"In June 2016 the European Commission launches the New Skills Agenda for Europe, one of the proposed initiatives being the ""Digital skills and jobs coalition"", a measure that aims to promote people's digital talent. The sector of new technologies has become an emerging sector for employment and entrepreneurship, and it is nowadays a fundamental sector of economic and social activity. According to the Commission, up to 500,000 Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) professionals may be missing by 2020. Education, in particular vocational training, is a key element to equipping future workers with the skills demanded by the labor market in the new technologies sector. The integration of both the transversal skills for employment and entrepreneurship required for the sector, and technical competences related to the latest trends in the technological sector, will comprehensively cover the labor market demands on new technologies and will ensure the best inclusion of the vocational training students in the technological labor market of the future. Therefore, the general objective of JOBS4TECH is to harmonize Vocational Training with the needs of the labor market in the new technologies sector, and in particular in one of its recent trends, virtual and augmented reality, to improve the employability of its students. To fulfill this objective, 8 VET teachers in the technological area and their students (approximately 120) will experience an integrated path in the area of virtual and augmented reality, which will contemplate both the teaching of technical skills and the necessary skills to work or own in this sector. There will also be a tool to evaluate skills for employment and entrepreneurship in the new technologies sector, which teachers and students can use. JOBS4TECH provides the following activities: -Detailed analysis of the training offer in professional technological families and informatics in terms of teaching both technical and transversal skills (for employment and entrepreneurship). -Validation by experts, companies and teachers in the field of technical and transversal competences detected. (for employment and entrepreneurship). -Development of an integrated route with both types of competences, taking as the last trend of virtual and augmented reality as a subsector to pilot it. -Adaptation of skills assessment tools to carry out one in the technological sector. -Training of VET trainers in the integrated itinerary. -Pilot experience with two groups in each of the participating countries. -Evaluation of results and preparation of report of recommendations to education and vocational training on new routes in the sector of new technologies and integration of skills for employment and entrepreneurship. The methodology applied in our project will be based on the following characteristics: -Inductive, that is to say, from the analysis of the concrete realities identified it will be developed a technical and competence approach that responds to the detected needs. -The gender approach will be applied transversally to all our actions. -Social technology, applying the virtual and augmented reality that has multiple applications in different areas of society. -Competence approach: the ultimate and most important purpose of the program is to increase the competences of the students with a view to a future incorporation into the labor market. The labor market competences, which increase student employability, have an eminently technical variable (companies require workers with specific and innovative knowledge), but also in transversal competences, which are very important at the labor level, although least specified. -The training will follow the methodologies of learning by doing, role playing and cooperative work. With the JOBS4TECH project, the technological sector itineraries will be improved by the integration of technical and transversal skills of employment and entrepreneurship suited to the needs of the sector. In addition, VET teachers, both those involved in the project and the rest to whom the results will be disseminated, will increase their knowledge of virtual and augmented reality and how to incorporate in the classroom the development of competencies such as: leadership, creativity, perseverance, etc. They will also learn how to relate them to a technological sector. In this way, VET students in professional families related to information technology and new technologies, will evaluate and improve their skills and their level of employability in the technological sector."

The strategic partnership project “Empowering LTU’s” meets 5 partner organizations from 4 different countries that have been notably affected by long term unemployment on adults over 45 years olds (LTUs). The partnership was composed by Fundación Coremsa (Spain), as leader of the project, and Action Against Hunger (Spain), Inova Consultancy (United Kingdom), Steps (Italy) and Knowl (Greece) as rest of the partners. The aim of this partnership has been to provide LTUs the chance of experience empowering and professional recovery through self-development, creative thinking and exploring their own chances. In order to achieve this objective, LTUs adults must overcome obstacles that block to adopt more effective and proactive approaches.The “Empowering LTU’s” project provides needed strategic support and training not only to professionals who work with unemployed adults (advisors and trainers), but also to LTU adults themselves through individual, customised and emphatic approaches. This has the aim to improve the skills of advisor and professionals who work directly with LTUs adults and to empower adults with the needed skills and mind to explore, open and unblock their professional potential.The specific aims of this project are:* Providing to career advisors new methods, tools and resources, more effective and individualised in order to support LTU adults. * Supporting and training LTUs, by helping to change their mentality and discover their strengths, skills and interests. * Promoting the creation of an European network between public and private entities and organizations that work with unemployed adults so they can collaborate by giving support and advising, new methodologies and skills to unemployed adults. * Increasing the level of participation of LTUs adults in lifelong learning training. During the life of the project, two intellectual outputs have been released:1) Handbook about training strategies and tools to empower and activate the employment of adults over 