SME2

Duration

21 months (January 2007 - September 2008)

Project Summary

In the scope of Lifelong Learning Programme the overall objective of the SME2 project is to foster mobility within Vocational Education and Training (VET), by promoting the transfer of proven methodologies for SME support from the research & technology field to the VET field. Therefore SMEs (mostly without former experience of participation in mobility activities), VET providers and chambers of commerce in Portugal, Italy and Poland are the main targets.

In order to enhance the participation of SMEs in mobility activities under European and National VET programmes, the SME2 project will perform four main axes of activities:

 

  • Awareness building:
    using the partners multiplying effect to raise attention from the SMEs in the targeted countries to the advantages of mobility and disseminate the European instruments for transparency and quality of mobility, such as ECVET, EQF, Europass, Quality charter for mobility, etc.
  • Mobility and VET strategy assessment:
    assessments will be performed by the project partners towards SMEs to join mobility activities, both at incoming or outgoing level.
  • Building mobility competences:
    bringing SMEs into mobility activities within VET is the most challenging objective of the project. Therefore this activity will be held in an innovative two stage approach: 1) on a first stage, partners will assist the selected SMEs in developing mobility schemes (even short term) by making use of national/regional programs and incentives for that purposes; 2) on a second stage, the partners will work with the SMEs in order to build meaningful and long term mobility schemes within ongoing or future VET strategies and plans.
  • Follow-up and preparation of future activities:
    The assessment reports will be analyzed in order to study SME main barriers and expectations regarding mobility. Roadmaps to solve bottlenecks will be submitted to a web-based panel of experts prior to the editing of the final report, in order to provide valid contributions for the future VET programmes, both at national and European level.

Expected results

Funded by the European Commission the SME2 project will allow developing, implementing and validating a support mechanism to SMEs based on a Network of National/Regional Contact Points and Service providers for VET Mobility with a clear European added-value. Generally, the project will result in the following benefits for the target group companies:

  • More assistance, advice and funding for mobility schemes and activities;
  • Enlarge the SMEs participation in EU/ National mobility projects and activities;
  • Increased efforts to create international networks and partnerships global reach for SMEs;
  • Promotion of SMEs involvement in new and emerging community innovation and technology clusters;
  • Greater focus on European instruments for transparency and quality of mobility, such as ECVET, EQF, Europass, Quality charter for mobility.

Co-ordinating organisation:

        Inovafor, Porto, Portugal

Contact details:

        Mr. Nuno Dias

        Rua Dr. Afonso Cordeiro nr. 877, sala 203, PT-4450-007 Matosinhos

        Mail: nuno.dias@inovafor.pt

        Website: www.inovafor.pt/SME2/

Partnership: 

Centro di Cultura Scientifica Alessandro Volta (IT)

Foundation for Promotion of Entrepreneurship (PL)

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