2nd Newsletter DigEnYou

Digital entrepreneurship for youth – Cooperation Partnerships in Youth

DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING MODULES:
Successfully created six modules focused on entrepreneurship and digital skills, including:

  • Core Entrepreneurship Competencies
  • Digital Entrepreneurship Competencies
  • Market Awareness and Business Strategies
  • Transversal Skills
  • Crowdfunding and Sustainability
  • Practical Applications and Expert Interviews

The LTTA (Learning, Teaching, and Training Activity) in Ankarawas one of the most important events in the field of educationwithin the project. This meeting, which took place between 7 – 9February 2024, was attended by practitioners from eachcountry and enabled testing of the training curricula developed
in the project.

MAIN TOPICS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING
MODULE 1: CORE ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCIES
The core competencies required for entrepreneurship andbusiness model creation and planning with Business ModelCanvas (BMC) were discussed.

MODULE 2: DIGITAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP COMPETENCIES
The importance of digital technologies in entrepreneurship wasemphasized, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital marketing strategies were discussed.

MODULE 3: MARKET AWARENESS AND BUSINESS AWARENESS
Entrepreneurs’ skills in market analysis, customer needs and business strategies to assess market opportunities were developed.

MODULE 4: TRANSVERSAL SKILLS
With skills such as effective communication, leadership and problem solving, entrepreneurs were aimed to be successful in the business world.

MODULE 5: CROWDFUNDING AND SUSTAINABILITY
Crowdfunding and social responsibility themes were covered, focusing on ensuring financial sustainability.

MODULE 6: PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND EXPERT INTERVIEW
Theoretical knowledge was put into practice and case studies helped entrepreneurs apply what they learned in the business world.

Inter-Partner Meeting in Greece (15 – 16 April 2024)

During this meeting in Athens, the project partners evaluated the pilot implementation methodology
developed under WP4. This meeting was an important step towards the implementation of the
digital entrepreneurship trainings for the project’s target group of young people.

MAIN TOPICS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING
PILOT IMPLEMENTATION METHODOLOGY
The pilots will be conducted by 15 trainers in each country. Practitioners will train young entrepreneurs and evaluate the effectiveness of the training modules with the data they collect during this process.
Each trainer will work with two young participants and present a case study at the end of the training.

ADAPTATION OF THE TRAINING CURRICULUM
The partners continued to work on adapting the training curriculum to the language and culture of each country. The training materials, which will be available in Turkish, Greek and German, have been reorganized to reach young entrepreneurs more effectively.

DIGITAL SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The importance of artificial intelligence, big data analytics and digital marketing strategies in digital
entrepreneurship was discussed. It was decided to include these skills in education programs so that young people can use digital technologies effectively.

DigEnYou Newsletter_2 _EN

Newsletter CareerBOT Chatbot Bas ed Career Guidance

Career BOT Project ResultsCareerBOT Methodology

Through research and interviews, the partners identified the needs of jobseekers, and developed the content of CareerBot and the project training for practitioners. Find a more detailed report on the methods and discoveries!

The CareerBOT Tool

Based on chatbot technologies, the CareerBOT provides easy access and user-friendly support for jobseekers finding job openings, requirements on skills, how to prepare for Job applications and information on future job and professional trends.

Blended CareerBOT Training

Blended CareerBOT Training to successfully use the CareerBOT in job counselling and further improve the digital skills of professional counsellors, the project includes a blended learning course to increase digital
competences, literacy, and techniques on how to integrate the CareerBOT.

Introduction

As career guidance practitioners, it is essential to stay updated on the latest trends and innovations in the field. In this newsletter, as a final summary of the CareerBOT tool and training methodology, validated by national training outcomes in Ireland, Austria, Spain and Greece, we explore the CareerBOT tool and how it can be leveraged to support individuals in making informed decisions about their careers, and help guidance practitioners save time so they can dedicate their efforts towards the meaningful interpersonal career development of their clients. The CareerBot tool training and methodology is designed to support practitioners in understanding how to use chatbot-based AI tools in the guidance process. The CareerBot training for practitioners offers context and resources on the evolving digital trends in employment as well as experiential-based learning strategies on how to effectively empower marginalised jobseeker to use digital tools to enhance their job searching strategies. The CareerBot website is an openly accessible educational resource that presents our practitioner training offering in a structured and digestible way with direct access to the tool and Tutorial video material.

Key Features of the BOT

Users can enter 7 different conversation flows depending on the information they are looking for, and has available information and language translations for Ireland, Spain, Austria, Germany and Greece.

