COPELLL - Lifelong Learning for Competitiveness in Small and Medium Enterprises

Aim

This project has as main purpose to raise awareness of entrepreneurs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the potential of lifelong learning (LLL), promoting initiatives and offers of vocational education and training (VET) in Portugal for this audience as well as good practices.

The project is also intended to promote and develop the national entrepreneurship, contributing to business sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR), particularly from the internal perspective of CSR, through VET and awareness regarding the benefits of lifelong learning.

Specific aims

- To identify SMEs needs with regard to qualifications, VET and learning, through survey and analysis of existing studies;
- To report near the Portuguese entrepreneurs LLL initiatives promoted for the SMEs in Portugal and its promoters, developing the exchange of experiences and good practices among SMEs;
- To develop a set of detailed guidelines so that entrepreneurs can, in their enterprises, develop a diagnosis of training needs, taking into account the goals of increasing business productivity and innovation;
- To increase the knowledge of Portuguese SMEs entrepreneurs regarding the impact of ALV in business, economy and society;
- To influence SMEs and their entrepreneurs, making them aware of the close relationship between learning and productivity, and as a way to achieve innovation and change;
- To increase participation and involvement of key actors and stakeholders in defining and building a strategy for sustained expansion of VET in order to meet the training needs of SMEs human resources;
- To provide policy recommendations towards European universities, companies and policy makers involved in the LLL, training entities, public or private.

Partnership

Promoter:
Universidade Aberta
Website: http://www.uab.pt/
Contact: cneves@univ-ab.pt

Partners:
CEPCEP - Centro de Estudos dos Povos e Culturas de Expressão Portuguesa
Website:
Contact: anaclaudia.valente@sapo.pt

CECOA - Centro de Formação Profissional para o Comércio e Afins
Website: www.cecoa.pt
Contact: laura.azevedo@cecoa.pt; vanda.vieira@cecoa.pt

CINEL - Centro de Formação Profissional da Indústria Electrónica
Website: http://www.cinelformacao.com/
Contact: Fatima.Gomes@cinel.pt

Products/Results

- Survey Report on VET needs of small and medium enterprises in Portugal and identification of VET initiatives and offers for this audience
- Lifelong learning good practices in small and medium enterprises
- Guidelines for the diagnosis of VET needs targeted to entrepreneurs and in order to facilitate the search of training opportunities for SMEs
-Pilot course for this specific population trying to work the potential of lifelong learning and the goals that matter most to business (competitiveness, innovation, productivity)
-Informative and awareness raising regional seminars for entrepreneurs exploring the theme of the potential of LLL in terms of productivity and earnings for business, social and economic development, innovation and competitiveness

Duration
March 2012 - May 2013

Framework
Lifelong Learning Programme
Transversal Programme