Projects

#GREEN_SKILLS Professions for sustainability and ecological transition Project Name: #GREEN_SKILLS – Professions for sustainability and ecological transitionProgramme: Erasmus+Priority: KA210-SCH – Small-scale partnerships in school educationProject ID: 2023-2-IT02-KA210-SCH-000175456 Website: Coming soonSocial media: Coming soonDuration: 24 monthsTopics: – Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education based on green skills knowledge.– Foster awareness, critical thinking and commitment of young generations to sustainability.– Support the inclusion of target groups in disadvantaged/fragile situations, through training in ecological transition professions. Project Description #GREEN_SKILLS aims to achieve several overarching goals. Firstly, it seeks to educate students about the objectives outlined in the 2030 Agenda, emphasizing the importance of global sustainability. Additionally, it aims to advocate for the integration of ‘green’ education into vocational training, preparing students for environmentally conscious careers. Moreover, the project strives to cultivate a sense of awareness, critical thinking, and dedication to sustainability among younger generations. It particularly focuses on reaching out to disadvantaged or vulnerable groups, providing them with training opportunities in fields related to ecological transition. Furthermore, #GREEN_SKILLS has specific objectives tailored to enhancing professional training in the ‘green’ sector. This involves implementing structured courses such as sustainability and circular economy analysis, as well as environmental management. By doing so, it aims to equip students with the necessary skills to thrive in sustainability-focused professions. Another key aspect of our project is ambition to share and replicate successful outcomes on a broader scale, particularly at the European level. It also endeavors to introduce students to emerging concepts like the circular economy and bioeconomy, broadening their understanding of potential career paths in these areas. Ultimately, #GREEN_SKILLS aims to bridge the gap between traditional education and the evolving needs of the workforce, ensuring that students are well-prepared for the professions of the future. Project Consortium Project Coordinator:Liceo “G. Bianchi Dotula” – Italy Partners INNETICA – Spain Connectus – Greece E-Expert GmbH – Austria Agrupamento de Escolas Póvoa de Santa Iria – Portugal Ekonomska sola Novo mesto – Slovenia Vetrunge” gymnasium Klaipeda – Lithuania Project Results WP1 – European networking synergies and monitoring of the project phase WP2 – Research for change: comparison between different European realities on green skills between school and the world of work. WP3 – Innovative green skills training processes: circular economy and sustainability analyst. WP4 – Changing your lifestyle: being an environmental manager. WP5 – Enhance and make training experiences transferable: involve communities. Our role CONNECTUS will be the leader of WP4 and collaborate with the rest of the work packages. Impact The #GREEN_SKILLS project has the potential to foster a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future by empowering young people, building a skilled workforce, promoting social inclusion, and inspiring collective action on a global scale.

Mothers looking ahead! Project Name: Mothers looking ahead!Programme: Erasmus+Priority: ADU: Creating upskilling pathways, improving accessibility and increasing take-up of adult education.ADU: Improving the competences of educators and other adult education staff.HORIZONTAL: Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport.Project ID: 2022-2-SK01-KA220-ADU-000100115Website: Coming soonSocial media: Coming soonDuration: 01/02/2023-01/02/2025Topics: Creating upskilling pathways, improving accessibility and increasing take-up of adult education, Improving the competences of educators and other adult education staff , Inclusion and diversity in all fields of education, training, youth and sport. Project Description The problem of mothers dropping out of education and facing difficulties in going back to education or training or entering the labour market with low qualifications is still a larger scale problem in Europe. The evidence suggests that being a mother usually means less education and lower future family income. International Labour Organisation statistics show a trend that basic and intermediate levels of education for women are associated with lower and declining employment over time. The high rates of unemployed mothers in Europe as well as the drops outs from education inspired us to create the Mothers Looking Ahead project which aims to create support measures for mothers who are not in education or training (also mothers who come from marginalised communities whether they be ethnic minorities, migrant communities or in many instances the general wider community) for them to get back to education and training and improve their chances in (re)entering the labour market and education in the new norma that Covid-19 has created with the distance