Pequeñas empresas sostenibles en un mercado laboral digital. DIGI-GREEN-4-VET

<< Background >>We live in a digital century but despite this fact, it is observed that our students' digital competence is not enough, especially in COVID pandemic where there was one computer or none at homes. It is also highlighted that students talked about climate change, but they were not really aware they could be active part of the solution, not only part of the problem. In their opinion, nothing could be done, it was a goal for governments not for them.The three vocational education and eTwinning Schools applied for this Erasmus KA210 project because of a profound commitment to enhancing the vocational education and training landscape by addressing critical skill gaps in entrepreneurial, green, and digital competences among these students to better prepare them for the evolving demands of the labour market 4.0. The project's design aimed to address these deficiencies through a combination of onsite activities and online MOOCs, thus providing a comprehensive learning experience. Recognizing the rapidly evolving job market 4.0 and the increasing demand for these 21st century skills, teachers aimed to provide students with comprehensive training that would enhance their employability and readiness for future challenges. << Objectives >>The primary objectives of the project were threefold: 1) Entrepreneurial Skills: To cultivate a robust entrepreneurial mindset among VET students, equipping them with the knowledge and competencies necessary to initiate and manage their own business ventures, and being aware of their impact on earth. 2) Green Skills: To instil and understanding of sustainable practices and environmental responsibility, enabling students to implement green strategies in their professional and personal lives, always mitigating as much as possible their impact on earth by reducing their Carbon footprint.3) Digital Skills: To enhance the digital competences included in DigComp 2.2 framework of the European Commission and ensure they are proficient in using modern technologies and digital tools essential for today's workplace. << Implementation >>Seven activities were implemented in the project: Activity 1: Online digital skills courseActivity 2: Online green skills courseActivity 3: Entrepreneurial skills course. A suite of online easy and short courses for students were curated and made available to students, focusing on the three key skill areas. These courses allowed for flexible, self-paced learning and ensured accessibility for all participants in safe learning spaces. The online courses were done before the activity 5. Activity 4: Onsite teachers’ meetings in the three cities (3)Activity 5: Onsite groups’ meetings in the three cities (3)Activity 6: eTwinning project: Digigreen4VET_Entrepreneurs (KA210 Erasmus +) and Activity 7: International days and weeks celebrations. Online courses were aimed at upskilling students. Teachers’ meetings were aimed at preparing online courses and the activities to be carried out in onsite groups’ meetings and evaluate the project progress. Onsite groups’ meetings were aimed at enjoying sustainable, digital, and entrepreneurial activities in collaboration with their project partners in not only workshops and training sessions but also outdoors cultural, sustainable, entrepreneurial, and digital activities.<< Results >>The project yielded several concrete outputs and positive outcomes: Enhanced skill sets: students acquired and demonstrated significant improvements in entrepreneurial, green, and digital skills, as evidenced by pre- and post- project formative evaluation tools. Successful completion of MOOCs: a high completion rate of the online courses indicated strong engagement and commitment from the students. Sustainable green plans, useful digital tool sets and challenging entrepreneurial videos submissions: the collaborative project and online courses products resulted in effective company analysis with innovative solutions and business ideas, digital skills improvements and sustainable awareness showcasing the practical application of the skills acquired. Increased employability: feedback from participants and employers who collaborated in some sessions of activities 5 suggested that the enhanced skill sets have made the students more competitive and employable in the future job market. Sustainability awareness: there was a notable increase in the students' awareness and implementation of sustainable practices, in their academic development, internships at companies of their professional fields, and personal lives as well.