BACKGROUND: As per PISA 2018 (Volume IV): Students’ Financial Literacy, across OECD countries and economies, as many as 22% of students perform below Level 2 in financial literacy, which can be considered the baseline level of proficiency that is required to participate in society. Although 56% of 15-year-olds in participating OECD countries and economies have a bank account and 19% have a prepaid debit card, yet only 31% have the skills to manage a bank account.NEEDS: There’s no other place in the world with such wide-ranging differences in financial literacy as Europe. Norway and Sweden (both scoring 71%) are highest ranking whereas in the Eastern Bloc, no country east or south of Hungary scoring over 50%. European surveys show that young adults have amongst the lowest levels of financial literacy. This is reflected by their general inability to choose the right financial products and often a lack of interest in undertaking sound financial planning. Many young people face financial decisions and as misinformed or ignorant consumers of complex and sophisticated financial services in Europe, often fall into spirals of overspending, debt-trap and wealth erosion. OBJECTIVES: The project objective is to support VET teachers and trainers with a quality financial education supported by online digital database of tools and resources for financial education, digital platform for APPs learning to enhance mathematical, digital, entrepreneurship and financial management competencies. This includes a pedagogical handbook for transferability of the methodology in an European context. TARGET: VET teachers and trainers responsible for mathematical, digital and entrepreneurship education and training.PARTNERSHIPI DONT KNOW project consortium includes MSEI (MT) plus 5 partners KIST (AT), AYG (FI), IBC (DK), OTS (HR) and PSSV (HR). Each partner has worked on previous European projects and has specific expertise in financial education and VET systems and brings strategic networks involving well-known partners from all EU countries.ACTIVITIES I DONT KNOW project is scheduled for 24 months with the following activities for creating:- online digital database of good practices, tools and resources for financial education- modular training curriculum- digital training platform for learning via APPs for financial education- I DONT KNOW pedagogical handbook- Project management and implementation comprising quality control measures (monitoring) to ensure timely implementation as per allocated budget.METHODOLOGY The definition of each activity group has been designed to ensure a balanced distribution between the objectives and activities of the project. All activities have one lead partner and each partner will lead or participate in at least one activity. All partners will participate actively in all activities, intellectual outputs and responsibilities of all activities have been agreed with all partners prior to submission of this applicationOUTPUTS1.online digital database of good practices, tools and resources for financial education2.modular training curriculum3.digital training platform for learning via APPs for financial education4.I DONT KNOW pedagogical handbook- Several marketing/dissemination and exploitation/valorisation initiatives and outcomes.IMPACT ENVISAGED - Young students enhancing financial competence (120)- participating organisations and their trainers (60)- I DONT KNOW pilot training in all countries (120)• Stakeholders involved in dissemination (300);• VET providers, decision and policy makers (120).LONG TERM BENEFITSThe project will have a direct impact in the improvement of the skills that teachers and trainers require to effectively support digital, mathematical and financial competence, providing them with innovative tools and resources to stimulate the innovation and the financial competencies by VET students, learners and apprentices. The long term impact envisaged is a strengthening of the VET system and programmes to fully exploit the potential benefits of digital learning via APPs to boost financial competence and wealth management by young persons in Europe.

"The project TRANSITION wishes to create and innovate teaching materials aimed at three crucial components of the entrepreneurial ecosystem: potential startup founders, entrepreneurial trainers/coaches working in business support organizations(accelerators, incubators, development agencies) and current entrepreneurs. These three categories need to be up to date with innovative technology trends and Blockchain is probably the one tech revolution that most probably will change all the aspects of the business world forever.All three actors of the entrepreneurial ecosystem must take part in the digital evolution of processes (production, certification, payment, delivery, etc.) thus the adoption of Digital Ledger technologies and Blockchain among these categories will affect the system in three complementary ways: 1) Potential entrepreneurs will integrate a general and fundamental knowledge of entrepreneurship skills and competencies (Second Intellectual Output) while at the same time being acquainted with the new opportunities offered by this new technology to start a new business following this trend or integrating the technology into their own idea. 2) Current entrepreneurs will enlarge their opportunity horizon about what DLTs can do for their current business, improving the versatility and growth capability of the enterprise ecosystem.3) Entrepreneurial trainers and coaches will have new teaching material to better train their startups/young entrepreneurs, causing this improvement in knowledge to resonate not only on people already committed to starting a business but also toward the future generation of startup founders.The project will produce three outputs, namely:IO1 - Blockchain Knowledge SpaceIt will be a structured repository of useful ""knowledge items"" concerning Blockchain, both as a technology and as an application in the different business areas.Items will be divided by different parameters: type of item (i.e. article, academic paper, MOOC, etc.) language, difficulty level(Basic, intermediate, advanced. Difficulty level of each item will be assessed by the scientific committee) and any other parameter will be deemed useful by the consortium. The BKS will have a manual filter to select the most interesting items for the user by selecting one or more of the aforementioned parameters.O2 Entrepreneurial Starter SetThe Entrepreneurial Starter Set will be the foundation for the training course to align anyone interested in the fundamental competencies to develop when starting a business.This will be a general purpose part of the training material produced by this project, specially produced for potential entrepreneurs to make sure they can foster or refresh a very well defined skill set to survive when making their first step on the market. O3 The Blockchain Entrepreneur KitThe output will be the core activity of the scientific partners of TRANSITION who, along with the VET provider, will design and elaborate the training materials concerning Blockchain for startup coaches / Entrepreneurial trainers, current and new entrepreneurs. The teaching/training materials will give a different take on who is the main target of the teaching/training effort by training the trainers, empowering their ability to grow startups and help startup owners from the very beginning to the potential accession to markets. Current entrepreneurs, on the other hand, will be encouraged to learn how blockchain is used and how they could use it to improve or reshape completely their business model."

