Integrating the European Knowledge in employment and entrepreneurship for Disadvantaged Groups

Disadvantaged, vulnerable groups are deeply affected by unemployment and social exclusion, as low-income families with children face difficulties in finding affordable childcare and migrants encounter unprecedented barriers in the job market. The project partners applied for this project because they wanted to create innovative learning opportunities for social inclusion groups, such as women, seniors, unemployed, migrants and Romani, using interactive techniques, topics, and digital tools. The main needs that they addressed were: • The need to boost the social integration of the target groups through employment or entrepreneurship, by enhancing their employability, upskilling, innovation, social mobility, and equality. • The need to develop a comprehensive approach and endorse a number of goals in entrepreneurial training and employment, in order to support the implementation of national inclusion strategies and the Council Recommendation of their Integration. • The need to improve the digital competence, connectivity, innovation, and business environment of the target groups, by providing them with access to online platforms, virtual learning environments, digital tools and resources.

The project PAL PUSH II offered innovative learning opportunities for social inclusion groups, such as women, seniors, unemployed, migrants and Romani, using interactive techniques, topics, and digital tools. The main aim was to improve their social integration through employment or entrepreneurship. The project tackled several priorities, such as improving employability, upskilling, innovation, social mobility, and equality for the target groups. The project used advanced integrated approaches, such as blended learning, coaching, apprenticeships, and digital literacy. The specific objectives of the project were to enhance the entrepreneurial and employability competences, increase the knowledge and skills, deliver the tools to develop the digital competence, support the start-up of new enterprises, reduce the unemployment in post-COVID era, foster the cooperation and networking, boost the digital connectivity and innovation, and raise the growth potential of the entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups.

• Mapping the target groups’ needs in the post-COVID era and adapting existing training materials, based on online discussions, research, stakeholder engagement, and roundtables to develop two curriculum plans. • Enhancing inclusive entrepreneurship education and coaching services, by developing, translating, and piloting an entrepreneurial curriculum and materials (10 modules), and providing personalized coaching services to new entrepreneurs. • Supporting inclusive employment through upskilling, by developing, translating, and piloting an inclusive employment curriculum and materials (10 modules). • Speed-up Dating and Apprenticeship activities at local and international level, by developing and piloting these innovative support actions at local level through multiplier events and apprenticeship procedures. • Developing and maintaining an online platform and a virtual learning environment, which provide access to the training materials, modules, tools, and resources developed by the project. • Creating and expanding a network of stakeholders, partners, and beneficiaries, which facilitate the exchange of good practices, experiences and opportunities among the target groups and the relevant actors in the field of social inclusion, entrepreneurship and employment. • Conducting impact assessment and evaluation reports, which document the achievements, challenges and lessons learned from the project implementation and provide recommendations for future actions and improvements.

• Two curricula and materials for inclusive entrepreneurship and employment, covering 10 modules each, such as business planning, marketing, financial management, communication skills, etc. • Personalized coaching services to new entrepreneurs, helping them to identify their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and to develop their business ideas and plans. • Speed-up dating and apprenticeship activities at local and international level, enabling the target groups to network with potential employers, mentors, investors, partners, and customers. • An online website and library of the project results, which provide access to the training materials, modules, tools and resources developed by the project. • A network of stakeholders, partners and beneficiaries, which facilitate the exchange of good practices, experiences and opportunities among the target groups and the relevant actors in the field of social inclusion, entrepreneurship and employment. • Impact assessment and evaluation reports, which document the achievements, challenges and lessons learned from the project implementation and provide recommendations for future actions and improvements.