IMPACT means Inclusive Method based on the Perception of Accessibility and Compliance Testing. IMPACT is a strategic partnership of stakeholders from different fields addressing innovation in higher education, with a focus on three European priorities: a) development of curricula to meet labour market and societal needs, b) open education in the digital era and c) social inclusion. IMPACT will create a skills card of the new professional profile(s) for the implementation of the EN 301 549 Accessibility Standard (OI1), will design a modular curriculum (IO2) and will develop training materials as Open Educational Resources (IO3) for training professionals on how to apply the EN 301 549 Accessibility Standard. The assessment through end users and prospective trainees (students and trainers) will guarantee the quality of the resources and provide a repository of assessment methods (IO4). In IO5, IMPACT will certify the new profile and the educational components for both academic and vocational levels: ECTS/ECVETS. This will secure recognition at EU level and the project's sustainability. EN 301 549 Accessibility Standard enable disabled users to access to digital content. The need for accessibility when accessing digital content has risen since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the European Directives. They urge governments to implement measures to ensure access to people with disabilities. Yet, the provision across Europe is uneven and its quality uncontrolled. In 2015, a UN Committee carried out its first review of how the EU complies with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The Committee found that the EU institutions needed to do more to meet their commitment to accessible communication for persons with disabilities. In a Decision of the European Ombudsman (strategic inquiry OI/6/2017/EA) on how the European Commission ensures that persons with disabilities can access its websites from December 2018, states the need of a mandatory training on accessibility for all staff members working on websites. At present most digital web content is not accessible, with no clear or recognized professional status (EU project ACT 2015). The European Accessibility Standard - EN 301 549 experts trained by IMPACT will have suitable skills to provide high-quality accessible contents in different contexts: website, technologies and tools.The training will prepare for three different working settings: face-to-face, online and by relay. This opens new job opportunities for people with and without disabilities.

<< Background >>BACKGROUND The fast-paced expansion of e-commerce, accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, has posted unprecedented pressures on Last Mile Deliveries (LMDs), revealing inefficiencies within the urban logistics chain related to the courier and postal (CEP) sectors’ environmental & social sustainability (air pollution, traffic congestion, road safety).In response, several economic operators from the CEP, retail & food sectors are switching to conventional & electric bike-based transport for short distance deliveries, contributing to the “greening” of urban logistics. This transformation is also propelled up by the EU Green Deal, national strategies towards zero carbon cities (Berlin, Amsterdam) and customers’ sustainability expectations. LMDs are now increasingly carried out with bike-based vehicles. The sales of cargo bikes increased by 153% within the last 2 years (CCCB, 2020) and it is expected that 50% of all motorised parcel deliveries will be shifted to cargo bikes (Wrighton, 2020). At same time, however, the higher number of LMD working cyclists (predominantly low skilled workers often without driving licenses or previous experience) on roads has led to an increased number of bike-related accidents & fatalities (ERSO, 2018).In this context, the strengthening of both formal and non-formal VET is therefore essential so that LMD working cyclists can acquire the skills needed for sustainable deliveries and safe, accident-free routes, which are also vital for the full exploitation of bikes’ potential in the last mile of urban deliveries.<< Objectives >>OBJECTIVESThe project forms a Cooperation Partnership to: 1. Define EU-wide occupational requirements for LMD cyclists that reflect current needs and shortages in green & safety skills2. Design and deliver a joint vocational curriculum & educational resources on sustainable & safe bike-based LMD operations to be embedded into existing formal & non-formal training provision.3. Introduce and pilot test flexible training delivery methods & open-access pedagogical resources, to support skills acquisition by LMD cyclists.4. Pave the way for the recognition, validation, integration of new skills requirements & a qualification for LMD cyclists into competence/certification schemes.