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Enhancing Social sciences graduates Transversal Entrepreneurial and EMployment skills
Start date: Oct 1, 2016, End date: Sep 30, 2018 PROJECT  FINISHED 

The main objective of the ESTEEM project is to improve and enrich social sciences graduates’ transversal and entrepreneurial skills in order to increase their competitiveness in the labour market and enhance their future employability. The project consortium will approach this aim by developing and implementing a holistic, work-based and flexible training program which will combine e-learning and work-based teaching methods as well. The teaching scheme that will be introduced by this project involves active collaboration between HEI, SMEs and major national social partners in all steps of project’s implementation and monitoring. The innovative aspect of the project lies in the training model to be developed that combines e-learning and digital teaching with a “remote internship/mentorship” program. The proposed methodology will test new cooperation models between VET providers and enterprises to promote work-based learning. The innovative model of the “remote internship/mentorship” program will be pilot tested and assessed thus feeding into policy innovation experimentations for the labour market. The workplace is shifting from traditional structures into innovative ones where physical presence on the job location is not necessary and companies are adopting virtual employment methods. In this context, the project will form new partnerships and develop new teaching and assessment methods for virtual employment and work-based learning.The main objective of the training program to be introduced by the project is to develop an effective blended training course on transversal skills that meets the skill needs and requirements of young SME employees and entrepreneurs. The transversal skills the project aim to address are: • Personal development skills: Personal development skills are essential life and employment skills, especially current in the fast changing economic landscape and include soft skills as coping with uncertainty, ambiguity and risk, learning through experience, embracing change, eliminate resistance or fear, self-promotion etc. • Working with others: Collaborating, communicating effectively (including social media communication and digital social skills), team-working, cooperating are important transversal skills for the workplace environment.• Conceptualizing and transforming ideas into business options and entrepreneurial opportunities: The ability to develop ideas, creating concepts and transform them into options and opportunities than can be realised are the core competencies for creative and innovative thinking. In this context, skills like identifying a need or a problem, prioritize, initiative taking, envisioning, planning, mobilizing and managing resources and entrepreneurial thinking will be included in the training program. To this end, the project main objectives are to:a) Design a training methodology for transversal skills development which combines e-learning and remote work-based learning b) Organise, implement & evaluate a “remote internship/mentorship” programc) Support the model of work-based learning and project-based learning for customised learning experience d) Promote collaboration and exchange of good practices among VET providers, HEIs, social partners and enterprisesThe project’s consortium consists of 6 partners from 4 countries incorporating a wide range of experience and expertise related to the scope of ESTEEM. The Lead Partner is KANEP-GSEE representing the Greek General Confederation of Labour in the area of Education and Lifelong learning, promoting the agenda of trade unions which includes employment policies, policies for combating social exclusion, and reinforcement of trade union presence in society. The project is expected to have a significant impact on the target group of social science graduates as it will facilitate their transition from education to labour market and enhance their career prospects and business progression. Moreover, the project will feed into the educational organizations which can be further motivated to shift from traditional, teaching methods, including the incorporation of a larger proportion of blended learning or wholly work-based modules than is generally common. Finally, the ESTEEM project’s desired impact is expected to be realized in both national and European level. Overall the project aims to address the priorities of European 2020 strategy on transversal skills development in a lifelong learning perspective as well as the promotion of novel forms of work-based learning by providing insights, experiences and policy recommendations.
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