learning and working. Mothers Looking Ahead will support educational and professional inclusion of mothers, by pursuing (raising their motivation) to rethink to re-entrer education or training in the new era of trainings provided in Europe by providing them support services (including career orientation, empowerment, motivation, soft skills, basic digital skills, job preparation training) to continue and finish the education or training and find a job. Project Consortium Project Coordinator:Newport Group, a.s- Slovakia Partners The Square Dot team – Belgium Connectus – Greece Spectrum Research Centre CLG- Ireland Rightchallenge Associação – Portugal Project Results WP1 – Project Management WP2 – Development of a framework for the establisment of the motivational programme for supporting the educational and professional inclusion of mothers WP3 – Development of training curriculum for the design and delivery of the Mothers looking ahead motivational programme WP4 – Delivery of a series of transnational mentoring forum in project countries WP5 – Dissemination and Exploitation Activities Our role — Impact The Mothers looking ahead project will benefit all partners active in educational programms of reskilling/upskilling of their trainers/staff/educators are going to participate both during the identification and the design of the training materials and its testing application combined with the implementation of the transnational mentoring forum enabling to broaden into the developed materials and transfer them to their trainings in their daily work through training their own staff and to investigate potential areas of establishing it. Other groups or organisations that will benefit; Mothers (either mothers who wishing to pursue a career in self-employment/entrepreneurs or find a job or looking into further professional development – with a special focus on mothers with fewer opportunities, living in rural and remote areas, facing socio-economic difficulties or any other potential source of discrimination and those with a migrant background) -Adult trainers/tutors/career coaches Secondary target groups: -Stakeholders and policy makers in the field of women integration into EU education and labor market -Training organisations and trainers in professional development and entrepreneurship (incl.VET, formal and non-formal training providers) -Organisations promoting women employability and entrepreneurship/self-employment (public, private,third sector of economy, including local and regional authorities at governmental level

Youngpreneures Project Name: YoungpreneuresProgramme: Erasmus+Priority: KA220-YOU – Cooperation partnerships in youthProject ID: 2023-1-SE02-KA220-YOU-000159592 Website: www.youngpreneurs.euSocial media: Coming soon Duration: 01/09/2023 to 31/08/2025 Topics: Soft skills, Employability, Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education, Inclusion of marginalised young people Project Description The Youngpreneures project aims to empower young women by enhancing their entrepreneurial skills and integrating them into the labor market. It focuses on personal branding, digital marketing, intercultural management, and leadership. By addressing gender inequities and providing support, the project aims to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial landscape for young women to thrive. Project Consortium Project CoordinatorImpact Hub Stockholm – Sweden Partners Exeo Lab Srl – Italy Future In Perspective Limited – Ireland Connectus M.IKE – Greece Project Results WP1 Project Management WP2 Development of a framework for the delivery of the training curriculum WP3 Development of training curriculum for the design and delivery of the comprehensive training package with personal brand and digital marketing, intercultural management, and leadership skills WP4 Delivery of a series of transnational mentoring forum in project countries WP5 Dissemination and Exploitation Activities Our role Connectus will be responsible for the core implementation which will be the upskilling of young women (WP3) based on the needs, as these will be identified by WP2 following their experience using the most innovative techniques for curricula development. Connectus will share responsibility for the IT sections of the project, due to their previous experience in developing O.E.R.s, platforms and e-portfolios. Impact The Youngpreneures project aims to empower young women in the labor market by promoting gender equality and providing learning opportunities in personal branding, digital marketing, intercultural management, and leadership skills. The project aligns with the European Commission’s objectives and intends to achieve concrete results such as conducting a comprehensive review, developing a training curriculum, delivering mentoring forums, and implementing dissemination strategies. The impact will benefit young people, companies/organizations, education providers, authorities, career consultants, and policymakers at various levels by creating inclusive models, supporting professional development, and promoting diversity and social inclusion.