  1. Demand for Jobs and Skills
  2. Info on Jobs and Skills
  3. Jobfinder
  4. CV Writing
  5. Cover Letter Writing
  6. Interview
  7. Contact Points

Additional Resources

The CareerBOT tool has a wide range of video tutorials to offer general tips on creating a CV, drafting a Cover Letter, and preparing for an interview. The CareerBOT partnership has a dedicated YouTube channel with developed guide material available in English, German, Spanish and Greek.

User Journeys

CareerBOT User journeys demonstrate how clients can use the tool to create a CV and prepare for job applications.

Showing:

  • How CareerBot can support jobseekers in completing tasks independently, freeing up faceto-face time for more important reflections.
  • The potential of the CareerBot tool and integrated into a guidance process.

How to Effectively Introduce the Bot to Clients

To maximise the benefits of the CareerBot tool, practitioners should familiarise themselves with each aspect of the Bot and plan how they can integrate it into their guidance sessions and follow-up activities. By leveraging the CareerBot’s capabilities, practitioners can streamline tasks and focus on more complex issues that require human interaction.

For example:

  1. Before using the CareerBot tool, practitioners can make a list of tasks that can be supported by the CareerBot and evaluate how they can start using the CareerBot with their clients to trial the completion of those tasks and see how the counselling process improves.
  2. Provide clients with concrete tasks to complete after the session, such as creating a CV, this can help save time during counselling sessions and allow for more in-depth discussions on interests, motivations, and job search strategies.
  3. Ensure a sustainable use of the CareerBot, by reflecting on how familiar clients are with the tool’s features and how autonomous they have become in using it. This requires concrete feedback from clients committed to using the CareerBot for job search, education and training opportunities, CV and interview preparation, and further research on labour market trends.

Key Considerations for Practitioners

When introducing the CareerBot tool to clients, practitioners should:

  • Assess individual needs and indicate the resources and services which might best meet them.
  • Be available for brief interventions to help them review what they have learned from these resources and services.
  • Be available for longer interviews for those who need them.

COMING SOON

Transfer Handbook for Organisational Development

All change happens on multiple levels. Through a transfer handbook, the project further informs organisations and institutions about how to improve job counselling as well as how to integrate the CareerBOT into their daily practices to increase successful job orientation.

Website

CareerBOT 3rd Newsletter EN

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s)
only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD-GmbH. Neither the
European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Vol-Pecil Project

Volunteers in Preventing Elderly and Chronical Illness Loneliness

The VOL-PECIL project (VOLunteers in Preventing Elderly and Chronic Illness Loneliness) aims to empower volunteers and staff members in their efforts to alleviate loneliness among elderly and chronically ill individuals. By providing specialized training, resources, and digital tools, the project seeks to enhance the quality of care and support offered to these vulnerable groups.

Results

  • Specialized Training Program: Development of a 16-hour blended learning curriculum tailored for volunteers.
  • Digital Educational Resources: Creation and deployment of user-friendly digital tools to support volunteers.
  • Pilot Training Sessions: Conduct pilot sessions to refine training materials based on feedback.
  • Enhanced Communication and Support: Address communication challenges and provide comprehensive self-help guides.
  • Sustainable Implementation: Ensure long-term availability and accessibility of training materials and resources.

Duration:

  • Start Date: February 1, 2024
  • End Date: January 31, 2025

Website:

coming soon

Project Partners:

Volontariato in Rete – Federazione Provinciale di Vicenza OdV (Italy)

Hafelekar Unternehmensberatung Schober GmbH (Austria)

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

AI makes it possible: First steps of our AI Launchpad project

Since the start of our Erasmus+-funded Innovators AI Launchpad project, we have been working hard to harness artificial intelligence (AI) for sustainable entrepreneurship. With our kick-off meeting at Hafelekar in Neulengbach, we have now reached a new phase in which we will soon be presenting the first tangible results.

What’s next on the agenda?


🌐 Launch of the project website: The preparations of the last few months are paying off. We are about to show the first successful applications of our AI tools in practice.

🤝 New networking group on LinkedIn: From next week, there will be a special group here on LinkedIn. Here you can receive specialist input, exchange ideas, network and benefit from the project results.

Results:

💡 Practical AI skills: 50 start-ups and young companies will benefit directly from our newly developed AI tools.

🌍 Strong community: We are building an active community that works together across borders.

Project information:

⏳ Duration: March 2024 to February 2025

🌐 Find out more and get involved: ai-startup.eu

Follow our progress and stay connected: AI Startup on LinkedIn

Let’s shape the future of sustainable innovation together!

