<< Objectives >>General objective of the project is to improve capacity of women living in border areas through creating high quality and easily accessible learning opportunities for sustainable rural tourism for Specific objectives are: -To create high quality training methodology and digital platform for women living in border areas for sustainable rural tourism-To educate pilot group of women from border areas of Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia for sustainable rural tourism<< Implementation >>Main activities in the Project are:1. Project Management 2. Initial press conference in Serbia3. Initial partner meeting 4. Development of training methodology and manuals for trainers 5. Creating a digital platform for rural tourism 6. Mid term partner meeting 7. Training of trainers 8. Presentations for tourism and BSO in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia9. Pilot trainings in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia10. Final partner meeting 11. Final press conferences in Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia<< Results >>The main project results are:- Training methodology for training of women from border areas in rural tourism prepared and available online for organizations that support rural economy- 9 people from partner organizations trained to educate women from border areas for sustainable rural tourism- 30 women trained for sustainable rural tourism through pilot trainings- Digital platform for sustainable rural tourism created in 4 languages- 3 presentations for 30 BSO organized

"Main objective of the project Rural SKILLS is the development and consolidation of specific competences (knowledge, skills and attitude) in rural development operators, aiming at creating new pathways for employment with non-formal and informal learning activities in the field of rural development and LEADER methodologies and in leading LAG’s strategies. The overall objective of the project is also to promote transnational cooperation between LAGs (Local Action Groups), to enhance the dissemination of their methodology, its different instruments and applications and good European practices. Local Action Group is a broad-based local private-public partnership whose aim is to improve the long-term potential of the local area and who has the ability to define and implement a development strategy for the area. LAG MontagnAppennino leaded the project other six LAGs were involved in the partnership, two from Portugal LAG CoraNE and LAG ADRAT, one from Croatia LAG Valleys and Hills of Medjimurje, one from Hungary LAG Kiskunok Vidékéért Egyesület, one from Latvia LAG ""Zied zeme"" and one from Belgium LAG Vlaamse Ardennen, in addiction to the The Institute of Restoration and Environment (IRMA S.L.) from Spain which will be responsible for the communication and dissemination tasks. The project was addressed and involved LEADER managers and operators, LAG managers and administrators, rural development operators and workers, rural development experts, local authorities staff and office workers, regional authorities staff, Managing Authorities staff, students, young workers and managers in the field of agriculture, crafts, commerce and tourism, citizens of rural areas, trade associations. The activities of Rural SKILLS included the sharing of objectives and strategies of the various local development strategies of the LAGs involved and analysis of local, regional and national legislation for the 2014-2020 EU program among the Consortium. The partners involved visited the area and the organizations involved with a delegation of its staff and other rural development operators selected (youth, public administration, local associations). Rural SKILLS organized 5 joined training activities for the LEADER managers and operators, LAG managers and administrators and LAG’s Managing Authorities staff about regional and national legislation for the 2014-2020 LEADER program, local development strategies, animation methodologies and innovative communication tools for rural development. The project achieved a good impact on the local communities and territories, specially on the target groups this project refers to, which are LEADER managers and operators, LAG managers and administrators, rural development operators and farmers, rural development experts, local authorities staff and office workers, regional authorities staff, LAG’s Managing Authorities staff, students of schools and universities, young workers and managers in the field of agriculture, crafts, commerce and tourism, citizens of rural areas, trade associations. Participation in public project presentation meetings and the involvement of local actors have lived up to expectations so far. This has been reached both through the study and analysis phases, the phase of sharing practices and methodologies analyzed and during the Short-term joint staff training events by transferring them to realities involved in the rural development and LEADER policies. Rural SKILLS provided local projects with a new dimension, since they provide stakeholders with alternative and novel opportunities to look for and solve issues in innovative ways. Exchange of good practices have been capable of producing different types of added-value: are linked to the territory and the respective local development strategies of the partners. These projects help to meet the needs and challenges addressed in the strategies of the LEADER areas. New visions and new dimensions will support and promote new ways of working. The project has been innovative at LEADER European Network level because is one of the first Erasmus+ which involve all LAGs, because the objectives mainly relate to innovation and openness to the outside world of the target groups, openness and mutual cultural enrichment allow LAGs to discover the importance of their diversity, while creating references and a common language which, in turn, promote the establishment of new forms of education and new training paths especially because the next program period 2020-2027 is behind the corner."