45 years by promoting their return to the labour market, which includes:a)Inventory of skills and competences needed in today’s labour market aimed to career advising professionals who deal with LTUs adults.b)Adaptation and validation of the methodology based on the inventory through a group of training experts and professionals on career advising by every participant partner. This transnational activity took placed in Sheffield and it lasted five days. The aim of this piloting was exploring and exchanging new ways that inspire the design and development of the training activity (IO1). c)Comprehensive training action made of 3 essential training modules and 2 complementary modules: 1) Neuro-Linguistic Programming and “Coaching Circles” methodology; 2) Social media skills, 3) Personal Branding; 4) Competences and skills to network, work team and self-confidence; 5) Entrepreneurship mindset.d)Implementation of the five training modules on three levels: 1) career advising counsellors, trainers and professionals; 2) long term unemployed adults over 45; 3) “Coaching Circles” methodology. 25 professionals and 50 long-term unemployed adults over 45 have participated on this training activity e)Recommendations for career advisors and trainer on strategies, methodologies and practical tools used to empower and activate LTUs adults. 2) Short Film “Create your personal roadmap to success”, which is released on the Youtube cannel “Empower 45plus”. It is made of a set of videos with interviews to each partner experts who participated in Sheffield, unemployed adults and professionals and trainers who participated in practical workshop, some cases of success, etc. Those videos serve to empower unemployed adults to participate in this kind of actions and to who new tools and practical resources to career advisors and trainers.All developed materials and contents are gathered on the website of the project www.empower45plus.eu. They are available free of charge in a PDF and e-book version. Also, they have been translated into the four languages of the project. Also, the videos of the short film have been subtitled in English, which is the vehicle language of the project. All of them can be displayed in our Youtube channel which is also free of charge. We are also actively present on social media @EmpoweringLTUOlderWorkers (Facebook) and through the contact email info@empower45plus.eu

<< Objectives >>Agro4SDGs aims to:1. Mobilize public authorities & stakeholders to contribute to the sustainable development of their communities by supporting agroecological practices.2. Contribute to gender equality in the agroecological sector by strengthening the competencies & skills of women entrepreneurs who are already working in the sector or who would like to do so.3. Improve ecological knowledge & habits in EU rural populations, enabling support for new sustainable consumption & production system<< Implementation >>Development of an Agro4SDG campaign for stakeholders' and communities' mobilization. 5 Agro4SDGs sprints for project ideation Production and testing of a blended entrepreneurship learning path for rural women in agroecology (Agro4SDGs learning path) Development of a socialization and active participation strategy towards supporting agroecological businesses led by women in Europe Pitching events and marketplaces to showcase the developed projects<< Results >>Increased stakeholders’ awareness and commitment to support entrepreneurship initiatives in agroecology led by women.More opportunities for rural women to start ventures in agroecology, supported with a digital flipbook for trainers and a self-learning digital flipbook for rural women entrepreneurs.Increased support and to agrecological iniciatives by the general public, through improved consumer habitsInspire other stakeholders to replicate similar schemes towards the green transition.

CONTEXTAlmost 60% of Europe’s 74 million low-skilled citizens are over 45 years old and are the most hard to reach to participate in training, even though they need lifelong learning most. Efforts to reach out particularly to low-skilled adults over 45 years old, who need special motivation to participate in training are essential to reduce risk of social exclusion. CSOs that already work with low-skilled people living in poverty, have to play an important role in engaging them in training, and thus need methodologies and tailor-made strategies to involve the various stakeholders required. On the other side employers’ involvement in training programs for unemployed low-skilled older adults is essential to increase perception of benefits of upskilling and connection to employment.OBJECTIVES1 Establish effective local ecosystems that encourage participation of unemployed low-skilled adults over 45 years old in training opportunities.2 Increase collaboration among CSOs, employers and trainers.3 Produce recommendations for employers to increase their involvement in training initiatives for low-skilled older adults.4 Improve socio-labour inclusion of unemployed low-skilled adults over 45 years old.THE PARTNERSHIPThe Ac+45 project comprises 5 organisations from 4 EU countries representing the worlds of civil society, adult education, labour, policy and regional development. ActionAid Hellas is an affiliate of ActionAid International experienced in empowering vulnerable groups of people, provision of personalised guidance and delivering training on basic skills. The Labour Institute of Greek Confederation of Labour provides scientific justification about interventions related to labour, and training to socially vulnerable groups. Action Against Hunger is a large CSO in Spain working on the empowerment, training and employability of 10000 vulnerable people in 10 regions. RETE NGO in Italy works on social and labour inclusion of disadvantaged and delivers digital skills courses adjusted to low-skilled older adults. Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency in Bulgaria works with businesses, authorities and civil society towards the regional economic development. The Confederation of Danish Employers (associated partner) represents 14 employers’ organisations and has 28,000 private companies as members.ACTIVITIES & METHODOLOGY 1 Desk research, interviews with low-skilled older adults and focus groups with employers to define the requirements for engaging unemployed low-skilled adults over 45 years old in training.2 Development of a collaboration framework among CSOs, employers and trainers in adult education, an implementation guide and experiential training material to establish effective local ecosystems/learning and employability centres.3 Collection of successful practices to produce knowledge resources for employers and encourage their involvement in training initiatives for low-skilled older adults.4 Training of the partnership on the use of Ac+45 collaboration framework and tools.5 Pilot testing and impact assessment of Ac+45 outputs through establishment of local collaboration schemes.6 Creation of a network of Ac+45 adopters to facilitate stakeholders’ collaboration and sustainability of results.7 Promotion of the Ac+45 outputs through multiplier events.RESULTS & IMPACT1 Requirements and influential factors for engaging unemployed low-skilled older adults in training to provide CSOs and trainers with greater understanding on the needs of this group, and support them in designing more attractive training and empowerment programmes (400 CSOs, 200 Training providers to be reached).2 An integrated collaboration framework and tools to empower CSOs staff to establish effective collaborations with employers and training providers, and motivate potential learners (4000 professionals, 1500 learners to be reached).3 Guidelines for employers to support their involvement in training initiatives for unemployed low-skilled older adults (500 employers to be reached).4 A network of Ac+45 adopters and repository of impact assessment results to promote adoption of project outputs, and support policy makers in the design of employability and upskilling measures for unemployed low-skilled older adults (40 adopters during project, 35 key policy makers to be reached).5 A European conference and four national infodays to reach and involve target groups (285 participants).LONG TERM BENEFITS1 Integration of the Ac+45 collaboration framework, tools and knowledge resources by CSOs, training providers, employers and chambers of commerce in EU, adjusting them in their contexts.2 Uptake and adaptation of the Ac+45 collaboration framework from policy makers in EU, with the aim to improve the impact of current policy measures.3 Participation of a growing number of unemployed low-skilled adults over 45 years old in training programmes on basic and soft skills, promoting their socio-labour inclusion.

The statistics indicate that the field of entrepreneurship of migrants is growing and expanding, even in opposition to the negative trend recorded by Italian companies during the economic crisis. An analysis at European level shows that the situation is similar in all countries. It is a field that must be protected, nourished and encouraged, not only because it generates income and employment growth, but mainly because it has been and is an effective tool of social and economic integration.The project proposes to give an effective and coherent response to the issues highlighted by migrant entrepreneurs and that emerged from investigations conducted in Italy and Europe. The economic difficulties, which have resulted in lack of access to traditional bank financing channels often being towards migrant subjects without guarantee and hence not bankable, plus the lack of adequate preparation or the failure of business and management. Another critical point was seen in the retrieval of specific information as the means of access to microcredit and entrepreneurial documentation necessary to support the request and the procedure for preparing a business plan. Furthermore, the excessive fragmentation of information and therefore the need to address multiple agencies and offices is, according to the findings, a long and dispersive process and often a real disincentive.The main project’s goals have been to create a new professional able to work with migrants and with competencies of microcredit and intercultural communication; and to elaborate an educational path for migrant entrepreneurs, that it takes account of the problems, which they incur. The idea was to create a partnership consisting of organizations, working with migrants, with different but complementary competencies. The partnership was composed of: the Ente Nazionale per il Microcredito (lead organization), Ce.S.F.Or. vocational training institution (IT), Accion contra el hambre (SP) international NGO organizing entrepreneurial course for migrants, Nantik Lum (SP) microfinance organization , Wisamar (DE) NGO specialized in intercultural communication and Mediter (BE) NGOs network specialized in islamic finance and intercultural communication.The path outlined by the project was articulated through several crucial and equally competing phases to achieve the project objective. Each partner was experienced on the project theme, and the starting point was the analysis of good practices, in order to identify valid and replicable ideas. The good practices that emerged were collected in a report available on the project website. The good practice exchange has been the first project activity, and in the light of what emerged, we then proceeded to the experimentation of a new training methodology for the improvement of the professionals who work in this sector. This innovative training course was experimented during the week of training course held in Rome which represented the second activity of the project. Twenty operators from our partner organizations, took part in it and, starting from a re-elaboration of the trainings’ contents, we finalized the OUTPUT1, which is an e-learning course for operators working with migrants at different level. The course, in English, is available and free on the ENM platform. The project also developed a free training course for migrant entrepreneurs to acquire or consolidate business and management skills. This course was realized by the operators previously trained during the workshop, and thanks to their experiences and acquired skills, they developed a structured path taking into account the specific needs of the migrants. The course is available and free on the project website in English, Italian, French, German and Spanish.The innovative methodology of the project allowed us to develop a training course that compensates the lack of similar courses, and which allows interested operators to acquire transversal knowledge that makes them more competent in their field. The creation of this professional figure have positive repercussions on the single operators, on the organizations they work for, at local and national level and last but not least, on migrants interested in starting an activity because they can count on the support of qualified professionals.