"<< Background >>The Social Business Initiative (SBI) of the European Commission was launched in 2011 to bring social and economic transformation by building a favorable climate for social enterprises. However, a recent comparative report by the European Commission (Social Enterprises and their ecosystems in Europe - 2020) showed that social enterprise ecosystems’ potential is still far from being fully harnessed. Th findings supports the general belief that access to financial resources for social enterprises is more complex than for traditional businesses because:1) the major barriers to obtaining the necessary external resources for social enterprises are not linked to the lack of supply but rather to a general lack of understanding of social enterprise business models;2) social entrepreneurs often experience difficulties in accessing finance that result from insufficient knowledge of the existing supply of finance and an inability to attract and manage sustainable financial resources;3) social entrepreneurs lack interest in undertaking sound financial planning as it is seen a non-priority issue compared to the social business development (such as service/products development and delivery, customer acquisition and market share, development of new business connections and partnerships, etc.).The above applies in particular to young social enterprises, established since no more than 5 years, facing the crucial phase of 'Early-stage growth';4) in the Mediterranean countries, the over-reliance on family relationships and community reciprocity hinder the development of social enterprises that struggle to emerge from the bottom-up.The global COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a deep economic crisis by undermining numerous sectors and generating job losses. The social enterprises and generally speaking the social economy organisations have on the one hand played a key role for supporting people and organisations dealing with the crisis, but on the other hand they had to face the same challenges and adapt themselves to an extremely changing and complex environment. Uncertainty about the future and the timeframe to return to normality require the spread of targeted skills and tools to foster the sustainability and survival of social economy organisations, whose role in today's society is essential.Today more than ever, indeed, the effective and forward-looking financial planning and management are crucial especially in the early-stage growth social enterprises (established since no more than 5 years) that need to be supported in the proper transition towards the “Later-stage growth” and the financial self-sustainability.<< Objectives >>Social enterprises—businesses whose primary goal is to generate positive social impact—exist in every European country. They are an important part of the social economy, in which some 13.6 million Europeans work today. Some of them deliver essential care services, some focus on providing job opportunities for disadvantaged groups, and others address a wider range of societal challenges, such as achieving sustainable development goals.BEYOND CAPITAL intends to reduce the risk of failure of the newly established social economy enterprises, the economy that works for people.The project supports the early stage social entrepreneurs and managers in the development of sound financial planning and by providing them will all the elements for creating a performing finance function: internal financing, external financing, needs analysis, working capital management, diversification of income and financial balance, financial planning and programming.Also, the project spreads a deep knowledge on the instruments of the financial and banking market, both traditional and more innovative ones, such as, for example, Social Impact Bonds and Green Bonds, Crowdfunding, etc. that offer answers to the specific needs of the social enterprises and non-profit organizations.BEYOND CAPITAL:-offers advanced training for those working in social enterprises, cooperatives and nonprofit organizations, combining the knowledge necessary for business management and financial skills;-disseminates advanced knowledge on the supply of finance and promotes sustainable funding opportunities for the social enterprise.-promotes a sense of initiative and entrepreneurial culture intended as the ability to act in innovative and enterprising ways, especially when it comes to financial planning and management.BEYOND CAPITAL project is going to have a significant and radical impact on the project participants, partners, target groups as well as regional and national stakeholders. Project’s target groups are expected to reinforce their financial skills and competencies, be prepared for a better, easier and forward-looking management of the social enterprises and equipped with entrepreneurial culture in the social field. Social entrepreneurs and managers will be also supported and prepared to both cope with and manage positively the early stage phase of their social business, especially in the current period, when the effects of the pandemic have thrown many companies into crisis and significantly slowed the growth of new businesses.<< Implementation >>The BEYOND CAPITAL partnership:1.Supports the social economy ecosystem by providing a research report “Multi-method, iterative and user-centered needs assessment for the next generation of social enterprises” in order to: a) inform traditional banks about the limitations of social enterprises to increase the availability of debt finance to social entrepreneurs; b) allow social finance providers to gain insights into the finance gaps left by traditional banks to adjust their offer accordingly; c) improve civil servants' understanding of policy options in the social enterprise ecosystem context to enhance decisions at an institutional level;2.Encourages and upgrades the existing knowledge in financial skills and sustainable financing tools and resources;3.Promotes and enhances the proactive attitudes and approaches in the implementation of the financial function within the young social economy organisations living the ‘Early-stage growth’ (active since no more than 5 years);4.Provides the early stage entrepreneurs and managers with advanced financial and budgeting know how to make their social enterprises more sustainable and performing;5.Provides assistance and supportive material to early stage entrepreneurs and managers for designing targeted businesses development and financial strategies;6.Transfers solid knowledge, shares insights, experience, methodologies, metrics, practical perspectives upon social and sustainable finance for trainers, teachers, mentors, coaches, educators, by delivering the “Open Guide for VET providers” in order for the European VET operators, trainers, mentors, coaches and advisors to support their local social economy ecosystem’s development;7.Makes the training approach and related contents fully and permanently accessible through the delivery of the MOOC which will be made available for early stage social entrepreneurs and managers after the completion and validation of the pilot training activities. The MOOC will turn the training path modules into an inclusive and online OER.