VET has a decisive role in the acquisition and certification of new competences in rural areas, which face multiple challenges and they are desperate for life saving solutions. AccessAngels teams up VET and sustainable tourism to entice the interest of the accessible tourism market. AccessAngels uses a package of personal assistance paid services (PAS), already offered to disabled tourists in major cities, adapts it and offers it as a free-of-charge package to those disabled who want to experience rural tourism. This proposition works as an enticement for the accessible tourists and may elevate the obstacle of the difficult living conditions of the rural areas.The AccessAngels project aims to meet the following objectives:- contribute to employability, economic growth and social cohesion through VET- offer to adults and young people the prospect of career opportunities through VET- promote inclusion of disadvantaged groups in the labour market- ensure the sustainability and excellence of vocational education and training.- use VET in support of sustainable development and in delivering social education to youth- provide rural tourism with a competitive advantage to attract the accessible travel market- contribute to rural economies- increase awareness of the disabled people needs in rural areas- foster active citizenship and volunteerism among the youth VET organisations, accessible travelers, rural youth and sustainable tourism authorities are the beneficiaries of this project. They are all represented in the project partnership. The direct participants will no less than 1650. The project will utilise ENAT’s network to involved accessible travelers in the baseline research and testing IO activities. The nine multiplier events will be attended by members of all target groups.The project will carry out research to determine what services to include to the PAS package for rural areas. The AA service will be managed by regional authorities and other stakeholders that could be interented, such as travel agencies, training companies. A second survey among the rural authorities will investigate their capacity to manage such service. The data gathered from the first survey will be utilised to form the definition of the service, and that of the results of the second survey will be processed to create an Operations Manual for the AA service. A training curriculum and the corresponding pedagogic material will be developed. Two trainers from each partner country will attend a 5-day train-the-trainer workshop to learn how to manage and support the AA service and how to train and coach the recruited volunteers to become AA.This project will introduce vocational education partnered with social education to service sustainable tourism.

The project Innovation and Continuing Education in Destination Management (DEMINA) was planned with the aim of closing the current gaps in educational materials and methodologies for destination management and strategic tourism development.Objectives of the project are as follows:• enhance the qualification / professionalisation of destination organizations and teach them to work with effective tools for increasing their knowledge and skills;• define new professional qualifications at European level for the Destination Organization Worker and the Destination Organization Manager;• create a unique educational and methodological tool for destination audit and management, thus strengthening the training offer in this area;• promote destination audit expertise as part of destination management qualifications in partner countries;• promote and expand interest in destination management in order to contribute to a greater interest in the sustainable development of tourism and regions and related policies;• strengthen at EU level a network of DM specialists, enabling the exchange of expertise to continuously improve their professional knowledge and skills.The project thus focuses on the following specific areas:• Innovation in destination management• the cost-effectiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of financial investment in the development of tourism destinations• improving the skills of managers and workers in the field of destination management and strategic tourism development• application of the European concept of Tourism Learning Areas• strategic and proces-orientated tourism planningThe project will implement two outputs:1. Creation of methodological publication European Model and Methodology for Destination Management and Audit2. Creation of a training program for destination management staff and staff responsible for the development of tourism at public level, applicable both to the lifelong training of tourism workers and to the training of future tourism workersThe project will also include an international five-day seminar for destination experts from partner countries focused on theoretical and practical teaching of the issue, conducted in a real destination and with real data.

"The advances in information and communication technologies (ICT), which have become increasingly important, have contributed to the increase of the economic growth of the countries and the improvement of the living standards of the individuals. According to this many countries have recognized the imperative of digital technologies, acknowledging the necessity to educate their citizens.Improvement of digital infrastructures and mobile technologies creates new opportunities for increased digital participation of citizens; however, digital participation faces many challenges. In particular, most of the farmers cannot use the programs and services to follow the technological developments due to the lack of digital skills.The role and importance of ICT and information literacy in agricultural activities is presented through a review of European development initiatives and related theoretical insights. ICT and information literacy will reveal barriers to existing skill levels and encourage readiness to adopt new information and technologies. As an important social group, farmers should be empowered through training programs within the education system and other initiatives aimed at upgrading existing knowledge. Digitalization in Agriculture is one of the issues that both the EU and Turkey attach great importance to. It is necessary to develop the digital literacy of the farmers, in other words their skills to use digital technology, communication tools or networks, and to use the digital environment effectively.The project ""Developing Farmers' Digital Skills (DIGIFARMER)"" was designed in the light of these needs; and was carried out with a strong partnership of 9 institutions/organizations which are Aydın Il Tarim ve Orman Mudurlugu (Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry)-Turkey, Aydın Valiliği (Aydın Governorship- EU and Foreign Relations Office)-Turkey, Aydın Adnan Menderes Universitesi-Turkey, Institut pro trénink pohostinnosti-Czech Republic, Anaptixiako Kentro Thessalias (Developmental Centre of Thessalias)-Greece, Euroform RFS, Italy, Inercia Digital SL-Spain Soke Zirai Uretim Isletmesi Tarimsal Yayim ve Hizmetici Egitim Merkezi Mudurlugu (Directorate of Agricultural Production Enterprise, Agricultural Extension And In-Service Training Center), Turkey and Karpuzlu Ziraat Odası (Chamber of Agriculture),Turkey.Our project aims to contribute to the active participation of rural farmers/producers in social and business life by increasing their digital skills, thus increasing their efficiency and productivity in their lives.It will provide training/learning opportunities in the development of digital skills that enable the rural population to benefit from new technologies and tools.The objectives of our project are;-to increase the digital skills of farmers/producers who live in rural areas-to develop trainers' cross-skills and competencies-to develop an innovative educational methodology in the digital field-to increase productivity & efficiency through increasing farmers’ transversal skills-to develop digital citizenship skills of rural farmers-to ensure farmers to use internet tools & smartphone applications in social and business life effectively.During the implementation of the project, the following outputs were produced:-Digifarmer Web Site - digifarmer.net,-""Farmers' Digital Skills” Training Course/ Module,-Learning/educational materials (printed and digital): ""Farmers' Digital Skills"" book, ""Farmers' Digital Skills"" Methodological Handbook, Brochures: Guidelines for E-Learning Platform, “Farmer Platform & Forum/Discussion Platform” Guidelines for Moderator, “Farmer Platform & Forum/Discussion Platform” Guidelines for User-E-Learning Platform - https://moodle.digifarmer.net,-Digifarmer smartphone application interface (both Android: DigiFarmer and IOS: Digifarmer),-Digifarmer Network ""Farmer Platform"" – https://netwok.digifarmer.net -Digifarmer Forum/Discussion Platform – https://bb.digifarmer.net Totally 372 farmers participated in the surveys. Pilot trainings were conducted with 183 farmers face-to-face and 400 participants enrolled to the E-learning Platform. 23 trainers from partner organizations were trained to develop their digital skills and competences. Multiplier events were organised in 5 partner countries with over 300 participants. In order to enable farmers to take part in this world, it is necessary to increase their competence in this field by providing them with digital skills through trainings and various tools.Competences in basic computer skills and information literacy will contribute to the empowerment and liberation of farmers, enabling them to become active participants in further agricultural development stages and in decision-making chains."