Rising unemployment, particularly among young people is a pressing problem faced by all European governments. Increasing employment among young people is an important priority. Due to this fact, as well as because of serious economic crisis in Europe, entrepreneurial spirit and business awareness have become even more important among students. We have found that students in secondary vocational education (and others as well) need to increase their entrepreneurial skills to be able to think obout working in their own busineses. On the other hand – to establish a successful company it is necessary to integrate knowledge from different fields in order to achieve the common goal. These are business and marketing skills, industrial and graphic design and manufacture of the product – production. These three fields have to work hand in hand. The reality in partners' school systems is that we have skilled experts in each area – educated in different programs – with no or very random contacts with each other and lack of global knowledge of how to start their own business. In this project we will combine three different fields of school education working together (production, marketing, design) to achieve the common goal of commercial success. The goal is to create high-quality and useful products which are commercially interesting, beautifully designed and have a potential on the market. Of great importance is also the fact that students need current practical knowledge that can be obtained only by experts working in companies. We will develop and upgrade curriculum also by integrating learning from experts working in the business on different areas. We want to include in school education cooperation and integration of different disciplines/programs and inclusion of case study learning from experts on the market with a common goal - to create commercially interesting products. We want this to be included systematically, not just random. That´s why we will develop new/upgraded curiculum – NET – ENT (Networking for Entrepreneurship). By Networking we mean: - interaction between the different schools, school programs - linking education with the labor market - networking and exchange of experiences from different EU countries (NET – ENT INTERNATIONAL) - establishing networks between students of different programs, which can lead to successful entrepreneurial ideas, at the time of schooling and latter on The future is in teamwork – together everyone achieves more. In order to do this innovative methods in education are needed - new approaches to teaching and learning. Teachers are the ones who can stimulate and encourage students. Therefore we will educate teachers/trainers and experts as well. Teachers will be trained to change their teaching methods and meet with different challenges. They should establish supportive relationship, be professional, inspiring and support students throughout the project from the early steps (identifying problems or customers' needs - idea - problem solving) through progress monitoring until the goal is reached. Teachers will no longer appear only in their traditional role but will become mentors/coaches/trainers using innovative methods in the class and including mentors from companies where necessary as well as teachers from other schools/programs. Students will benefit from entrepreneurial learning by developing collaborative planning, by understanding essential integration between different areas/programs to create commercially interesting products and start successful business, as well as essential skills and attitudes such as creativity, initiative, tenacity, teamwork, resilience, understanding of risk and a sense of responsibility (transversal key competences). This entrepreneurial mind-set will help students to put ideas into action and become self-confident in order to meet needs of the real market. It will help them to be more enterprising, competitive and innovative, thus becoming more employable which is crucial in achieving the objectives. Another benefit of participating in this project is to recognize the importance of cooperation between different areas to produce a successful product. Also at the time of schooling they will gain the necessary connections enabling them to open their own micro or small companies easier (early networking). In order to do this we have chosen reliable partners we know very well. Our goal in future is also to create long term partnerships and establish international module which can be used in future also for certified mobilities of students and teachers (NET- ENT INTERNATIONAL). We would like also to successfully implement entrepreneurial skills among students to increase youth employment possibilities and to improve self-employment in EU and networking among students/teachers/experts….

The EASIP COMP project aims at reinforcing the entrepreneurship competence among students through workplace learning, in line with the European strategy on this topic.Conceptually E.A.S.I.P. COMP puts a special emphasis on further strengthening entrepreneurship as one of the key competencies in higher education curricula and provides more effective work-based opportunities to acquire entrepreneurship competency among university students. The project will increase labor market relevance of learning provision and qualifications and reinforce the links between education, training and the world of work, because the entrepreneurship training model will include close project-based cooperation between universities and local companies.The guiding principle of the project is to provide evidence based experiential teaching models to ensure long-term sustainable cooperation between universities and local business organisations.We will do that by implementing an experiential workplace-based model of teaching entrepreneurship in higher education in order to facilitate more frequent and quality cooperation between higher education institutions and local business organizations. The main objectives of the project are to:-Introduce a new practical entrepreneurship model by working on real life cases in business and industry-Deliver new entrepreneurship training materials for teachers and students to support work-based learning about entrepreneurship-Equip university teachers with skills for mentoring and guiding students towards entrepreneurship-Support cooperation between higher education institutions and local businesseswith the aim of offering