Success and challenges in designing industry-oriented master’s programmes
Best practices Success and challenges in designing industry-oriented master’s programmes Users: Industry, SMEs | Theme: Programme development | Action: Education programmes/ courses | Beneficiaries: SMEs, Industry, Labour force (employed) Michael Bradford https://digital4business.eu Digital4Business (D4B) is an enterprise-led master’s program, co-created by companies and universities. It aims to minimise the skills gap in SMEs by upskilling business leaders, professionals, and graduates with advanced digital knowledge. The companies involved in the development of this master’s identify where their biggest skill gaps are, and design it with advancement in these areas as the ultimate goal. Due to the industry involvement and focus, felxibility and agility are essential in all aspects of programme development. This includes content creation, accreditation/certification, and logistics (recruitment and enrolment management, course delivery, mobility coordination). The challenge? Securing joint accreditation across multiple countries created a significant challenge, as it required coordination and diverted resources from programme design. Additionally, the development of a centralised digital platform for enrolment, fee management, and course delivery introduced technical complexities, necessitating interoperability, data security, and GDPR compliance. Lastly, ensuring smooth student mobility proved complex due to differences in credit transfers, ECTS allocation, and varying academic calendars, all of which required coordination among institutions. Our solution Formalised Collaborative Agreements: D4B establised a Cooperation Agreement between project partners, along with standardised joint academic quality assurance (QA) processes and procedures to ensure consistency across institutions.Centralised Digital Platform: D4B created an integrated online system for programme delivery and administration, including applications, enrolment, registration, and fee management.Facilitated Student Mobility and Credit Recognition: D4B managed ECTS allocation, credit transfers, and academic schedules to accommodate both part-time and full-time students. igital 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 By formalizing collaborative agreements and implementing standardized joint academic quality assurance (QA) processes, Digital4Business successfully secured joint accreditation across multiple countries. This approach not ensured the consistency of the program across institutions. The creation of a centralized digital platform also streamlined administrative tasks such as enrollment, fee management, and course delivery, improving overall efficiency and student experience. Key takeaways Ensure Team Cohesion: Open communication and structured collaboration are maintained through regular meetings and workshops at both consortium and work-package levels, this alignment promotes transparency. Create Targeted Workgroups: Dedicated workgroups address specific challenges by bringing together experts from different areas, ensuring focused problem-solving. Build Transnational Networks: Strong professional connections are fostered by engaging alumni, faculty, and industry organisations, facilitating knowledge exchange, enhancing employability, and supporting long-term collaboration. 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.
Developing the ITC Upskilling Initiative for the European Space Association
Best practices Developing the ITC Upskilling Initiative for the European Space Association Users: Industry | Theme: Reskilling and upskilling | Action: Professional Training | Beneficiaries: Labour force employed Luca Malinverno https/porini.it/ Porini is a DGS Group company specialising in innovative digital solutions. It was contracted to develop a course for teaching employees of the European Space Association (ESA) the fundamentals of Microsoft Power BI Desktop, a self-reporting tool available for free. The challenge? The Porini training programme for the European Space Agency (ESA) faced the challenge of training employees with varying levels of technological proficiency. The programme needed to cater to both beginners and advanced professionals, ensuring that all employees, regardless of their technical background, could effectively use Microsoft Power BI Desktop. This required the creation of tailored learning opportunities, providing foundational training for non-technical employees while also offering specialised content for experienced data analysts. The ultimate goal was to ensure that ESA employees across different roles could effectively contribute to data-driven projects using Power BI. Our solution Designed a 14-Month Power BI Training Programme: Designed and delivered a customised training course on Power BI to 500 ESA employees, ensuring a structured and progressive learning experience. Developed a shorter onboarding course based on the Kolb Cycle: Allowed new employees to self-evaluate their grasp of the topics and integrate smoothly into the main programme. Incorporated dynamic course adjustments: Allowed for exercises and content to be tailored based on class performance and individual learning progress. Outcomes With continuous group learning and an adaptable learning schedule, the ESA employees gained an advanced digital proficiency in Microsoft Power BI. Key takeaways Adapting Course Content to Class Performance is Effective: Starting with fundamentals and adjusting exercises based on participant performance ensures that all learners are engaged and progressing at an appropriate pace. Peer Learning Enhances Understanding: Dividing participants into small groups and encouraging the most skilled individuals to mentor others creates an interactive learning environment, reinforcing knowledge and boosting collaboration 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.