THE CONTEXTThe farming sector has never stopped innovating and every generation brings new technological and organisational improvements and competencies. However, the pace of technological innovation is proceeding faster than ever before, and it is important to ensure that EU farmers take full advantage of this “digital revolution”. Policy advisors underline that the main concern for farmers is access to training and that this should be considered especially from a small farm perspective otherwise Europe will fail to maximise the benefits of digital technology.MAIN OBJECTIVEThe SFIB project will be implemented by 8 complementary project partners from 5 countries and focus on minding the gap between current farming industry digitization trends and the digital & smart technology era. The project wants to open a way to a new digital and technology innovation-oriented training method in the farming industry by combining the “Innovation Broker” approach in the farming sector with the current efforts put in place by the EU in the field of “Digital Innovation Hubs”.TARGET GRUPS AND PARTICIPANTS1) Owners, Managers, operations and technical staff of SMEs of the farming sector2) Cluster & Technical Service and Coaching staff, Thematic Business Consultants, Trainers of Cluster & Sectorial Organizations3) Technical Service and Coaching Staff, Consultants of Technology Parks, Business Development Centres, Digital Innovation Hubs4) Policy officers, Technical staff involved in defining innovation and training strategies, policies & action plans of Economic Development Bodies 5) Directors, Teaching staff, Learners & students, Phds of VET and Higher Education institutions6) Innovation brokersNEEDSA) RAISE & INCREASE AWARENESS about the potential of digital and smart farming potential B) OBSERVE & UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY AT WORK thus facilitating digitization and smart tech understandingC) IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF DIGITAL INNOVATION LEARNING APPROACHES by introducing a new professional figure and new cooperation-based learning mechanisms targeted to the farming sectorE) Guarantee the AVAILABILITY OF CONNECTED TRANSNATIONAL INNOVATION LEARNING STRUCTURES that will facilitate the distributed availability WORKING METHODThe project has been designed around 8 workpackages.WP 1 - Management – Indicator: Project implemented respecting time and qualityWP2 - Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation – Indicators: 1) Extended stakeholder base (including Innovation Brokers and DIHs), 2) Extended interested final beneficiaries, 3) Project anchored to professional training policiesWP3 - SMART TECH-MAP: M2-M5, focused on Intellectual Output 1 to answer the need “RAISE & INCREASE AWARENESS about the potential of digital and smart farming potential”. Indicators: 1) Increased knowledge about farming smart technology trends, 2) Increased knowledge level about knowledge gaps in the farming sectorWP4 – DIGITAL INNO BROKER MAP: M6-M8, focused on Intellectual Output 2 to answer the need “RAISE & INCREASE AWARENESS about the potential of digital and smart farming potential”. Indicator: 1) Consolidated network of Innovation BrokersWP5 – DIGITAL INNOVATION HUBS FOR SMART FARMING: M9-M12, focused on Intellectual Output 3 to answer 2 needs: “RAISE & INCREASE AWARENESS about the potential of digital and smart farming potential” and “OBSERVE & UNDERSTAND TECHNOLOGY AT WORK thus facilitating digitization and smart tech understanding”. Indicator: 1) Consolidated network of DIHsWP6 – SMART TECH & DIGITAL INNOVATION BROKERS: COMPETENCE PROFILE: M13-M18, focused on Intellectual Output 4 to answer 2 needs: “IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF DIGITAL INNOVATION LEARNING APPROACHES” and “Guarantee the AVAILABILITY OF CONNECTED TRANSNATIONAL INNOVATION LEARNING STRUCTURES”. Indicators: 1) Available Competence profile of the Digital Innovation Broker, 2) Available Training Method, Package & Tools, 3) Cooperation Agreements between Innovation Brokers and DIHsWP7 – SMART TECH & DIGITAL READINESS & INNOVATION TRAINING: INCREASING THE FARMING INDUSTRY TECHNOLOGY READINESS LEVEL: M19-M30, focused on Intellectual Output 5 to complete the answer to the 2 above needs “IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF DIGITAL INNOVATION LEARNING APPROACHES” and “Guarantee the AVAILABILITY OF CONNECTED TRANSNATIONAL INNOVATION LEARNING STRUCTURES”. Indicators: 1) Available digital readiness assessment tool for the farming sector, 2) Available Smart Tech & Digital Readiness TrainingWP8 – SHARE, VALIDATE AND TRANSFER EVIDENCES: M31-M36 focused on Intellectual Output 6 to answer the need “Guarantee the AVAILABILITY OF CONNECTED TRANSNATIONAL INNOVATION LEARNING STRUCTURES”Indicators: 1) Available list of extended stakeholders, 2) Completed Transfer Sessions, 3) Increased number of interested rural / regional areas in our method, 4) Method transferred to other EU areas.