more experience in developing entrepreneurial competencies of university students-Strengthen cooperation between higher education institutions and local businesses for creative solutions and product development by joint work between students, teachers and local businessesProject outputs will be strongly practical oriented, offering comprehensive support for long-term impacts on experiential teaching of entrepreneurship. Specifically, the outcomes are the following:1. An online entrepreneurship course and digital character (software). A set of tools, games and activities will be built in order to make lessons more experiential and the whole approach will be built on great user experience.The first part is a long process of research and analysis about entrepreneurship competences among university students. The second part consists in developing the entrepreneurship course: it will include activities for students, description of activities, material needed, recommendations for teachers, user-friendly explanations of theory, as necessary for students.2.Video-compendium of prototypes of business ideas created by students. The video-compendium will collect all students’ workplace business projects developed. It will present all projects prepared by students in a business environment, showing prototypes developed by students and a short presentation of all involved local companies. In addition, the project will produce also intangible results such as:-Increasing knowledge of university students about entrepreneurship, improving their employability -Training university teachers in a new approach of working with entrepreneurship competences and with the world of business-Increasing skills of entrepreneurship trainers by working with university teachers and supporting students in workplace learning-Increasing cooperation between universities and local businesses in work-based projects-Increasing internalization of the partner organizationsThe project will have effective impacts such as: increased entrepreneurial mindset and employability of university students; increased ability of teachers in mentoring students for training courses on entrepreneurship; reinforced cooperation between universities and local companies in implementing work-based project for students; increased knowledge among higher education institutions and policy makers of practical approach in teaching entrepreneurship. The EASIP COMP project results will be sustainable; methodological approach and intellectual outputs are flexible and adaptable and can be easily implemented in higher education organizations across Europe.

The Ulysseus European University is one of the 24 selected alliances from the second pilot call for proposals under the 2020 Erasmus+ work programme. The Alliance faces an ambitious 10 years endeavour that will contribute to shape the European Higher Education Area and the European Research Area , and hence the future of Europe. Ulysseus Alliance’s vision for 2030 is to develop an excellency-recognized and internationally attractive open to the world, persons-centred and entrepreneurial European University for the citizens of the future. The process of transformation towards this European University involves the generation of both a territorial and digital Innovation Ecosystem, the Ulysseus Innovation Ecosystem. Understanding our Alliance as one Innovation Ecosystem developing solutions for specific R&I challenges from Innovation Hubs, is Ulysseus unique and distinguishing feature. The Ulysseus Ecosystem rests on two solid foundations: the Ulysseus Community , representing the helix and including the 6 Alliance partners and 95 associated partners ; and the Ulysseus Campus. COMPASS is the flagship for Ulysseus R&I agenda, so its aim is to build upon this vision by establishing Ulysseus as a model of excellence for research and innovation transformation in line with the shared, integrated, long-term joint strategy of the alliance, boosting synergies between the European Research Area and the European Education Area. COMPASS will support the development of strategies and concrete action plans in order to position Ulysseus as an institutional transformation model at research and innovation level. Through COMPASS, the alliance will reinforce their joint long-term vision for research and innovation to drive systemic, structural and sustainable impact at all levels of the institutions involved.

<< Background >>The overarching ambition of LeadVET is to enhance vocational teacher education (VTE) and vocational education and training (VET) by developing sustainable university-school partnerships, together with leadership and networking skills for professionals in the field. Within VET, the connection between educational and occupational practices is crucial, as VET-Teachers work at the intersection of these practices. The profession of vocational teaching is constantly in transformation, as jobs and occupations change in response to societal challenges. Teaching and learning practices need to reflect this continual transformation.In particular, vocational teaching suffers from recruitment and retention issues because it is difficult for those employees in practical or vocational occupations to combine their professional work with teaching in a university context. In addition, the age and profile of possible recruits makes it more difficult for them to follow full-time study courses.LeadVET will address this problem through developing the positive aspects of this 'boundary-spanning' situation. Having both an academic and vocational perspective is an underrated characteristic, and those who can develop these dual characteristics are in a good position to:1) be attuned to the needs of vocational teacher students2 ) influence the skill levels of employees through effective supervision and training,3) to develop a research based vocational teacher education, closely linked to practice4) to be a positive force for collaboration and partnership in the VET ecosystem<< Objectives >>Overall aim: Better collaboration between university vocational teacher education, vocational schools and enterprises, which constitute the vocational ecosystem, leading to:Improved recruitment, retention, training and leadership skills and job satisfaction, for vocational teachers.The concrete objectives are:objective 1/PR1: identify tools for mapping networks and networking activities across vocational ecosystemsobjective 2/PR2: Create a model and mentoring system to bridge the theory-practice gap in vocational teacher educationobjective 3/PR3: Increase the potential for recruitment of quality candidates for VET teacher education through partnerships between schools, universities and employers, including initial teacher education and in-service or professional developmentObjective 4/PR4: create accessible learning materials to disseminate the above results, including bite-sized videos, for the leaders and key persons who will facilitate the above actions within partnerships and networks.