The project eU-COMMERCE:“Promoting a new European e-commerce VET educational pathway to increase levels of skills for employability and sustainable business creation” aims at promoting an innovative VET training methodology specifically designed for creating and run effectively online sales businesses, by developing a flexible learning offer and e-tools, adapted to the learning needs of adult learners as well as VET Trainers when it comes to navigate the online world, while improving levels of skills for employability and new business creation (including social entrepreneurship) and thus, increasing the general sense of initiative and entrepreneurship within the online sales and e-commerce sector. Nonetheless the project will develop a flexible and innovative digital learning offer, adapted to the learning needs of present and future digital entrepreneurs and Trainers, within the online sales’ sector (as well as to the most disadvantaged group of learners), which will also trigger an increased sense of initiative and entrepreneurship, by improving levels of skills for employability and the creation/adaptation of new and more sustainable online businesses. By doing so, the project will also play a key role in becoming a European new educational benchmark within the e-commerce and online sales industry, hence bridging the gap between the needed digital and online sales skills of entrepreneurs (as well as “wannabe entrepreneurs”) and, the actual long-term sustainability benefits of their businesses, while contributing to accelerate the process of digital transformation. Moreover, eU-COMMERCE is also aligned with the following Erasmus+ Programme common and specific priorities & objectives for the VET field: - Adapting vocational education and training to labour market needs: as it supports the development of a VET programme that offer a balanced mix of vocational skills and create work-based learning opportunities well aligned to all economic cycles, evolving jobs and working methods and key competences for online sales business creation and to navigate successfully the e-commerce growing world. In this regard, eU-COMMERCE will also enhance the development of innovative VET curricula, programme offers and qualifications, building on required skills intelligence and that ultimately will allow VET providers to adapt and incorporate it in their training offers hence boosting the digital transition and economic growth. - Addressing digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity-building of VET learners and Trainers in the use of innovative digital technologies, online learning methodology and e-tools developed, in education and business creation, always ensuring gender equality and addressing differences in relation to the access and use by underrepresented groups. This way the Project will also further support the use of the European frameworks on digital and entrepreneurial competences of educators, citizens and organisations. - Increasing the flexibility of opportunities in vocational education and training, by developing a flexible and learner-centred online VET program and relevant set of e-tools to navigate successfully in the online sales’ and e-commerce ecosystem, thus also contributing to bridge the existing gaps in the access to training for working age adults, to successfully manage labour market transitions, while developing a customized continuing vocational training programme on the needs of the project target groups designed to be adaptable to the labour market and, easy to be transferred/recognized by/to other educational or entrepreneurial sectors & environments. Finally the project will also contribute to the Promotion of the Erasmus+ Programme among all citizens and generations, by creating and promoting new education opportunities and exchanges of experiences to VET and adult learners, with a view to building and strengthening European identity.
According to Shaping Europe’s digital future”: Digital technologies - actions in response to coronavirus pandemic - EC, 2020”, digital technology is a key component of our collective effort to tackle Covid-19’s negative socio-economic impact and ,support our new ways of living and working reality during this exceptional time. During the current Pandemic, with high street shops in lockdown and businesses and consumers under social distancing restrictions, e-commerce sales became a real opportunity for both, existing traditional businesses and new digital enterprises, while one trend has become clear: digital adoption has been vastly accelerated. Thus, in this scenario,the project eU-COMMERCE:“Promoting a new European e-commerce VET educational pathway to increase levels of skills for employability and sustainable business creation” aims at promoting an innovative VET training methodology specifically designed for creating and run effectively online sales businesses, by developing a flexible learning offer and e-tools, adapted to the learning needs of adult learners as well as VET Trainers when it comes to navigate the online world, while improving levels of skills for employability and new business creation (including social entrepreneurship) and thus, increasing the general sense of initiative and entrepreneurship within the online sales and e-commerce sector. Thanks to the in-depth cooperation of a well-rounded International Partnership represented by 7 Organizations active in the field of entrepreneurship, VET & Adult education, non-formal learning and, with direct expertise on online and digital education as well as online sales/e-commerce, Partners aim at developing (PR1)a Framework of Competences for present and future digital entrepreneurs (also valid for VET Trainers/Educators), focusing on the necessary set of knowledge,skills and attitudes, needed to navigate successfully the online sales and e-commerce entrepreneurial ecosystem. Based on that (PR2) An interactive and cutting-edge Online Course for Digital Entrepreneurs and VET Trainers, willing to gain/improve their digital skills, while learning the most effective online sales techniques, e-tools and relevant platforms needed to boost their online businesses and sales; And, (PR3)an educational app, with the aim of engaging, connecting and empowering digital entrepreneurs, while promoting a more active participation and European citizenship via Gamification.Moreover Partners will implement National Focus Groups (A2) with the aim of pilot testing the Project Results while capacity-building Trainers and Online Sales/e-commerce experts (on their effective use, and thus multiplying the effect in turn, by promoting and training future digital entrepreneurs. Finally, all Project Results (PR) will be shared with the main target groups via Final Multiplier Events (E1-E7). Main Project Target groups are: • Present &future Entrepreneurs,Social Entrepreneurs,Unemployed VET & Adult Learners,creatives,digital artists &designers,community managers,artisans,etc.In those including also Learners with fewer opportunities; • VET Trainers & Educators, Partner organisations and their Staff; • OTHER STAKEHOLDERS:SMEs, Start-ups, non-per profit organisations, active in the field of VET, non-formal education and online presence/sales, but also public bodies and VET Centers as well as,policy makers and HEIs,working in the aforementioned sectors and willing to test and incorporate the new training curricula into their educational offer. Furthermore,“wannabe digital entrepreneurs” as well as any other party not directly targeted by the project,will also be able to benefit first hand from the project online training methodology and e-tools,which will eventually lead to a multiplier effect and,an actual widespread positive socio-economic impact in Europe and beyond.