The main objective of the project was to train with up-to-date educational resources unemployed individuals, unskilled workers, and others, e.g. recent graduates, to improve their knowledge and skills, ultimately enhancing their employability in Cyprus, Greece, Malta, and across the EU. The training courses were designed to provide valuable insights into key topics identified by the stakeholders and consortium during the project's initial phase (i.e. Activity 3). These topics included emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Data Analytics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), and essential soft skills (e.g. communication, leadership and more). The primary goal was to increase their employability , enable them to participate in the digital transformation, stay informed about current trends and need, as well as increase their chances to be hired in higher paying jobs. By fostering these skills, the project not only aimed to benefit individuals but also support the EU labor market's digital transformation, increasing overall competitiveness and productivity.
We applied for the BETES project to address significant gaps in the European labor market, particularly the shortage of skilled ICT workers and the growing need for reskilling and upskilling. Over the past decade, studies such as the DESI index report have highlighted the EU's digital skills gap, with many companies relying on foreign workers or outsourcing operations, an issue also affecting Cyprus, Greece, and Malta. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these challenges by increasing unemployment across Europe, underscoring the urgent need for digital skills, as well as soft competencies, in the tech era. Our target groups, unemployed individuals, unskilled workers and other individuals, are often marginalized with limited access to career opportunities. The BETES project addressed these challenges and target group needs, by conducting research and engaging stakeholders from both academia and industry to identify and bridge the gap between the two. By offering targeted bootcamps focused on emerging technologies, as well as soft skills /competencies needed in the workforce (identified by our research), the project aspired to improve employability and support Europe's competitiveness in the global market.