<< Implementation >>The activities of the project will include: 1) Producing a robust theoretical model for leadership in collaborative or partnership in VTE, 2) Producing a framework for how to recruit and educate more VET-teachers by developing in-service training in partnership with VET schools and companies 3) Producing a VTE-student mentoring system in co-operation with VET-institutions that bridges the theory-pratice gap in VTE and 4) Producing Academic videos for bite-sized learning for VET/TVE leader and key personnel.<< Results >>The formal project results will include:PR1:Mapping networks and roles in Vocational Teacher EducationVTE/VET leaders move in networks to strengthen the theory-practice link and recruitment and take on specific roles there. Within a literature review, it will first be determined which networks in VTE/VET can be distinguished across countries. The different stakeholders will also be taken into account. In addition, the literature review will clarify which techniques can best be used to empirically record such networks. In the empirical part of this result, relevant VET networks will then be identified through interviews and other survey techniques.PR1 will support all other results. PR2: A model for in-service training in Vocational Teacher EducationWe will develop a model for in-service training and professional development structures in VTE, including curriculum design and learning practices with wide applicability over a range of VTE subjects, and geographical or educational contexts. The model will be based on three fundamental principles:1) Networking is crucial to vocational education, due to the need for direct connection between schools and potential employers2) Partnerships, in which all participants have trust, equal rights and responsibilities, should connect key players such as schools, universities, other VET providers and municipalities3) Mentoring is important for both VTE students and VTE educators, in order to share knowledge more effectively and to gain skills.dimensions to their work. The essential goal of PR2 is bridging the theory-practice gap in networks in, or related to, university-school partnerships and networks with enterprises.PR3: The essential goal of PR3 is bridging the theory-practice gap in networks in or related to university-school partnerships, by:1.Applying the theoretical model developed in PR3 to practice i.e. building a relevant practical collaboration network model to the Finnish context. The model can be applied to LeadVet partner institutions.2.Based on the network model, Haaga-Helia will develop an VTE-student mentoring system in co-operation with VET-institutions. The mentoring system will be adaptable to LeadVET partners’ national circumstances. VET-institutions thus have the possibility to develop VTE according to their interests, and their teachers are motivated to improve their skills and find inspiring dimensions to their work.PR4: This result, PR 4 will consist of training videos for VET/TVE leader and key personnel. The videos provide knowledge about how to contribute to establishing and maintaining sustainable structures and processes between university - school and trades/companies in order to enhance recruitment and bridge the gap between theory and practice in VTE and VET.We will initially prepare 7 BSL videos focused on one aspect of practice:•BSL-1 Video will be the general introduction of the LeadVETproject •BSL-2 Video will be about the role of student-teachers in VET•BSL-3 Video will be about the role of vocational teachers in our model•BSL-4 Video will be about the role of academic staff and vocational teacher-educators in our model•BSL-5 Video will be about the role of school leaders in VET networks•BSL-6 Video will be about the role of coordinators at school in collaborative partnerships•BSL-7 Video will be about the role of coordinator at university in collaborative partnerships

Along with the tourism industry, cultural and creative industries (CCIs) are most affected by the pandemic. All CCIs need systems or management tools to make them more resilient today. Thus, CULTURATI aims to build an inclusive cultural-educational ecosystem with visitor and capacity management by using digital solutions and cutting-edge technologies to (1) enhance and support collaboration between CCIs, and citizens to promote Europe’s culture, values, and interests, (2) increase accessibility, awareness, and understanding of cultural heritage and arts, (3) preserve cultural heritage by preventing deterioration due to overcrowding and sustain valuable resources (4) enhance the audience experience through customized games, and routes by optimizing the number of people on the venue or site-based CCIs, ensuring social distancing between them in case of a pandemic. CULTURATI is a global content platform that enables CCIs, creative professionals, and citizens to create content collectively for cultural heritage and arts across Europe. Consequently, CULTURATI curates content in its database and delivers customized information with the help of its algorithm. Therefore, the principal objective of the CULTURATI project is to design, develop, evaluate and validate mainstream technologies for its ecosystem utilizing the Internet of Things, cloud and mobile technologies, sensors (people counters), and Artificial Intelligence. Our user-centered design methodology situates user needs at the center by actively involving them in five pilot sites across Europe to validate CULTURATI, as well as increase engagement with broader audiences. Accordingly, our interdisciplinary consortium involves computer scientists, CCIs, academia from various disciplines, including social sciences, SMEs, public authorities, and non-profit community initiatives to focus on engaging citizens, and ensuring widespread communication and exploitation of CULTURATI in Europe and internationally.