<< Results >>BEYOND CAPITAL supports the sustainable growth of the social economy by focusing in particular on ""early-stage"" social enterprises, making available:TO EARLY STAGE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS AND MANAGERS1)BEYOND CAPITAL TRAINING CURRILUM (PR2) focused on: a) Social enterprises, management and operation: how to combine social and economic value; b) Creating the strategic plan and building a finance function for early stage enterprises: need analysis, financial planning, and management; c) Financing the social enterprises: internal sources and external sources, conventional and non-conventional funding, troubleshooting; d) Social Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics: approaches and best practices;2)A pilot training experience (PR2) based on blended methodology with face-to-face and Work-Based Learning actions and online resources, involving at least 60 participants from the partner countries;3)A social finance Massive Open Online Course (MOOC – PR4) that builds on the piloted and validated course curriculum (PR2). The MOOC covers key aspects of social finance, an umbrella term for financial management, products and services that strive to achieve a positive social, environmental, or sustainability impact, including social banking, impact finance and microfinance. The MOOC comprises video lessons, readings, and assessments that require 80% of the learners' time commitment. Participants access to a discussion forum to facilitate interaction with instructors, peers, trainers and advisors from the partner organisations. TO EARLY VET PROVIDERS, TRAINERS, MENTORS, COACHES AND ADVISORS1)The innovative “Open Guide for VET providers” (PR3) a comprehensive manual for designing, developing and delivering effective and engaging financial training for early-stage social entrepreneurs and managers. Throughout the Open Guide, the trainer is envisioned as a person able to impart information, facilitate learning, stimulate thinking, and engage the participants via active training. Active training shifts the emphasis away from the trainer and on to the learner. The “Open Guide for VET providers” can be used by trainers, mentors, coaches, advisors, innovation agencies, incubators, and accelerators who want to inspire and train entrepreneurs and managers from the social economy ecosystem.TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, SOCIAL FINANCE PROVIDERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS2)The innovative Research Report “Multi-method, iterative and user-centered needs assessment for the next generation of social enterprises” (PR1) to facilitate the stakeholders’ understanding of early-stage social entrepreneurs’ and managers’ wants, desires, demands, expectations, motivations, lacks, constraints and requirements regarding social enterprise financing. This will be crucial to allow social finance providers to gain insights into the finance gaps left by traditional banks to adjust their offer accordingly and to improve policy makers’ understanding of policy options in the social enterprise ecosystem context to enhance decisions at an institutional level.The recent initiatives of the European Commission and of the Member States demonstrate the importance to develop sustainable eco-systems for social enterprises, to strengthen efforts at national and regional levels and to make best use of the structural funds and other conventional or innovative sources.BEYOND CAPITAL fits into the European strategy for social economy and delivers a tangible innovation since the development and maintenance of social finance skills applied to the social economy organizations represent a new and crucial challenge, especially from the COVID-19 pandemic’s perspective which calls for an acceleration in order to safeguard, strengthen and consolidate such a crucial sector in Europe."

<< Objectives >>This project is going to result in a mechanism of assessment of the various sources of capital available to SMEs and family-run businesses from 5 different EU jurisdictions.The web-based assessment of the SME user will achieve a better understanding of their financial needs and the types of capital structure requiredThe SME users will receive training on how to seek different sources of finance, as identified in the previous phase, and what their respective terms and conditions are.<< Implementation >>The activities will include research, assessment and analysis with the providers of capital in order to assess the products available by jurisdictiondesign and creation of a web-based self-assessment tool to allow SMEs to understand their financial requirements based on their input.design, creation, and dissemination of the web-based training tool that will help SMEs to better understand their businesses' financial and structural needs.The partners will meet transnationally.<< Results >>The project results will be an innovative and new approach to the issues faced by SMEs when seeking to raise finance, and will seek to give tangible and practical support to the SMEs in respect of better understanding of their business financial needs, as well as identifying sources of finance that would be available in their jurisdiction, as well as other EU jurisdictions participating in the project. The sources of finance identified will also divulge terms and conditions.