LINGUA TREK Project Name: Lingua Trek Programme: Erasmus+ Priority: KA220-SCH – Cooperation partnerships in school education Project ID: KA220-SCH-2D28E6EA Website: Coming soon Social media: Coming soon Duration: 01/10/2023 to 30/06/2026 Topics: Multilingualism, Cultural diversity, and Digital Transformation, Initial and continuous training for teachers Project Description Lingua Trek aims to improve the quality of English language education in Europe by promoting the use of English language in authentic contexts. The hybrid teacher professional development training will equip language teachers with an innovative method of teaching using digital games, while the implementation of the digital game will provide opportunities for students to actively use the language in real-life situations, while fostering cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. Project Consortium Project Coordinator Colegio Virgen de la Rosa – Spain Partners Danmar Computers SP ZOO – Poland Innomate Ldt. – Turkey Connectus M.IKE – Greece Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University – Turkey Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam – Netherlands Angulos e Argumentos LDA – Portugal 4th Primary School of Nafplio – Greece Project Results WP1 Project Management WP2 Development of the Game Scenario and Learning Materials WP3 Development of the Mobile Game WP4 Hybrid Teacher Professional Development Course WP5 Meetings and events Our role Connectus will be responsible for the need analysis under WP3 and for conducting pilot testing will be evaluate the game’s effectiveness under the same WP. Additionally Connectus will lead the evaluation of the platform under WP4, will draft survey and interview questions for all phases of evaluation. Impact Lingua Trek will develop 3 project results: A detailed game scenario document and accompanying learning materials outlining the game objectives that align with the principles of digital game-based language learning. A fully functional mobile game that has been tested and refined through formative evaluations. A hybrid teacher professional development training aiming to help teachers gain the necessary skills about how to effectively integrate Lingua Trek into their teaching practices. Groups and organizations at local, regional, national, and European levels will benefit from the project. These include language teachers and students in primary and secondary schools across Europe who will have access to a new and innovative language learning tool, which will enhance their language learning experience. The project will also benefit other language learning and teaching institutions, educational authorities, policy-makers, and nongovernmental organizations who will be able to use the project outcomes and best practices in their work.

INFORMED Project Name: INFORMED Programme: Erasmus+ Priority: KA210-ADU – Small-scale partnerships in adult education Project ID: 2022-2-DE02-KA210-ADU-000101471 Website: Coming soon Social media: Facebook page l LinkedIn page Duration: 01/02/2023 to 01/02/2025 Topics: Soft skills, Creating new, innovative or joint curricula and courses, Initial and continuous training for teachers, trainers and other education staff. Project Description The INFORMED project is aiming to increase both soft and digital competences of adult students, so they can be digitally competent on how the digital media and algorithms work today, to be sceptical of what they read and watch and strengthen cooperation between key stakeholders to proactively address disinformation. Project Consortium Project Coordinator iserundschmidt GmbH – Germany Partners Connectus M.IKE – Greece Future in perspective limited – Ireland Project Results Activity 1 Project Management and Coordination Activity 2 Workshop Preparation Activity 3 Workshop Implementation, Evaluation and Outputs Activity 4 Community Building Our role CONNECTUS will be responsible for the training implementation and evaluation and will be the one to coordinate the creation of the project outputs. As an experienced training institute for live and online-live trainings Connectus will be the one to implement the workshops and to allocate minor tasks to the partner organizations. Impact The INFORMED project will create material with a universal character, addressing needs of staff in adult education regardless of the specific focus points. The main goal, is to create multiplicators in the participating or non-participating organizations that will transfer their knowledge, share the booklets and guides with colleagues and will be open for discussion and mutual growth. The organizations aim to equip their staff with skills adequate for the digital age and to upskill staff that seem to face difficulty integrating into the digital, new work conditions.

