By implementing the f.EU.ture LAs project, we aimed to develop flexible CPD tools and upskill senior staff in small European municipalities, addressing the need for effective smart working aligned with the digital transition, European Green Deal and post-pandemic recovery needs. Our objectives included strengthening CVET providers by expanding their scope and improving service quality through international cooperation, contributing to the European Education Area realisation. We aimed to enhance CVET accessibility in the public sector, with a new, flexible CPD program for rural municipal employees, enabling them to lead digital and green transitions through agile/smart work reorganization. The modular training approach catered to the evolving labor market and working-age adults, ensuring a quick and effective transfer of skills. Ultimately, the project aimed to eliminate procedural uncertainties and cultural shocks for staff, enabling them to adopt smart work models, improving public service quality, individual performance, well-being, and making career prospects more attractive for young European talents within the public administration at local level within rural and remote communities.
We applied for the f.EU.ture LAs Erasmus+ project to address the pressing needs posed by the dual transformation of sustainability and digitalization in the labor market with a focus on the public sector. These changes were central to the shift towards the "smart working" model, accelerated by the Covid19 pandemic and are expected to become permanent. Our goal was to aid the post-pandemic recovery and support the digital and green transformation across Europe by reorganizing work models in small European municipalities. This involved enhancing the skills of municipal staff to lead the "smart" transformation using digital technologies and environmentally responsible practices. Digital technologies are essential for making rural communities more attractive, connected and sustainable. However, countries like EL, NMK and IT lag significantly in digital performance and public service provision, compounded by an aging workforce in small municipalities. This project aimed to improve the digital readiness and sustainability skills of local government staff, fostering a cultural shift towards digital and sustainable readiness in the public workforce ensuring a broader and skills-based adoption of agile/smart working across Europe.