<< Implementation >>ACTIVITIES-Extended skills intelligence gathering activities to define occupational requirements for LMD cyclists-Design of the structure of a joint vocational curriculum along with OERs on sustainable & safe bike-based LMD operations-Development, testing, delivery of a self-paced online course for LMD cyclists, enhancing VET openness and flexibility suitable to the sector specificities-Sectoral recognition of LMD cyclists’ green & safety skills requirements-Setup of an online examination portal for the validation of LMD cyclists’ skills acquired in different contexts-Update of relevant occupational profiles in ESCO and creation of qualification specs for LMD cyclists-Setup and operation of an online examination scheme for the recognition of LMD cyclists’ green & safety skills-Involvement of key stakeholders for the recognition of SAFE-LMD learning outcomes as well for supporting the inclusion of the new occupational profile and qualification in relevant competence/qualification schemes-Sharing of outputs with multiplier events & dissemination activities, inviting target groups to uptake SAFE-LMD results and act as additional multipliers<< Results >>RESULTS-Common competence framework with occupational requirements for LMD cyclists-Curriculum structure, trainer’s handbook, a learners’ e-book-Open Educational Resources for LMD cyclists in 6 languages incl. VOOC infrastructures with interactive content-Online examination scheme for the assessment, and validation of LMD cyclists’ green/safety skills & prior experience-Updated occupational profile(s) and specifications for an EU-wide VET qualification for LMD cyclists-4 national information days, 1 EU-wide dissemination event

In March 2020, the Covid-19 crisis hit the Vocational Education and Training (VET) of the GIP-FCIP of the académie de Créteil and of his GRETA VET centers. Distance education was not any longer an option but the only possible teaching method. This shift to e-learning highlighted the major issue of accessibility, both digital and pedagogical, hitting the most vulnerable trainees and jeopardizing our inclusive pedagogical approach and therefore our trainees’ chances to professional integration and social inclusion.In this new context, the GIP-FCIP of the académie of Créteil and the GRETA VET network is facing 2 major issues :• How can distance learning become as accessible as possible, with appropriate tools and relevant training paths to ensure the inclusion of all learners ?• How can the educational teams be trained to distance education to allow a true efficient and inclusive pedagogical method ?These issues are beyond the frame of our national VET organization and the GIP-FCIP of the académie de Créteil has formed a transnational strategic partnership with 4 other education and VET organizations : Koena, a French partner dedicated to digital accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities ; the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Spain specialized in pedagogical accessibility ;the European Certification and Qualification Association (ECQA) based in Austria,and a Canadian partner the Université TÉLUQ based in Québec and specialized in distance education for more than 40 years.In the frame of an Erasmus+ program (KA2) for innovative practices in a digital era and social inclusion, our partnership has gathered 14 people to design and carry out the IDE@ project : “Implementing a Digital E-learning @lternative”, gathering 4 VET project leaders, 6 higher education teachers, 2 VET and disabilities specialists, and 2 certification and qualification project leaders.The IDE@ project is based on 3 specific Erasmus+ KA2 program VET priorities :• Supporting the uptake of innovative approaches and digital technologies for teaching and learning• Further strengthening key competences in initial and continuing VET• Initial and continuous professional development of VET teachers, trainers and mentors in both school and work-based settings The IDE@ project aims to set up an inclusive, drop-out proof distance vocational training dedicated to VET centers and trainers having to adapt to distance education with all profiles learners.In order to reach this general objective, the project will be carried out according to the following pragmatic methodology over 5 phases :- identification of the obstacles to ensure accessibility to distance training - identification of the teaching skills to be deployed- observation of successful distance learning experiences- implementation and dissemination of efficient training engineering- creation of a certification framework for trainersThe project will develop 5 tools in the field of distance VET : - A good practice guide to ensure digital accessibility for all learners ;- A pedagogical guide to set up distance learning accessibility for all learners ;- A competencies' framework to map the competencies of trainers needed for the design and implementation of distance learning accessible from both a digital and pedagogical point of view- A distance education engineering for trainers ;- A certification framework for distance teaching skills.The expected impact of the project concerns 3 circles of target groups:- trainers to help them adapt to distance training- trainees to enable them to access and successfully achieve a distance training- all audiences of the project partners and stakeholdersMajor planned impacts are :increase the capacity of the VET Professionnals to provide quality inclusive online trainingprovide better quality training to maintain beneficiary engagement and avoid dropping outtrain, qualify and certify the trainers in digital and pedagogical accessibility for online training.diversify the trainee target audience due to quality inclusive online trainingIDE@ aims to about 10 000 VET professionnals (trainers and organizations).