EMBRACE Project Name: EMBRACE Programme: Erasmus+Priority: KA210-YOU – Small-scale partnerships in youthProject ID: 2022-3-LT02-KA210-YOU-000094023Website: https://www.embrace-climate.eu/Social media: Facebook page l LinkedIn pageDuration: 01/02/2023 – 01/06/2024 Topics: Green skills, New learning and teaching methods and approaches, Physical and mental health, Well-being. Project Description The EMBRACE project aims to better understand the feelings, thoughts, and impacts associated with climate change among young people (aged 16-29) in Lithuania, Italy, and Greece and to equip youth workers (educators, social workers, teachers, and others) with the necessary knowledge, skills, tools, and competencies to properly educate and prepare young people to tackle climate anxiety. Project Consortium Project CoordinatorART+INN – Lithuania Partners Connectus M.IKE – Greece CULTUM – Italy Project Results Activity 1 Project management and coordination Activity 2 ‘EMBRACE’ analysis of youth’s emotions in relation to climate change Activity 3 ‘EMBRACE’ digital map of EU and local climate action measures and best practices Activity 4 ‘EMBRACE’ microteaching modules for youth workers Our role CONNECTUS, will merge all the information into one final international state-of-art report, which will be translated into all partner languages under activity 1. Connectus will also contribute to develop a centralised digital map of EU and national climate action tools and best practices in Lithuania, Italy and Greece as well as to the development of the 45 microteaching modules based on joint analysis, implementation of training activities for youth workers and the final conference. Impact 300 young people (aged from 16 to 29) will be surveyed in partner countries to develop state-of-the-art report, ‘EMBRACE’ digital map will be created, consisting of at least 45 strategies, initiatives, and best practices from EU and partners countries, 45 microteaching modules for youth workers will be developed, 30 youth workers from partner countries will take part in national training events, 45 youth workers outside the partnership, will take part in the final online conference.

INAI4SME Interdisciplinary AI training and real-world applications for SMEs Project Name: INAI4SME – Interdisciplinary AI training and real-world applications for SMEs Programme: Erasmus+ Priority: KA220-VET – Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and training Project ID: 2022-1-MT01-KA220-VET-000085060 Website: Coming soon Social media: Facebook page l LinkedIn page Duration: 01/11/2022 to 31/10/2024 Topics: Contributing to innovation in vocational education and training, Adapting vocational education and training to labour market needs, Addressing digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity. Project Description The overall aim of the project is to develop a Framework that provides a mechanism for both professionals and nonprofessionals, to identify digital gaps and other gaps, to help VET institutions and companies improve their ability to use and integrate AI into business life. The project will develop and test e-mentoring supported digital interdisciplinary training programs for SMEs and adapt them to VET, taking into account the advantages of interdisciplinary training and mentoring programs, especially in the field of AI tech. Project Consortium Project Coordinator Maltese Italian Chamber of Commerce – Malta Partners Exeo Lab Srl – Italy Innomate Ldt. – Turkey ECOSISTEMAS VIRTUALES Y MODULARES SL – Spain Connectus M.IKE – Greece CEPROF – CENTROS ESCOLARES DE ENSINO PROFISSIONAL LDA – Portugal Project Results WP1 Project Management WP2 AI Framework for SMEs WP3 AI Training Modules (LMS) WP4 Open online course platform (OOC) WP5 Meetings and Events Our role Connectus throughout the whole cycle life of the project will carry out activities on the needs of the target audience on artificial intelligence. Under WP2 Connectus will be Work package n°4 – Meetings and Events the leader of the evaluation. Each partner will implement survey in their respective countries and the assessment as well as the evaluation will be reviewed by Connectus. Impact INAI4SME will support the technology diffusion, apply research and innovative teaching-learning practices in SMEs, will make vocational training more relevant to the current and future needs of the economy and society, will update and upgrade the VET curriculum for SMEs based on skills intelligence, train staff with the skills needed by the labour market and adapted to the green and digital transitions adhering to changing skills needs and finally will address the differences in access and use of underrepresented groups and promote gender equality, a digital framework will be developed for educators and learners, and an innovative digital educational content will be created.