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or OeAD-GmbH. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

DigEnYou – Pitch Perfect

Your AI chatbot for the perfect investor pitch

As part of the Erasmus+ project “DigEnYou – Digital Entrepreneurship for Youth” we present “Pitch Perfect”, an innovative chatbot that transforms your business idea into a convincing pitch.

By entering a short description, the chatbot structures your pitch, defines a use case and offers a professional assessment.

This is how “Pitch Perfect” works:

  1. Input: Short description of your business idea
  2. Structuring: Automatic creation of an investor pitch
  3. Evaluation: Automatic feedback on the business idea

  • Please note that your conversations will be recorded for the improvement of the bot.

  • Hello, I am Perfect Pitch AI. I´m here for your Elevator Pitch! Describe your business idea in one paragraph, press enter and I will provide the pitch!

Haf-Perfect Pitch AI thinking ...

Advantages of “Pitch Perfect”:

  • Efficiency: Saves time when creating pitches.
  • Professionalism: Provides a well-informed and compelling pitch.
  • Objective assessment: Helps identify areas for improvement

“Pitch Perfect” gives entrepreneurs and start-ups a tool with which they can present their ideas clearly and effectively.

Ideal for anyone who wants to present their business idea with confidence.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Turkish National Agency. Neither the European Union nor Turkish National Agency can be held responsible for them.

Card set Project Youth Folktales

The first sets of cards for the project ‘Youth Folktales – career guidance and life planning with the help of fairy tales’ have now been published.

In this project, folk tales are used to develop a range of self-help and coaching tools for young people and their counsellors. As a result, the target group of young adults learns to better deal with difficult decisions and actively shape their next life and career steps.

… So we can all become queens and kings of our own lives, and live happily ever after…

Further information and downloads …

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Digi-Ageing overcoming loneliness

“Loneliness in old age” is a societal phenomenon that still receives insufficientattention. However, the COVID-19 pandemichas clearly shown us that we need to pay muchmore attention to this issue. Older people were increasingly isolated in this situation: those in care facilities were isolated for their own protection, others had little contact with friends and family, or lived entirely on theirown.

Individuals who cared for older people often found themselves overwhelmed by the numerous challenges, including those in their own daily lives. This was especially true for family caregivers. As a society, we should better prepare for such scenarios and provide stronger support to those who dedicate themselves to the important task of care-giving.

Therefore, the international Digi-Ageing consortium developed a comprehensive concept between October 2020 and July 2023 to address these challenges and initiate appropriate measures to effectively counter act the phenomenon of “loneliness in old age”.

“LONELINESS AND THEFEELING OF BEING UNWANTED IS THE WORST POVERTY “

Attributed to Mother Teresa

A brief overview:

  • Loneliness is a negative feeling associatedwith a perceived gap between existing and desired relationships.
  • It should be distinguished from self-imposed isolation.
  • The effects of loneliness harm health and increase the risk of illness.
  • However, there are currently few tools for detection and prevention.
  • Training on this topic is rarely offered and care-giving family members are often left to fend for themselves.

The Digi-Ageing partnership has addressed these challenges and implemented these measures:

  • Research on loneliness in old age inEurope
  • Raising awareness of the issue
  • Establishment of networks and concrete recommendations
  • Development of digital tools for detection, prevention, and intervention
  • Providing strategies for those affected, caregivers and family members
  • Creation of a comprehensive trainingprogram for caregivers

“THE TOPIC OF LONELINESS MUST BE GIVEN MORE SPACE IN HEALTHCARE.”

Anna (Certified Health and Nursing Care Professional)

You can download the entire info brochure here …

Digi_Ageing_Brochure_EN

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Empowerment for Pandemias

Learning from CoVid19

The project “Empowerment for Pandemias – Learning form CoVid19” started on April 1, 2022. The three years project is funded by the EU program Erasmus+. UMIT TIROL, Austria, is the project coordinator.

The project focuses on the development of a professional education and training program for professionals and decision makers working in Public Health. The aim is to strengthen the individual and organizational resilience in times of crisis. The collected experiences and knowledge around CoVid19 will be incorporated into the training program. It is being implemented jointly with the University of Gloucestershire, the Technical University of Deggendorf, the European Academy of Bolzano, Hafelekar Unternehmensberatung Schober GmbH and the Portuguese partner Immersive Lab Lda.

Based on empirical research around Covid19, the project team will define the required competencies that significantly strengthen individual and organizational resilience, and subsequently operationalize them into innovative learning experiences.

