Social Tech Academy

We applied with the Social Tech Academy project, starting from the observation that social economy organizations are at the forefront of their beneficiaries' digital and social challenges, yet despite this, these structures are lagging in the digital transition. Thus, with STA, we aim to train employees of the SSE and also to introduce people who are distanced from employment to the opportunities of social digital. More specifically, through the STA (Social Tech Academy) project, we aimed to survey the digital training available for the social economy sector and enrich this offering with a new training program tailored to the needs we identified during the first phase of our project. To create an STA community, we took a group of learners to Brussels and organized events between the partner countries.

Thus, with STA, we aim to train employees of the SSE and also to introduce people who are distanced from employment to the opportunities of social digital. More specifically, through the STA (Social Tech Academy) project, we aimed to survey the digital training available for the social economy sector and enrich this offering with a new training program tailored to the needs we identified during the first phase of our project. To create an STA community, we took a group of learners to Brussels and organized events between the partner countries. The train-the-trainer / future trainers program we created, in connection with the findings from the project's first phase of study, aims to meet the needs of social economy employees and, ultimately, through a virtuous cycle, have positive impacts on their beneficiaries. Thus, it is the entire ecosystem of the social economy and social workers that we aim to support in its digital transformation.

The project is broken down into 5 iterative steps: A study on the digital training needs and existing training within the social economy. The design and facilitation of the training. The design of the online educational platform. The creation of a jobpedia to promote social digital professions. The development of an analysis and recommendations from our project.

The Social Tech Academy project yielded a comprehensive suite of concrete outputs and results, designed to bolster the digital competencies within the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and foster a community of practice. Key achievements include: Development of Databases and Online Resources: An open database of intermediary organizations across France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy, highlighting entities pivotal for the digital transition within the SSE. An updated database detailing relevant training and resource organizations to aid in the SSE's digital transformation across the four targeted countries. Comprehensive Studies and Analyses: Detailed mapping and review of existing digital training programs and identification of gaps within the SSE. Synthesis of European studies on the digital needs and barriers faced by associations, enhancing the project’s understanding of the sector's landscape. Development and distribution of questionnaires to capture the training needs within major European association networks, with data collection and synthetic analysis augmented by literature review. Innovative Training Program Design and Delivery: A tailored training program, including a toolbox for trainers and support materials for trainees, based on identified digital competencies needed within the SSE. Collaborative training courses and workshops designed to leverage collective intelligence for creating effective online educational formats. Open, Online, and Digital Education Initiatives: Design and development of a training reception platform, incorporating 20 online class modules in English with multilingual subtitles. Production of an evaluation kit to assess the training's impact, based on the European Union's e-skills reference framework. Jobpedia for Social Tech Professions: Creation of a Jobpedia to showcase social tech professions within the SSE, including the production of 20 video interviews with professionals across the four targeted countries. Identification and engagement with social tech professionals in Europe to contribute to the Jobpedia, enhancing visibility and understanding of social digital professions. Dissemination and Policy Recommendations: Broad dissemination of project outputs and findings through partner networks, ensuring accessibility and utilization of the developed resources. Drafting of a policy paper for the European Commission, offering evidence-based recommendations to improve digital training and support the digital transformation of the SSE. These outputs and results collectively contribute to a significant advancement in digital literacy and capacity within the SSE, fostering a more connected and digitally competent community of social economy practitioners. The Social Tech Academy project not only addressed immediate training needs but also established a foundation for ongoing learning, networking, and digital transformation within the sector.