CollaboratiVET Creating a collaborative environment in VET Project Name: CollaboratiVET: Creating a collaborative environment in VET Programme: Erasmus+Priority: KA220-VET – Cooperation partnerships in vocational education and trainingProject ID: 2022-1-DE02-KA220-VET-000089169Website: https://collaborativet.eu/Social media: Facebook page l LinkedIn pageDuration: 01/09/2022 to 31/08/2024 Topics: Contributing to innovation in vocational education and training, Increasing attractiveness of VET, Addressing digital transformation through development of digital readiness, resilience and capacity. Project Description CollaboratiVET aims to integrate the flipped approach to VET institutions enhancing VET teachers’ skills and competences to be corresponded to the 21st century skills alongside with the stimulating activities in the era of collaboration so as to maximize the capacity of each VET student capacity. Through this new cross-fertilized knowledge, the attractiveness of VET is going to be increased and the number of dropouts will be decreased. Project Consortium Project CoordinatoriEUROPAISCHER VERBAND BERUFLICHER BILDUNGSTRAGE R (EVBB) – Germany Partners AKMI ANONIMI EKPAIDEFTIKI ETAIRIA – Greece European E-learning Institute – Denmark BK Consult GmbH – Germany Connectus M.IKE – Greece MOMENTUM MARKETING SERVICES LIMITED – Ireland INDEPCIE SCA – Spain Project Results WP1 Project Management WP2 Development of a framework for the establisment of collaboration practice through the use of Flipped Approach in VET WP3 Development of training curriculum for the design and delivery of a Flipped Approach collaborative learning environment WP4 Delivery of a Toolbox with 20 collaborative activities WP5 Dissemination and Exploitation Activities Our role Connectus will design the layout of the library of the Collaborative Toolkit as well as a set of 20 collaborative activities acting as a companion to the Collaborative Toolbox Library under WP4 so as to support with hands-on materials for an effective collaborative environment even in online-hybrid-physical setting allowing a deployment of innovative educational methods in order to promote ways of creating an environment of team work and strengthening the opportunities of collaboration between students while teaching and keep them engaged with activities and concepts that they have never tried before. Impact Digital technology is closely linked to innovation and CollaboratiVET will make the most of technological advances by identifying the needed skills for establish Flipped Approach in VET, educating on how to implement the Flipped Approach in their own classrooms, providing VET educators with the latest technology collaborative tools and raising awareness and fostering the European VET institutions with a new learning method, characterised by a student-centred approach and active learning. CollaboratiVET will empower educators to rethink their use of technology in the light of new pedagogical approaches, and to become more skilled in the selection and use of digital tools to favour student inclusion and effective learning.

Activism Against Ableism Fostering political participation and activism of differently abled young citizens Project Name: Fostering political participation and activism of differently abled young citizens Programme: Erasmus+Priority: KA220-YOU – Cooperation partnerships in youthProject ID: 2022-1-DE04-KA220-YOU-000087327Website: https://aaa-eu.euSocial media: Facebook page l Instagram l TwitterDuration: 01/09/2022 to 31/08/2024 Topics: Promoting active citizenship, young people’s sense of initiative and youth entrepreneurship including social entrepreneurship. Project Description Activism Against Ableism aims to foster social awareness on ableism and the challenges it creates for differently abled people preventing discrimination and fostering inclusion, empower Young European citizens with disability to become socially/politically active, promote their advocacy activism regarding disability policies through collaborative/participatory strategies, train youth workers on these strategies, develop networks to foster awareness and inclusive intervention and influence policymaking in the area. Project Consortium Project Coordinatoriserundschmidt GmbH – Germany Partners Rightchallenge – Associação – Portugal FUTURE IN PERSPECTIVE LIMITED – Ireland Exeo Lab Srl – Italy SYNTHESIS CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION LIMITED – Cyprus Connectus M.IKE – Greece AYUNTAMIENTO DE QUART DE POBLET – Spain Project Results WP1 Project Management WP2 Establishment of a European network and National ecosystems WP3 Methodology to promote the political participation of differently abled young citizens WP4 Activism Against Ableism” for youth workers WP5 Promoting “Activism Against Ableism”   Our role CONNECTUS will be responsible for the development of the quality assurance plan which will map out strategies to monitor and assess the quality of project activities and results, ensuring they respond to participants’ needs and so promoting the project’s impact potential under WP1. Connectus has expertise in curricula development for vulnerable populations, digital education tools and project management and so will be the leader of WP4 – Activism Against Ableism for youth workers and will work on creating the Handbook. Impact Activism Against Ableism will foster social awareness on disability and ableism by supporting Young European citizens with disability to become socially and politically active, promoting their participation and activism regarding disability policies and challenging social, cultural and employment policies that favour ableism – the discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities that favours able bodied people. It also aims to prevent discrimination and to promote the empowerment, civic engagement and political participation of youth, focusing on differently abled young people to contribute to policymaking in this area.