Industry-oriented hackathon to drive SME involvement in master programme design
Best practices Industry-oriented hackathon to drive SME involvement in master programme design Users: Training providers (public), Industry, SMEs | Theme: Industry engagement | Action: Stakeholder collaboration | Beneficiaries: Learners (STEM background), Learners (non-STEM background, Labour force (employed), Labour force (unemployed) Simona Ramanauskaite https://digitalmerit.eu/merithon/ MERIT is developing master’s degrees and short-term courses in AI, cybersecurity and IoT, with the participation of NGOs, non-profits, research organisations, companies and SMEs. These are delivered by technical universities across Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Italy and Spain. Having consistent, hands-on engagement from industry is fundamental to the project’s operational model and objectives. The challenge? A key challenge in the MERIT project was accurately identifying potential industry collaboration opportunities. As many study programmes were still in development by the time the project had to initiate outreach, persuading companies to comit in the initiative proved challenging.SMEs often faced limited human and time resources, making it difficult for them to participate in surveys, provide input for curriculum design, or test different concepts.Additionally, study programme flexibility was constrained by national accreditation requirements, limiting the ability to tailor courses to SMEs’ needs. Our solution MERIThon: The project created the annual MERIThon event, where SMEs proposed challenges, mentored participants, and explored innovative solutions relevant to their business needs. This initiative provided SMEs with a low-commitment way to engage with the programme while benefiting from fresh ideas. Established SME-University Partnerships: They Developed collaborations between SMEs and study programmes, leading to joint activities such as guest lectures, employee recruitment, internships, and research projects. Outcomes The design of the courses around real market needs and with direct industry engagement, has made the programmes highly attractive. 1,000 participants have been trained through the initiative. Key takeaways Introductory Meetings with Leading Enterprises: Regularly organise meetings between SMEs and large enterprises to highlight the benefits of collaboration and encourage SME participation. Engaging SMEs through Personal Contacts & EDIHs: Strengthen engagement by reaching out to SMEs via personal networks and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs),developing trust and participation. Step-by-Step Programme Development: Implement an approach where the study programme is broken down into phases and targeted feedback is gathered at each stage to ensure SME needs are fulfilled. 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.
Assessing and recognising individually acquired digital competencies through the digital skills profile platform
Best practices Assessing and recognising individually acquired digital competencies through the digital skills profile platform Users: Industry, SMEs | Theme: Accreditation & certification | Action: Framework / Methodology | Beneficiaries: Labour force employed, Labour force unemployed, Learners (non-STEM background). Valerie Michaelis https://www.fit4internet.at 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. The challenge? A key challenge for Fit4internet was ensuring consistent proof of digital competencies aqcuired through different learning methods, including formal education, non-formal training, and informal certifications. A lack of standardised system led to records being inconsistent, which made it difficult for individuals to effectively showcase their digital skills. Another major challenge was ensuring broad participation, particularly among individuals with limited access to digital tools or education, ensuring that no group was left behind. Our solution Fit4internet developed a user-friendly system that tracks, manages, and showcases digital competencies, aligning with the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp AT) and European Qualifications Framework (EQF). It introduced an e-portfolio feature that allowed users to showcase their digital competencies through a shareable link or PDF, which made it easier for employers, educators, and organisations to assess skills. Finally, it enabled users to create their own digital skills profile page and visualise their acquired competencies. A digital badge system was introduced to provide a recognisable and structured way for individuals to demonstrate their proficiency and track their learning journey. Outcomes Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Key takeaways There are now more relevant digital competency frameworks, allowing people to align their skills with market gaps, which in turn is leading to the skill gap in the market to diminish. With the labour force upskilling, and the skills gap diminishing, the labour force unemployed are benefitting by acquiring jobs. 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.
Porini’s Post-Grad Intensive Academy for upskilling employees
Best practices Porini’s Post-Grad Intensive Academy for upskilling employees Users: Industry | Theme: Reskilling and upskilling | Action: Professional Training | Beneficiaries: Labour force employed Luca Malinverno https/porini.it/ Porini is a DGS Group company specialising in innovative digital solutions. It was asked to design a custom course for its client’s 12 new entry-level employees. The objective was to familiarise them with company-specific methodologies and software, and facilitate their transition from university to work. The challenge? Porini faced the challenge of designing an effective onboarding programme for a group of 12 new employees with varying levels of academic qualifications (bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD) and different professional backgrounds in ICT. The training needed to ensure that all employees, regardless of their prior experience, could adapt to the company’s specific methodologies and software while seamlessly transitioning from academia to industry. Our solution Created a structured onboarding programme based on the Kolb Cycle: Allowed all employees to self-evaluate their grasp of key topics and progress at their own pace. Designed course content that catered to varying levels of expertise: Ensured that employees with different academic and professional backgrounds could engage meaningfully with company-specific methodologies and tools. Outcomes Porini helped their client maintain a 100% employment rate with their new hires due to their digital solutions skills all being at a more than acceptable level. Key takeaways Hands-On Labs Enhance Learning: Incorporating real-life scenarios and practical use cases throughout the course provided employees with a better understanding of how to apply company methodologies in real-world projects. Structured Learning is Essential: Clearly defining a step-by-step learning path from the outset helped prevent fragmented learning experiences, ensuring that technologies and data analysis stages were presented as interconnected processes rather than independent components. 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.
Best practice layout
LEADSx2030 best practices Assessing and recognising individually acquired digital competencies through the digital skills profile platform Users: Industry, SMEs | Theme: Accreditation & certification | Action: Stakeholder collaboration, Framework / Methodology | Beneficiaries: Labour force employed, Labour force unemployed, Learners (non-STEM background). Valerie Michaelis Deputy Secretary General 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. The challenge? 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. Our 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 15 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. 15 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. 15 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. 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. 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.