GENERAL OBJECTIVE 1: contribute to the competitiveness and growth of rural microenterprises by accompanying them in their digital transformation processes through innovative digital learning resources. GENERAL OBJECTIVE 2: strengthen the capacity of the VET ecosystem in rural areas in order to provide human resources trained in digital skills to microenterprises. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 1: enhancing the level of digitalisation of microenterprises and staff of microenterprises located in rural areas through the provision of innovative Multilanguage digital training content, to enable them to have the necessary knowledge and tools to develop their activities in the current digital context. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 2: Improving the business potential of rural microenterprises so that they can play a societal and economic role of “rural development pivots” within the framework of the EU Long-Term Vision for Rural Areas. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 3: Equipping the VET ecosystem in rural areas with operational tools and training resources so that they can prepare future and current workers and entrepreneurs in bringing new talent trained in digital skills to the rural business fabric.
Digital innovation, innovative business models, changing nature of jobs and new methods of work are all reshaping the way companies operate. Large and Medium companies have the means (human, technical, financial) to address those challenges. Small businesses may struggle in specific segments, but those facing most barriers and challenges to ADAPT TO THIS TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION ARE RURAL MICROENTERPRISES (those companies with up to 9 employees). They lack capacity, time, resources, awareness to be on top of new trends and technologies. The Pandemic dramatically accelerated the pace of digitisation change in an unprecedented fashion. Rural microenterprises are the entities struggling the most with this.Where here-to-fore embracing digital change was in many cases a longer term aspiration for the typical rural micro enterprise, today it is largely a survival imperative. The need to advance digital competences and skills of microenterprises in rural areas as an engine for growth, employment and social empowerment through capacity development in a balance with the immediacy of real world operational priorities are the needs addressed in the project.