<< Background >>Even before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the European Commission had indicated the need to speed up the transition of the Union's economic and social system towards two major objectives: environmental sustainability and social inclusion (E.C. in European Green Deal – EU's Industrial Strategy for a Clean and Circular Economy; A strong social Europe for just transitions-Commission’s COMMUNICATION TO E.P. on 12-2019/1-2020). These perspectives have been reaffirmed and strengthened by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (R.R.F.), the ambitious Plan of EU Commission (see the Political Agreement 18 Dec. 2020) that rests precisely on the assumption of a deep transformation: the resources will be allocated to MSs with a clear engagement in the two areas mentioned above. So, companies must be ready for the challenge. In the light of these considerations, this proposal is linked to the need to support the transformation of the European economic and social system. In the knowledge that Member States experience different situations (as will be extensively described in the following boxes), the project aims to support the elaboration of the Benefit Corporation business model, indicating by this comprehensive definition a business model which combines the goal of profit with the purpose of creating a positive impact for society and the environment (see for example: A. Friederik, Putting Benefit Corporation Statutes into Context by Putting Context into the Statutes, in Business Lawyer. Winter 2020/2021, Vol. 76 Issue 1, p109-150).The BCs operate in a transparent, responsible and sustainable way. In order to become BC, a company have to amend its articles of association, including in the object clause the aims of common benefit that it intends to pursue. This means that the company will not only pursue the profit, but also the specific purposes of common benefit that it has inserted in its articles of association. The pandemic showed us clearly what a BC can be: for example, BCs are those that produce or offer fundamental services for the community, such as the health masks. So, they are not only large companies, but also Small and Medium Enterprise. The Benefit Corporation can be placed at the crossroads between the for-profit and the non-profit: it is neither a social enterprise nor a non-profit organisation, but rather an evolution of for-profit business to take on the challenges announced from the European Commision and bring about common benefits for society and the environment. Until recently, the idea of a for-profit company pursuing social good at the expense of shareholder value had no clear protection under European corporate law, and certainly no mandate. Companies that believe there are more important goals than maximizing shareholder value have been at odds with the expectation that for-profit companies must exist ultimately for profit above all (see for example: N. Kurland, ESOP Plus Benefit Corporation: Ownership Culture with Benefit Accountability, California Management Review. Summer2018, Vol. 60 Issue 4, p51-73.). The transformation towards the new business model of Benefit Corporations can be achieved only through a deep evolution of Human Resources. However, while the skills and abilities of management roles are already being updated (e.g. see the synergies between Academia and Business that will be strengthened thanks to Horizon Europe), there is no adequate plan for training and updating the professional figures who will have to implement the transformation within companies (see for example T. Hogart, Skills for the labour market: EU Policies for VET and upskilling, European Parliement, IPOL- Policy Departement of Economic Scientific and Quality Life Policy- Sept. 2019).<< Objectives >>GENERAL OBJECTIVEThe project aims at developing the ‘Operation Specialist for Benefit Corporations’ Curriculum and linked training course within the context of the EQF and related processes for ECVET. The project intends transfer knowledge, skills and abilities to enable learners to work within a Benefit Corporation with operational tasks. The Course is addressed to vet learners and job seekers with EQF 4/5 qualification levels.This general objective responds to the key need outlined by the S4BC Consortium Organisations behind the proposal: to foster the cultural transformation of European business models through vocational training and skills upgrading actions.In order to achieve the general objective, responding to the general need identified at the basis of the proposal, the following specific objectives are identified:-Outlining the features of Benefit Corporation Model at States and European level in order to make Benefit Corporation a key player in the European economic and social system;-Defining the gaps of skills needed by the Benefit Corporation (with a focus on the operational dimension);-Sharing a methodology for building a vocational training path and related curriculum for Operation Specialist for Benefit Corporation;-Developing a Curriculum and related VET training path for Operation Specialist for Benefit Corporation; -Developing tools and teaching materials for the training course in Operation Specialist for BC;-Developing an 'Exploitation Strategy' to spread the Curriculum in O.S. for BC and related training path in EU dimension.