BLOCK by BLOCK:“Promoting a new Blockchain Technology-based digital learning pattern in VET to boost entrepreneurship, sustainable business creation and growth”

"<< Background >>European Digital Strategy: Shaping Europe’s Digital Future (EC 2020): “The EU wants to be a leader in blockchain technology, becoming an innovator in blockchain and a home to significant platforms,applications and companies”. In recent times, especially since the World Pandemic, Blockchain Technologies (BCT) and their use have grown to the point that the required digital skills and possible investment to incorporate such smart technologies onto different organizational systems are now accessible. However, indoviduals and organizations are still lacking the required minimum knowledge to navigate successfully the digital global economy so that such businesses can also grow faster and in a more sustainable way.That´s why the project BLOCK by BLOCK was handed in to aims develop and implement a new EU educational reference within the Blockchain Technology for new business creation ,growth & sustainability, and VET Education. The project results provide an innovative online training model and e-tools specifically designed to boost entrepreneurship and,by incorporatin. << Objectives >>Th project BLOCK by BLOCK, promoting a new Blockchain Technology-based digital learning pattern in VET to boost entrepreneurship, sustainable business creation and growth, aimed at becoming a new EU educational reference within the Blockchain Technology for new business creation,growth & sustainability and,VET Education. It provides an innovative online training model and e-tools specifically designed to boost entrepreneurship and,by incorporating in it the BCT fundamentals,tailored on the actual needs of the project target groups and it will also enhance the creation of new sustainable online businesses,while facilitating the growth of existing ones,in a more transparent & reliable way (given by the main featured brought in by blockchain technology itself).Finally, it can be stated that especially PR2 and PR3 are used by many stakeholders from different educational sectors beyond the partner coutntries. The project reached all its goals.<< Implementation >>The project started wirh the development of a dedicated Framework of Competence (PR1). The project team attracted 235 individual learners to get trained and capacity-built on the use and transferability potential of BCT through the innovative online course (PR2). PR2 is built on the results PR1 and comprises of 7 modules wich are also covered by the a self-assessment APP (PR3) created to introduce BCT and its practical applications via analogies & gamification. This systematic approach of knowledge transfer was supported by the participation of staff members at a LTTA (C1) in Amersfoort (NL) as a ""Train the Trainer Blended Learning Mobility"" (C1) with the aim of upskilling them while pilot testing PR2 and PR3.For reaching the project´s goals, all tasks related to the three PRs were embedded in many further activities which aimed at supporting a smooth project management and especially the project´s impact on the defined target groups. Implemented project activies in short:- development of a project handbook and development of PM/QM documents- monitoring/evaluation activities (time, budget, dissemination, QM, etc.)- regular online meetings (time and budget monitoring, planning and evaluating implemented tasks)- further informal meetings (bilateral and multilateral) for ""finetuning"" development tasks- reporting (interim and final report)- dissemination (social media, newsletters, project website, national dissemination activities, etc.)- impact activities- 3 TPMs planned at the beginning of the project and futher crucial time frames- multiplier events in all partner countries- further national dissemination activities- LTTA fostering knowledge transfer within the project team- and many more<< Results >>Project Results:PR1) Framework of competences for “Blockchainers”:This study focusses on present & future digital entrepreneurs & social entrepreneurs and is also valid for VET-rainers and educators. It defines the required set of knowledge, skills & attitudes, needed for a sustainable digital business growth and creation, thanks to the understanding and incorporation of targeted Blockchain Technology’s fundamentals, which enable individuals and organizations to navigate successfully the global digital economy. PR1 is available in EN plus all partner languages.Based on the Competence Framework, the following PR2 and PR3 were developed:PR2) Online training course: The final course is strucuterd in seven differen modules which were gained in PR1. The innovative and interactive online course is designed for present & future entrepreneurs, VET-learners, and VET-educators willing to gain/improve their digital skills, while learning about the most effective ways to boost their online services and entrepreneurial potential, by growing and/or creating new long-lasting sustainable digital businesses, through the correct application and exploitation of the Blockchain Technology and its potential benefits;PR3) Self-assessment app:The final project result is a self-assessment educational app, also based and reflecting the identified competences within PR1 which are covered by PR2, with the aim of further capacity-building and empowering present and future “Blockchainers”, through the use of analogies & gamification. The mobile application is available for Android as well as iOS. It can be downloaded for free and used in EN plus all partner languages. Further results:- Project website in EN plus all partner languages - Social Media presentation of the projectFurther intangible results:- deeper insight in BCT for all project partners (BCT is more than just crypto-currencies)- awareness raising on the advantages of BCT in all partner countries as beyond- less fear of using BCT- deeper knowledge and skills on BCT for individual as well as organizational learners- broader use of BCT-based solutions and tools in the partner countries- better connection of users and different stakeholders in the European VET-sector"