B-WISE - Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills in Work Integration Social Enterprises

Funded by: the European Commission, Erasmus+

Financing agreement: 621509-EPP-1-2020-1-BE-EPPKA2-SSA-B

Implementation period: 01.01.2021 - 31.12.2024

Total value: 3.885.996 Euro

Lead partner: EASPD (European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities)

Partners:

The partnership is composed of 2 European networks - EASPD and ENSIE, 16 WISEs sector representatives, 13 VET providers and one European Research institute. The partners are from 13 European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain. The partners are supported by an advisory board that gathers 7 umbrella organisations, 1 international organisation and 8 representatives of national and regional authorities.

ADV Romania and RISE Romania are the two partners from Romania.

About the project:

The B-WISE project targets the skills needs of workers with support needs, their supporters (such as their job coaches, trainers) and their managers. The project also promotes the attractiveness of the WISE sector as a career choice and raises awareness on the importance of the use of digital technologies to support workers -who are more at risk to be excluded from the labour market- in work placement.

Aim of the project:

B-WISE (Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills in Work Integration Social Enterprises) is an Erasmus+ project that aims to develop a European strategy (Blueprint) to address the skills needs, in particular regarding digital skills, in the Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) sector.

Objectives:

The B-WISE project will:

Identify the skill gaps – mainly digital skill gaps – currently experienced by the WISEs sector;
Chart the skills that the sector will need in the future;
Develop a credible and sustainable plan to match demand (employees/employers) and supply (VET providers) of identified skills needs;
Update the transnational vocational training curricula according to the new needs of the labour market;
Support the exchange of good practices at national and regional level, favouring the development of a sustainable community supporting skills growth, innovation and competitiveness in the sector;
Enhance the attractiveness of the WISEs sector as a career choice.

Actions:

Develop a report to provide an overview of the WISEs sector across Europe and identify the skills needs in the sector.
Design three training curricula to meet the skills gaps of workers in integration, their supporters and their managers.
Make those curricula a reality by testing them in 13 countries and validating them by certification authorities.
Develop a European Strategy to continue addressing the skills needs in the WISEs sector even after the end of the project.
Raise awareness to promote the WISEs sector as a career choice and on the importance of the use of digital technologies to support people who are more at risk to be excluded from the labour market in work placement.

Website project

Project Results

Join the B-WISE Alliance!

As part of the long-term sustainability and Exploitation Plan for the B-WISE project, the project consortium is launching a Community of Practice that will evolve into an Alliance.

This Alliance will bring together project partners, European WISE representatives, VET providers, and other key stakeholders to ensure the project's long-term impact.

The European Alliance:

aims to strengthen the WISE sector, at European and national levels;
will build on strong partnerships between education and training providers and industry leader;
has the mission to to continue and implement the findings and conclusions of the B-WISE project, ensuring sustained progress even after the project concludes.

What has the Alliance to offer to its members?

Joining the B-WISE project's Alliance is highly beneficial as it provides a platform for collaborative learning and knowledge exchange, particularly in addressing digital skills needs within Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs).

Members gain access to valuable resources, up-to date information, engage in networking opportunities, and have a direct influence on shaping and implementing the European strategy for the WISE sector.

The Alliance fosters a collaborative environment, enhancing the impact of the project by leveraging diverse perspectives and experiences. Are you interested in what the B-WISE Consortium has achieved so far? You can read more on the results of the B-Wise Project!

What does the Alliance ask from its members?

The Alliance welcomes all those potential members willing to commit to the goals enshrined in the memorandum and eager to share their knowledge and expertise with the other members of the alliance.

How can potential Alliance members sign up?

If you are interested in joining the B-WISE alliance please ENSIE, at the following adress: [email protected]

B-WISE Alliance website

Reports:

Synthetic country fiches- ROMANIA

Report on trends and challenges for work integration social enterprises (WISEs) in Europe 2020

Report understanding user (digital) skill needs in WISEs 2022

T 3-3 Universal Training Curricula for Enablers- Supporters, and Workers with Support Needs Working in Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs)

The universal training curricula and the MOOC are designed to address skill gaps and enhance inclusivity. These resources can clearly be tailored to each specific context and features, so as to equip staff within WISEs with the knowledge and tools necessary for the evolving labour market. In other words, when developing a project proposal on training and curricula, please, do not hesitate to use them as a Blueprint, it is the B-WISE purpose!!

B-WISE: Skills for the future: WISE's ready!