<< Implementation >>Activities that will be implemented producing tangible results towards the achievement of the S4BC Project objectives:- ‘Analysis of Benefit Corporations evolution and fine tuning of training needs map’ (‘Production of Project Result n. 1’ led by Kaunas STP);- ‘Development of ‘Operation Specialist for BCs’ Curriculum and related vocational training course’ (‘Production of Project Result n. 2’ led by C.L. Adult Education and Training);- ‘Piloting and ‘Exploitation Strategy of new ‘Operation Specialist for BCs’ qualification’ (Production of Project Result n. 3 led by FCSVM; the Pilot Test is scheduled only in Italy and Portugal). -1 Internationalisation Strategy: plan closely related to the Exploitation Strategy (see the activity of P.of P.R. n. 3) led by ITE Network.- A ‘Short-term joint staff training events’ (the activity will take place during the Pilot Test of the Operation Specialist for BCs vocational training course and it will provide opportunities for tutors from the 6 VET Partners of S4BC to cooperate in training course and joint teaching activities with their peers. -5 Multiplier Events (one in each Participant Country). The following cross-cutting activities complete the activity plan:-1 Communication and Dissemination Plan for beneficiaries, target groups and all stakeholders led by ITE-Network;-1 Evaluation and monitoring Plan (led by MANRA).-1 Quality Plan: Quality Assurance of the S4BC project and its results is entrusted to the lead partner FCSVM.<< Results >>At the Outcomes level, it is expected that the project, thanks to the planned training actions, will generate a change in the corporate culture towards the Commission's objectives .Expected project results are:1)Analysis (and Workshop) on Benefit Corporation Model at EU level and a training needs map. The analysis aimed at examining how the BCs can become European key players following the European Commission Policies. The Document will contain: at macroeconomic level, a list of potential and positive spin-offs in line with the E.C. Policies; at educational level: a review of best practices and educational gaps of BCs.2) Training Course and related Curriculum of Operation Specialist for BCs: a Training Course consistent with ECVET System organized in Training Units and divided into Modules. Each T.U. will contain the training objectives and the minimum duration. From the methodological point of view, the training course will comprise indications on the knowledge, skills and abilities that each participant must acquire. The course will also include precise prescription on assessment of learning and related evaluation system. This comprehensive ECVET approach, based around developing and piloting units, learning aims and assessment criteria for the new qualification, is adapted to the local and national contexts within the partner countries. This will include engaging with the European Qualification Framework and the relevant National/Regional/Sectorial Qualification Frameworks to facilitate shared national and European level recognition of the qualification and support credit transfer between learners and VET institutions in the partner countries.In terms of training provision, although the contents will be the specific subject of the project activities, the Course will cover the follow 5 areas: a) Business organization of BC; b) Technical aspects of BC: implementation (with an outcomes-based approach), monitoring and impact evaluation;c) Legal aspects: juridical framework and quality standards.d) Strategic aspects of BCs: environmental sustainability and social inclusion, profiles and scenarios;e) European and International dimension: development of BC model at EU level and internationalisation of Operation Specialist for BCs.3)A clear and multimodal tools and teaching materials for Operation Specialist for BCs in 5 EU languages.4) 2 Pilot Tests with 30 participants (15 in PT,15 in IT);5)'Exploitation Strategy' to spread the Operation Specialist for BCs at EU level. In addiction: Internationalisation Strategy closely related to the Exploitation Strategy Linked to the main results, are expected:-Supporting VET learners within the ECvet system/increasing the transparency of the skills acquired;-Increasing VET local offer;-Increasing consistency between training needs and professional growth paths (reduction of mismatching);-Supporting the declination of the role of the Operation Specialist for BCs at national level;In addition to all of the above, the partners have developed a more complete Timeline with detailedinformation about activity, its responsible partner and providing information on the tasks to be carried out (job definition, competency analysis, translation, publication), taking into account the experience of partners. The document will also serve as an effective Project Management tool for partners to ensure that Milestones are reached on time. The timeline also shows the other project results:-1LTTA in order to train 14 Vocational Trainers; -1Communication & Dissemination Plan for beneficiaries, target groups and all stakeholders; -5M.Es. relevant for beneficiaries, target groups and all stakeholders;1-Evalutaion &Monitoring Plan