There are political incentives for start-ups and scale-ups, like the Commission's Start-up and Scale-up Initiative. It is supposed to bring Europe's innovative SMEs different opportunities to grow and find there place in the global competitive market. There are also supporting tools for the beginning of the entrepreneurial life, but few companies survive beyond the critical first few years. There are numerous mentors and advisers, forming a huge consulting society, each of them claiming high competence and ability to lead a company to the top of the world. It is very difficult for the entrepreneurs, especially having not much experience, to assess the value, which a specific consulting could bring. The strong EC commitment is to improve this situation. There’s not much of a support system for more mature, small companies with proven business models. With this project creates support system in the field of adult education and training. The Steps2Scale developed a harmonized qualification framework for the profession Scaling up adviser which doesn’t ‘exist in any EU country. With the creation of a harmonized occupation profile the consortium also creates the first network and community of scaling up mentors and envoys. In order to prepare the first scaling up advisers, the project also developed a harmonized training and learning methodology which was field tested during the project implementation. The Steps2Scale studied and implemented the best existing practices throughout EU. Professionals from different communities and possessing a variety of expertise gave valuable recommendations, which were, mostly, reflected. During the project course it was presented before similar project in the Alps region and received extremely positive feedback. In addition, the quality of the products is guaranteed by the logical three phase approach applied to them: development, testing and finalizing. The project reached thousands of representatives of the target groups and stakeholders through various communication channels. It is targeted to start-ups and spin-offs with at least 5 years of experience, balanced business plan and defined local market niche; SMEs with innovative product which is already well placed on the local market and has export potential; SMEs with export strategy and potential, but still local players. 82 entrepreneurs from the target group were trained while testing the training and learning methodology. The project partners utilized almost every opportunity to promote the Steps2Scale: Enterprise Europe Network meetings, side events with appropriate topics, similar projects etc. Consortium is convinced that high level of awareness among the business environment and the respective decision making public bodies. All developed materials are already published and available on the dedicated website, which will serve as an open platform after the project end, where members of the scaling-up community will exchange ideas and knowledge and interested entrepreneurs and educators (more than 50,000 already registered) will have direct access to the Scaling-up Envoys network. The deliverables were published in the Erasmus+ Project Results Platform as well. This way more people can benefit from the project even after its end. The Steps2Scale will create an environment that fosters competitiveness, business thinking, innovation and creativity. The scaling-up adviser is the profession of one more competitive and fast growing future of the EU. The project partners believe that with Steps2Scale will lay the foundation with knowledge which will eventually result in more scaling up SMEs in Europe.

<< Objectives >>The main objective is to boost the EU’s digital transformation, upskilling remote educators (from HE), managers and other employees with remote work skills by: 1: standardising a skill certification scheme for remote educators, managers and workers,2: creating innovative remote work training methods and reference process framework based on best practices,3: releasing open training materials, e-learning platform and upskilling at least 200 learners.<< Implementation >>-Development of the curriculum and syllabus for remote educators, managers and workers, digital library.-Gathering best practices of remote work, releasing remote work starter packs for different remote work roles.-Development of innovative training methods and materials, preparation of the e-learning/mobile classroom, performing MOOC on 200 pilot learners, and 20 trainers.-Creating rules, processes and establishing certification body for remote workers and remote-work-friendly organizations.<< Results >>The main outcome will be improved resilience and sustainability of educational institutions and other organizations.Concrete results:1. best practices report of remote work/management, 2. digital library, handbooks and starter kits for trainers, educators, remote workers and managers,3. innovative syllabus, pedagogical methods, reusable and open digital learning content,4. e-learning/mobile platform and delivery, 5. accreditation and certification system.