SELF is made up of seven partners from five countries (Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Slovakia). The partners come from different educational fields and socio-economic sectors and aim to improve the wealth of knowledge on non-technical and professional skills and competencies relevant to higher education (HE) students aspiring to be solo-entrepreneurs. The partners are University of Malaga, University of Aveiro, EDUCATT, IHF asbl, IDP IT, Internet Web Solution and Comenius University Bratislava.
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October 17, 2024, Málaga, Spain – The University of Málaga (UMA) hosted the second transnational meeting of the SELF project, an innovative EU-funded initiative focused on promoting self-employment and supporting solo entrepreneurs through targeted training tools and educational resources. The SELF project, coordinated by the UMA, involves institutions from five European countries. It aims to map solo entrepreneurship trends and develop a comprehensive training framework that supports sustainable growth in self-employment. This project stands out for its commitment to providing open educational resources (OER) and accessible digital training materials. Meeting Highlights During the meeting, project partners reviewed progress across work packages (WP) and outlined upcoming steps. Key points included: WP2: Mapping and Extrapolating Trends – EDUCatt, responsible for WP2, presented 19 case studies that will be sent to IWS for inclusion on the SELF open educational resource platform. WP3: Development of Training Content – The University of Aveiro is leading the implementation plan guiding the creation of training modules, designed as micro-credentials. These materials will be available in multiple languages and aligned with recognized competencies to facilitate self-paced learning. WP4: Digital Learning Platform – IWS shared the current status of the SELF learning platform, which will feature interactive modules, self-assessments, and competence certificates. Next Steps and Dissemination Activities All the partners are working to increase the visibility of the SELF project by posting on social media, sharing press releases, and linking to the project on their websites. Partners are also identifying Associate Partners to expand the project’s outreach across their respective countries. About the SELF Project The SELF project is funded by the European Union and is dedicated to creating self-employment opportunities through accessible, high-quality training tools. All materials developed under SELF are freely available under a Creative Commons license, encouraging adaptation and dissemination to support entrepreneurs everywhere. For more information on the project, please visit www.solobiz.eu.
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A new international and pan-European research initiative has shed new light on the dynamics of self-employment and solo entrepreneurship among young people in Europe. Developed as part of the SELF (Solo-entrepreneurship in Post-pandemic Europe) project, this report highlights the significant gaps in current education and training opportunities for aspiring self-entrepreneurs and unveils a new innovative framework designed to address these challenges. The SELF project, which focuses on creating pathways for solo-entrepreneurship in the post-pandemic era, aims to address the evolving needs of higher education (HE) students and young graduates. The project is driven by three core objectives: Fostering entrepreneurial initiative; Enhancing self-employment pathways; Creating a unified digital market for solo-entrepreneurs. The SELF project report examined both the triumphs and challenges faced by young aspiring entrepreneurs across Europe. It found that despite growing interest in freelancing and self-employment, the resources available for formal education in this space remain scarce. Currently, most entrepreneurial training options are limited to paid online courses rather than being embedded in institutionalized education, leaving young people without sufficient support during their transition to early-stage entrepreneurship. However, the European Union is taking important steps to address these gaps. The EU has actively sought to democratize access to entrepreneurship education, providing a range of accessible resources to equip young self-entrepreneurs with essential skills and support. This effort aims to empower young innovators and enable them to bring their ideas to life in an increasingly competitive market. One of the most pressing findings from the SELF report is the significant downturn in self-employment across Europe. This decline is attributed to rapid technological change and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which have disrupted traditional self-employment pathways. Furthermore, the research highlights a persistent gender gap in the field, with fewer women taking the leap into self-entrepreneurship. Addressing this disparity is a priority, with targeted policies needed to foster inclusion and create equal opportunities for all. In response to these findings, the SELF project team has developed a new, innovative training and education framework tailored specifically to the needs of young, aspiring solo-entrepreneurs. This framework focuses on key areas of entrepreneurial development, including: Entrepreneurial competencies - Skills in leadership, innovation, and business planning to help aspiring entrepreneurs turn ideas into actionable business models. Digital literacy - critical training in technology and digital tools necessary for navigating today’s digital-first business environment. Financial management - comprehensive education on funding strategies, investment readiness, and sustainable financial planning. Socioeconomic inclusivity - Training that addresses gender gaps and promotes equitable access to entrepreneurial opportunities for all, with a particular focus on women entrepreneurs. This framework is designed to complement existing EU initiatives and support young people, particularly higher education students and recent graduates, by offering accessible, practical, and effective training. It aims to bridge the gap in entrepreneurship education by integrating tailored courses into the academic curriculum of European universities, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem across the region. Through the SELF project, we aim to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit of young people across Europe and help them navigate the challenges of self-employment, ensuring that they can thrive in the digital and post-pandemic world. For more information on the SELF project, research findings, or the new training framework, please visit: https://www.solobiz.eu/
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The "SELF - Solo Entrepreneurs Learning Framework," co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission, has unveiled the results of its comprehensive Pan-European assessment carried out as part of Work Package 2 (WP2). This assessment provides an in-depth look at the current landscape of self-employment and self-entrepreneurship, focusing on the dynamics of education and training opportunities across Europe. The SELF project aims to enhance the entrepreneurial skills of higher education (HE) students by promoting solo-entrepreneurship and creating a unified digital market for solo-entrepreneurs. Coordinated by the University of Malaga, the project includes partners such as the University of Aveiro, EDUCATT, IHF asbl, IDP, IWS, and UNIBA. The assessment highlights several crucial findings: Limited institutionalized education for self-entrepreneurs Despite a growing interest in freelancing and solo entrepreneurship, institutionalized education and training options remain scarce. Most available resources are paid online courses, which often lack the necessary support mechanisms to help young aspiring self-entrepreneurs transition into early-incubation stages. EU's role in democratizing access to entrepreneurship education Amidst these challenges, the European Union is making significant strides in democratising access to entrepreneurship education. Various accessible resources are being developed to empower aspiring self-entrepreneurs with essential knowledge and skills, providing the support needed to transform their ideas into action. Decline in self-employment due to technological and pandemic-related disruptions The assessment reveals a notable downturn in the trajectory of self-employment in Europe. This decline is attributed to the rapid evolution of technology and the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which have posed significant challenges for self-entrepreneurs across various sectors. Gender disparity in self-entrepreneurship A persistent gender disparity in self-entrepreneurship is evident, with a concerning prevalence of “missing” women self-entrepreneurs. The report underscores the need for targeted policies to foster inclusion and equal opportunities, aiming to narrow the gender gap and unlock the full potential of aspiring female entrepreneurs. EU's multifaceted approach to supporting self-entrepreneurs The EU is actively championing initiatives to support the self-employed and self-entrepreneurs holistically, particularly focusing on young people, HE students, and fresh graduates. These initiatives range from providing vital financial assistance to implementing measures that address socioeconomic disparities and enhance essential skills and competencies. There is a collective expectation for EU institutions to advocate for integrating courses tailored to the needs of young aspiring self-entrepreneurs within the academic curricula of European universities. The SELF project is indeed expected to lay the groundwork for a more inclusive and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. Stay tuned for future results and more information on the project’s website https://solobiz.eu/index.php?lang=EN
Read MoreDevelopment of solo-entrepreneurship curricula, tools, training and resources for self-employment
innovative training solutions to capitalise on the opportunities of solo-entrepreneurship and related socio-economic empowerment.
highlighting insightful inputs on success features on entrepreneurship competence building initiatives for HE students
