●Enhancing global competitiveness: efforts were made to boost the “export” and internationalisation competitiveness of EU female SMEs operating in various sectors and industries through innovative, practical training programs. ●The creation of an open educational resource (OER) platform that is free, in open access and multilanguage version, which represents the digital hub of the project, digital library of all content, and more importantly, digital legacy of the project for continuous exploitation of results by partners, targets and related network of stakeholders ● E4F tackle and addresses the skills, knowledge and attitudinal gaps that prevents female-led business in venturing into internationalisation pathways by providing for robust and reliable training content on the discipline of export business management ● Equip the VET system with new training content developed, tailored and tested to addresses this specific service area and domain of education
European SMEs play a vital role in the economy, with 600,000 exporting outside the EU, contributing 35% of total EU exports and creating 6 million jobs. However, only 18% of European SMEs are involved in international markets, highlighting untapped potential. Official EU Commission reports emphasize the significance and challenges of SME internationalisation. Consequently, the project’s top training and education priorities encompassed the following areas: ●Mindset & Ambition: Female SMEs faced internal attitude issues, and it was acknowledged that international expansion must originate from within the company ●Skills and Competence Development: Staff needed to think outside of the box and cultivate a multifunctional skill set ●Market Understanding: It was essential to comprehend new dynamics and mechanisms existing in new potential markets, particularly concerning customer needs, culture, politics, dynamics, and effective business strategies ●Networking: Identifying new partners or networks, spanning from suppliers to retailers, was crucial ● Staff Bandwidth and Skills: Internationalization demanded time, energy, and adaptability