Best practices
SME engagement for master programme design – ManagiDiTH
Users: Training Providers (Public) | Theme: Skills Data | Action: Education Programmes/Courses | Beneficiaries: Training Providers (Public), Industry, SMEs
The challenge?
ManagiDiTH has had to conduct a comprehensive ecosystem mapping and digital skills needs assessment to ensure the curriculum aligns with industry demands. This involves identifying key stakeholders across local and European healthcare and digital ecosystems, including healthcare institutions, technology providers, policymakers, and academic organisations.
Additionally, an in-depth analysis of upcoming technological trends was necessary to understand the evolving landscape of digital health solutions. A key aspect of this challenge has been evaluating the current and future digital competencies required by healthcare professionals, ensuring that the programme equips graduates with the skills needed to lead digital transformation in the sector.
Our solution
ManagiDiTH integrated social skills training with specialised modules in data science and interoperability, ensuring graduates were equipped with both technical and interpersonal skills for digital healthcare transformation.
It established a coherent curriculum with well-defined modules, clear learning outcomes and assessment methods. A dedicated digital learning platform was also implemented to enhance accessibility and engagement for students.
Secured accreditation across multiple countries and institutions: The programme’s recognition and credibility within the European healthcare sector was ensured, which facilitated widespread adoption and long-term impact.
Key takeaways
- Industry-Led Guest Lectures & Workshops: SMEs deliver guest lectures and workshops, providing students with real-world insights, case studies, and practical applications of digital healthcare solutions.
- Project-Based Learning with SME Collaboration: SMEs actively participate in designing and executing project-based learning modules, ensuring students gain hands-on experience in solving industry-specific challenges.
- Internships & Work Placements: Students have access to internships and work placements with SMEs, allowing them to apply their skills in professional environments
- Advisory Board Participation: SMEs contribute to advisory boards, ensuring continuous alignment of the curriculum with evolving industry needs, trends, and technological advancements.
- Collaborative Research & Innovation: SMEs engage in research initiatives, both locally and through multi-partner hybrid projects, allowing cross-sector knowledge exchange.
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.