Leveraging flexible approaches and platforms for SME engagement in master’s programme design
Best practices Leveraging flexible approaches and platforms for SME engagement in master’s programme design Users: Training providers (public) | Theme: Industry engagement | Action: Education programmes/ courses | Beneficiaries: Training providers (Public), Industry, SMEs Antonio Arcos, Fernando Garcia Molina https://www.digitwin4ciue.eu/ DIGITWIN4CIEU offers a master’s degree across Spain, France, Hungary, and Turkey, equiping civil engineers with digital skill’s for the industry’s transformation. The quality and relevance of the content is largely ensured due to the industry and academic experts from SMEs and universities that have collaborated in the development of this masters. The challenge? Convincing SMEs in manufacturing to embrace the virtualization of infrastructures proves challenging, as they are already struggling to adapt to industry-specific requirements such as developing Building Information Modelings (BIM). Additionally, SMEs are hesitant to invest in sponsoring students and face limited availability of employees to participate in the preparation stages of the Master’s programme due to professional projects and deadlines that they must adhere to. Our solution Academic programme designed with flexibility: To attract different disciplines of the built environment industry, flexible programme schedules were developed by having things such as evening or recorded classes. DIGITWIN4CIEU created a European Centre of Excellence, which it uses as the main platform to interact with SMEs. It serves as a hub for innovative research, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing, bringing together experts from academia, industry, and government. Continuous generation of technical content: This was done to impact the mindset of SMEs managers and highlight the need for adusting to technological advances. Outcomes Students of this masters have learnt how to develop the skills to lead digital transformation teams at their companies. A strong network has been built, with likeminded people exchanging their thoughts on a digital society. Key takeaways A network of contacts to generate impact: Create a technical contents team, that will generate weekly communications of interest to persuade SMEs managers on the need to anticipate the future of the construction sector, in order to be competitive with larger entities. Regular publications on social media: Publish posts on a mix of channels, including LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube etc. to keep stakeholders engaged in the goal of the project. Sign collaboration agreements with SME associations (e.g. ANCI, Tecniberia) to mobilise participation in programme development and deployment. Learn more here Case Summary– Context: Fit4internet is a non-profit initiative aimed at enhancing digital literacy across Austria. By using the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp AT), which identifies key components of digital competencies and aligns with European standards, Fit4internet helps individuals showcase their digital skills. The Fit4internet platform offers a way to track and prove digital competencies, helping with employability and ensuring that the Austrian workforce has the necessary ICT skills to meet market demands. Through the digital skills profile platform, the initiative supports both individual growth and the development of a digitally capable society. Challenge: The challenge faced is managing proof of competencies acquired through various learning methods, including formal education, non-formal training, and informal certifications, which can lead to inconsistent records. Securing sustainable funding to support the continuous development of new digital competencies, ensuring that programs remain up-to-date with evolving market needs. The second main challenge was fostering broad participation and engagement, especially among groups who may lack access to digital tools or education. Identified Approach / Solution: The Fit4internet platform provides a centralised, user-friendly system to manage and showcase digital competencies, aligning with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). Through this platform, individuals can track and showcase their digital skills, making it easier for employers, educators, and organisations to assess their talent. The platform allows users to create an e-portfolio that showcases their digital skills, with the option to share it through a link or as a PDF. This portfolio highlights the digital competencies that a user has acquired, linked to their certificates. These certificates can be formal, non-formal, or informal. The platform also supports the generation of a digital skills profile that showcases the user’s acquired skills. Users earn digital badges as a visual representation of their skills. This allows them to continue with their learning journey, while showing off their competencies to others. Outcomes: Key takeaways: Fit4internet engage multiple stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy to develop holistic and relevant digital competency frameworks. They also use widely applied frameworks to measure skills gaps, enabling better planning for individuals and institutions. By doing this they improve reinsertion rates into the labor force by addressing individuals digital skill gaps and aligning them with market needs. This benefits companies by providing clear insights into the skillsets that are being developed and that are available in the workforce.