A mix of different learning environments is used for this purpose:

  • With the establishment of an assessment tool, individual and organizational resources can be evaluated.
  • Furthermore, the partners are developing a web-based training, in which micro-learning units enable self-determined learning.
  • These will be supplemented with online seminars and face-to-face units.
  • One focus is the development of simulated crisis case studies, based on real experiences, that will support the participants to learn a more efficient handling of complex problem solving and coping strategies.

Project duration

April 2022 to November 2024

Web

Website: Empower4pandemias

LinkedIn – Empower4pandemias

Projektpartner

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Chatbot Based Career Guidance – 2nd Newsletter

June 2023

The CareerBOT partnership intends to implement a chatbot based career guidance methodology and tool, which with the reinforcement of a facilitated blended guidance sessions will provide current Labour Market Information and general tips to Jobseeker. The CareerBOT tool will equip guidance professionals with an AI-based chatbot that will dynamically generate external data using various Application Programming Interfaces (API) to provide customised Labour Market Information (LMI) and general tips on applying for work based on their clients’ needs. In this way the project aims to empower marginalised jobseekers on their pathway to employment.

We are excited by the development of the CareerBOT tool to date and the finalisation of the ‘’generic’’ English version following the successful preliminary pre-piloting phase. The partnership is now working to translate the Chatbot tool into Spanish, Greek, and German versions for piloting. We invite you to test the EN Version of the Bot. The CareerBOT project strives to provide up to date local and national Labour Market Information and therefore aims to localise the different versions of the Bot to best meet the needs of each client. The CareerBOT partnership attended its Second face-to-face Transnational Project Meeting in St. Pölten, Austria excellently hosted by our project lead Hafelekar. During the meeting partners Active Citizens Partnership (ACP, GR) and Pontydysgu, Bridge to Learning (ES) presented the ‘generic’ EN version and highlighted the improvements made to the Bot that resulted from the feedback given by testers during the Pre-Piloting phase of testing. The partnership further progressed on the development of a blended CareerBot training curriculum for Career Guidance Practitioner and will launch the beginning of its piloting of the training in Greece, October 2023.

To learn more about the project partners follow the link to the partner section of the website. To read more about The CareerBot project  read our recently published article on EPALE (Electronic Platform for Adult Learning), to read more follow the link; CareerBot – Chatbot based Career Guidance | EPALE (europa.eu).

Second F2F Transnational Project Meeting in St. Pölten, Austria

The CareerBOT project aims to achieve four main project outcomes, firstly to research on the content of the Bot and methodology to inform the development of the tool including LMI resources and usable APIs to embed within the tool. This project outcome is ongoing and will continue to inform the future of the project. Secondly, the development of the CareerBOT tool, which is now in its piloting phase as mentioned above. Thirdly, the development of a blended CareerBOT training for Career Guidance Practitioners which is now well underway with the aim to deliver the training in October and finally the drafting of a Transfer Handbook for Implementation that focuses on organisational Development (OD). Both final outcomes of the CareerBot project aim to improve the digital readiness of the Career Guidance.

For more information about the CareerBot Erasmus+ project go to our website here.

The European Commission support for the production of this communication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Flows

Further Learning, Outreach and Working Skills

The FLOWS project aims to create a career guidance framework based on forward thinking and a way of working for guidance practitioners that facilitates quality future focused career plans for job seekers who are already marginalised in the labour market, ensuring their inclusion in a technological and digitalized world of work.

Our main aim is to provide effective career guidance to young people and to assist them in discovering and developing their soft skills in order to ensure their inclusion in the labour market. As a result, we develop project tools and methods centred on the identification of transversal skills that can be used to future-proof the careers of disadvantaged young job seekers and enable sustainable employment, and we implement them with the project’s target group of disadvantaged young job searchers. To achieve this goal, we must build the skills of experts and youth workers in the field through the development of vocational education and training qualifications, which we will do in our project.

Our main results are:

  • Framework Development: We define key competencies required for a future labour market and elaborate on the employability needs of disadvantaged young job seekers.
  • Tool Specification and Content: This output will detail the core elements and project methodology to be adapted in light of technological workplace demands, training requirements, and key competencies of young job seekers.
  • Developing Training module for practitioners and Online Platform: This will enable the project partners to implement training modules with the aim of increasing communication and interpersonal skills and digitalisation skills of young job seekers. 
  • Piloting of the FLOWS approach and Psychometric Evaluation: This step will result in a method for guidance practitioners to facilitate future-focused career plans for young job seekers who are significantly under – represented in the labour market.

Project duration

October 2022 till September 2024

Website

www.flows-project.eu

Project Partners

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Turkish National Agency. Neither the European Union nor Turkish National Agency can be held responsible for them.