“Mazo un mikrouzņēmumu mācības inovācijām un digitālo tehnoloģiju attīstībai Latvijā”

“Training of small and micro businesses for the innovation and digital technology development in Latvia” (Project Nr. 1.2.2.3/16/I/002); abbreviation - MMU

Location:

Latvijā

Period of implementation:

2016 – 2023

Field of activity – formal/informal/non-formal:

Digital competence development – non-formal education

Funding sources:

European Regional Development Fund (ERAF)

Overall cost/budget:

~2,8MM EUR excl. VAT (the project is still in implementation)

Target group:

Small and micro enterprise employees, self-employed persons

Implementing organization/lead organization:

»Baltijas Datoru Akadēmija«; LLC; Reg. Nr. 50003138501 (Supplier and implementing organization; the Contracting organization is – Information & Communications Technology Association of Latvia)

Contact info:

mmu@bda.lv

Resources:

Outputs:

  • competence assessment tests;
  • printed training materials, e-learning training materials for all courses;
  • a learning management system;
  • the webpage of the project https://www.mmu.lv/Lapas/sakums.aspx

Challenge or social need:

The project and thus the implementation methodology and activities were developed to strengthen the capacity of small and micro enterprises, improving their competitiveness and productivity, through development and implementation of ICT training measures, to further innovation in these enterprises.

Description:

Projekta galvenās aktivitātes, tātad arī metodoloģija, ietver šādus soļus:

  • Mērķgrupas mācību vajadzību analīze, sadarbībā ar LIKTA (Informācijas un komunikāciju tehnoloģiju asociācija) un IKT nozares ieinteresētajām pusēm, lai nodrošinātu atbilstošu mācību programmu, konkrētus mācību ceļus un noteiktus mācību rezultātus;
  • Mācību programmu izstrāde par IKT, inovatīvām tehnoloģijām un uzņēmējdarbības attīstības tēmām;
  • Kompetences novērtēšanas testu izstrāde;
  • Mācību nodrošināšana mazo un mikro uzņēmumu darbiniekiem un pašnodarbinātajiem;
  • Mācību novērtējums, ieskaitot izglītojamo anketu novērtējumu (novērtējot mācību organizāciju, norisi, atbilstību, lektoru kompetenci) un mācību rezultātu mērīšanu un novērtēšanu ar datorizētu, uz scenāriju balstītu kompetenču novērtēšanas testu.

Ir izstrādāti un mērķgrupai tika nodrošināti vairāk nekā 50 mācību kursi, saistīti ar šādām tēmām: datu apstrāde, datu analīze, personas datu aizsardzība, grafiskie rīki attēlu rediģēšanai, facebook iespējas uzņēmējdarbības veicināšanai, IKT risinājumi uzņēmuma finanšu vadībā, mājas lapu izstrāde, mārketinga kampaņas, sociālo tīklu mārketings, IKT drošība, datorizētā grāmatvedība, mākoņa risinājumi, e-komercija, multimediju rīki, tirgus analīze, projektu vadība un citi.

All the training courses are connected with digital technologies, tools and other ICT solutions, digitization processes in order to effectively perform tasks or organise and manage processes that are connected with the subjects that are mentioned previously (and many others).

The training is delivered face-to-face or remotely via MS Teams, and also access to a learning management system is provided to access additional e-learning material.

Benefits/success factors/ measurement of success:

The main success factors are competence assessment before and after the course, which allows to tailor the course to the knowledge and skill level of the trainees, the courses are geared towards practical training content delivery in order to further digitalization of an enterprise, for instance, and to improve the competencies of the trainees in a fast and efficient manner, as the courses are no longer than 3 days.

The success is measured:

  • by the results of the competence assessment tests of the trainees before and after the course;
  • by the number of trainees acquiring the training (from the target group of the project);
  • by the number of enterprises acquiring the training for their employees.

Critical points/weaknesses:

Not all specific and niche digitalization and digital skills training needs can be covered, that the target group sometimes requests, the focus is on the main three directions of courses and on the most common tools and technologies, processes included within: 1) Digital Technologies, 2) Digitization of the enterprise processes, 3) Digital tools for the development of services and products, and production processes.

Sustainability characteristics:

As the project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERAF), it depends on the funding availability and the number of rounds of the project, also on the unused amount of financing available for training delivery.

Transferability characteristics:

The approach of this project can easily be transfered to other similar training delivery projects concerning digital competency development of a specific target group.

Inclusive characteristics/Innovative elements:

The project includes a very diverse demographic target group – small and micro enterprise employees and self-employed persons from different backgrounds and occupations, sectors, etc.

The content of the courses themsleves is geared towards implementation of innovations within the framework of three directions:

1) Digital Technologies,

2) Digitization of the enterprise processes,

3) Digital tools for the development of services and products, and production processes.

A competency-management approach is applied within the project by measuring the acquired results.