Green-Up Green Deal and CE related upskilling entrepreneurship training based on flipped and peer-to-peer learning methodology for youth and youth workers Project Name: Green Deal and CE related upskilling entrepreneurship training based on flipped and peer-to-peer learning methodology for youth and youth workersProgramme: Erasmus+Priority: KA220-YOU – Cooperation partnerships in youthProject ID: 2022-1-LT02-KA220-YOU-000086646 Website: https://green-up-project.eu/Social media: Facebook page l InstagramDuration: 01/12/2022 to 30/11/2024Topics: Promoting active citizenship, young people’s sense of initiative and youth entrepreneurship including social entrepreneurship, Environment and fight against climate change, Strengthening the employability of young people. Project Description GREEN-UP project covers the priority of promoting entrepreneurship, including social entrepreneurship among young people by creating outcomes which educate young people about the mechanics and possibilities of green entrepreneurship as a career choice. A young person with entrepreneurial skills has better employability skill and an advantage to the workforce, the community and the country’s economy. Thus, “GREEN-UP”project also covers the priority of strengthening the employability of young people. Finally, it addresses the priority of environment and fight against climate change by empowering young people to understand and fight global environmental issues. Project Consortium Project CoordinatorENTRI – Lithuania Partners Connectus M.IKE – Greece PROJECTS FOR EUROPE PFE – Belgium Exeo Lab Srl – Italy Mednarodni institut za implementacijo trajnostnega razvoja, Maribor – Slovenia Project Results WP1 Project Management WP2 Analysis of youth competences and green business eco-systems WP3 Development of “GREEN-UP” e-platform WP4 Creation of digital micro-training modules boosting entrepreneurship in a framework of CE and Green Deal Our role CONNECTUS due to its experience with non-formal learning platforms will lead WP3 by developing the “GREEN-UP” e-platform, in order to create supportive, responsive, and collaborative digital working environment and ensure a coherent peer-to-peer learning with support of youth workers. “GREEN UP” platform is essential as it will be a primary tool for building transnational links between young people, as well as a communication tool with youth workers from all partner countries and it will also host all the results produced by the project. Impact The GREEN-UP project will change the way young people participate in the debate on climate and climate change environment, raising their awareness and their energy. Through the facilitation and active participation of every YOUTH member can make their voice heard and be represented, also having the opportunity to understand more about the EU Green Deal strategy and the various actions that Europe will implement to build a better future society. The implementation of the flipped-learning – peer to pear e-learning platform will thus encourage transnational comparison between young people communities. At local/regional level the project will have an impact through empowering young people and taking action to achieve objectives of the Green Deal by encouraging them to express their opinion to decision-makers by participating in debates and discussions, increasing general understanding of the EU Green Deal by encouraging critical thinking, information analysis, expression and the development of a better understanding of the EU Green Deal opinions, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, enhancing general participation in the life of the community.