, leadership and digital transformation skills are particularly in demand – as a rule the majority of chief executives in the sector coming from the private or public sector. Spending on training and development lags significantly behind the public and private sector. The lack of investment in staff training and development is perpetuating the skills gap in the sector resulting in reduced likelihood of career advancement, lower than average job tenure and a continuing drain to the private and public sector. Thus, leadership and digital transformation in nonprofit organizations presents a specific set of challenges and therefore requires a unique set of skills. Digital leadership development training can be key to growing nonprofit core competencies. LeaderSEEDS will to support the Non-for-Profit Sector of the European economy, collectively usually referenced as the Third Sector (TS). The key deliverable for this project will be the development of a suite of Continuous Vocational Educational Training, addressing the known knowledge gaps with free to use/access, independent digital learning materials. The project engages the following target groups: 1) Leadership, chief executives, senior managers, including board members of third sector organizations 2) VET and HEI colleges whose teaching staff, students & researchers wish to apply their pedagogical, research innovation capacities to real world problems &new groups of learners and reinforce their ability to provide high quality, inclusive digital education. The project is intended to build a leadership development programme and on-line learning environment for managers and senior executives of TSOs in order to improve their professional profiles and thus, operational and innovation capacity of third sector organizations. The final outcome of the project will be a Digital Leadership Development Training programme based on a microlearning and challenge based education. Target group of the project will learn about digital transformation and social leadership related competences and will gain their skills and competences in a collaborative learning environment based on real case-based learning (learning by doing). The objective of the programme is to enable the target group to access a new online training model designed to provide them with the knowledge and skills to develop professional leadership and digital transformation competences. In addition, the project will build a multilingual, interactive portal (Digital Leadership Centre) enabling direct access to educational resources and skills development activities online. The Digital Leadership Development Training Programme will play a vital role in developing the third sector’s future leaders. By understanding the issues, promoting leadership development in the sector and equipping the target group with the tools they need to succeed, the programme can play a catalytic role in enhancing the quantity and competency of social leaders and therefore ensure that the sector continues to be at the forefront of tackling social and environmental problems, helping the vulnerable and promoting social justice. Last but not the least, it has to be highlighted that Schools and VET providers are the hardest hit by social distancing measures due to COVID-19. Many VET providers were unprepared to deliver their training material solely online. Giving the opportunity to VET professionals to enhance their knowledge in new digital concepts will help them develop new ways of working and demonstrating their work. With the rise of digitization, lack of digital skills is holding VET providers back. As a result, the development of digitals and other skills for VET providers is essential for delivering their work, especially during this pandemic.
The LeaderSEEDS project had a comprehensive set of primary aims and objectives. Firstly, it aimed to bolster the operational and innovative capacity of third sector organizations (TSOs), which play a vital role in addressing societal challenges. This recognition of TSOs as a valuable resource encompassed various entities like civil society associations, foundations, volunteers, and citizen organizations. * Developed Leadership Skills * Fostered Digital Transformation * Needs analysis * Addressed Knowledge Gaps * Promoted Collaboration * Create Digital Learning Resources * Improved Educational Delivery * Enabled Collaborative Learning * Established Digital Leadership Centre * Develop a cohort of future TSO global leaders * Create a route to Institute of Community Safety Fellowship This multifaceted approach was designed to empower TSOs and their leaders to better address social and economic challenges, thereby enhancing their capacity to drive positive societal change and improve the well-being of communities across Europe. Through the LeaderSEEDS project, these organizations were equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape and make a lasting impact on their target audiences.
The partners applied to develop and deliver the LeaderSEEDs project to address, the following needs: Enhancing TSO Capacity: It can be inferred that the partners applied for the project because they recognized a need to enhance the operational and innovative capacity of third sector organizations (TSOs). Digital Transformation: The project aimed to develop the digital transformation skills of TSO managers and executives. This suggests that the partners recognized a need to adapt to the changing technological landscape and harness digital tools to improve their operations and services. Leadership Development: The partners sought to develop leadership competences among TSO managers and executives. Transnational Collaboration: The project involved partners from multiple countries, indicating a desire for transnational collaboration and knowledge sharing. Training Programs and Online Platforms: The development of training programs and online platforms, for accessible and effective methods of capacity building and skill development for TSO leaders. In summary, the partners applied for the LeaderSEEDs project to address the needs of enhancing the capacity, leadership skills, and digital transformation capabilities of TSOs.