Successful Completion of START Erasmus+ Project
We are happy to announce the successful completion of the START Erasmus+ project, dedicated to enhancing the internationalization skills of SMEs in the retail sector.
The START consortium, made up of the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg, the Polish Chamber of Commerce, MEUS from Spain, Lovila from Cyprus, and ASSIST from Romania, got together in Brussels in December for the last transnational partners’ meeting. The purpose of this meeting was to assess the two intellectual results and prepare for the project's final stages, which include the piloting of the START eLearning platform and the ongoing Multiplier Events.
The overall project methodology involved, as a first phase, a comprehensive examination of internationalization skills and existing training opportunities across partner countries. This strategic approach was designed to reveal distinct training gaps, forming the basis for the second phase, which consisted of designing tailored training materials accordingly.
To start with, the consortium compiled the Research Mobile Report, which results from a survey on internationalization skills among retail SMEs, coupled with insightful input from experienced internationalization trainers through in-depth focus groups. These trainers shed light on the challenges of internationalization and the training opportunities in each country. ASSIST then conducted thorough statistical data analysis, presenting the findings in a comprehensive mobile application that details the unique aspects of each country involved in the project.
This project's first stage was a starting point for outlining the START online course, designed to address the training needs and the gaps identified in retailers’ competencies profiles. ASSIST took charge of developing and configuring the multilanguage START eLearning platform, including course layout and content upload, with a focus on optimizing the user experience, while the other partners developed seven compelling modules, which are now available in English, Spanish, French, Greek, Polish, and Romanian.
In wrapping up our two-year journey with the START Erasmus+ project, we extend our appreciation to each partner for their integral role in making this journey a success. Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the lasting impact of the START project on retailers' efforts to go global. We remind you that the Strategic ParTnership to Improve InternAtionalization skills of SMEs in ReTail sector or START is funded by the ERASMUS+ KA2 program of the European Union and submitted under project ID 2021-1-BE01-KA220-VET-000034627 / Grant Agreement nº 21PCP0013.
