SUPPORTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF BUSINESS & EDUCATION OF IT-AL-ME SMEs IN A CB PERSPECTIVE

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Italy Albania Montenegro (South Adriatic)

Date of latest update: 2026-04-02

Description

Description (EN):

ENGAGEMENT capitalises HISTEK and HISTEK Plus results. HISTEK has worked on strengthening the competitiveness of IT-AL-ME SMEs by promoting their integration into a CB EQF 5 business/education system aimed at equipping the target of higher technicians with the specific skills the CB companies need. In fact, in all 3 countries there is a prevalence of SMEs with few employees. In this context, the high level of knowledge and skills is the true value to promote, to ensure stability first, and then growth. The common challenge emerged in HISTEK Plus is to reinforce the capacity of SMEs to fit into a wider knowledge management system, actively participating in the co-designing processes of the EQF 5 training offer, in the delivery of training and in the final certification of skills, guaranteeing high quality standards at CB level, shared with educational institutions at each stage. Therefore, Project's objective is to identify the aspects (cultural, environmental, social, legislative etc.) that currently hinder an effective business/education engagement by SMEs, to outline, through a Joint Action Plan, which is the main project’s output, recommendations for policy makers aimed at promoting and supporting a progressive opening of the SMEs' approach to collaboration with training systems, in view of the future CB cooperation, with a CB approach which is needed. It will contribute at changing the mentality of businesses, opening it up to collaboration on qualifications. It will bring benefits to SMEs but also to young people, considering that creating a privileged channel through which raising the quality of human capital in the company, equipping it with the specific skills the company needs, reduces resulting times and costs of the transition from the world of school to the labour market and that a higher level of capacities in companies means more attractive job offers for young people, with a greater propensity not to leave their country.

Actual Achievements (EN):

Across the South Adriatic area, Albania, Montenegro and Italy face shared regional and sectoral challenges related to skills mismatch, youth employability and limited alignment between education systems and labour market needs. These challenges are more pronounced in IPA countries, where cooperation between businesses and education providers is still fragmented and post-secondary pathways, particularly EQF Level 5, are not sufficiently understood or utilised. SMEs, which represent the backbone of the regional economy, often lack the capacity, incentives or institutional support to engage in training and dual learning systems. ENGAGEMENT addressed a clear and common problem: the weak and uneven engagement of businesses in post-secondary education pathways, resulting in limited relevance of training outcomes for the labour market. To tackle this issue, the project developed and tested a key solution: Output 1.1 – the Joint Action Plan, a shared and practical roadmap defining concrete actions to strengthen cooperation between education providers, SMEs and public institutions, with a focus on EQF Level 5 pathways. The Joint Action Plan was developed through a structured, evidence-based and participatory process. Partners carried out surveys, national seminars and focus groups in all three countries, collecting direct input from SMEs, VET providers, higher education institutions and public authorities. Cooperation was essential, as it allowed partners to compare different systems, identify common challenges and test recommendations in diverse contexts. This collective process ensured that the solutions were realistic, transferable and grounded in real territorial needs. Cross-border cooperation was a key driver of project results. Italy contributed tested models and experience from ITS Academies, while Albania and Montenegro brought forward reform priorities, emerging practices and institutional needs typical of IPA contexts. This exchange created strong added value by avoiding isolated national approaches and enabling mutual learning. The project supported enlargement objectives by strengthening capacities, awareness and policy dialogue in IPA countries, contributing to gradual alignment with EU practices in education and skills development. As a result of ENGAGEMENT, dialogue between education and business actors has been strengthened, awareness of EQF Level 5 pathways has increased, and concrete actions have been identified to improve governance, incentives and cooperation mechanisms. The project helped shift the focus from fragmented initiatives to a more coordinated and strategic approach to skills development in key sectors such as tourism, services, manufacturing and ICT. The main target groups included SMEs, VET providers, higher education institutions, public authorities and students. More than 150 stakeholders were directly involved through surveys, seminars and focus groups, while many others were reached through dissemination and communication activities. SMEs gained a clearer understanding of dual learning opportunities, education providers received concrete guidance on cooperation models, and public institutions benefited from shared recommendations to support policy development. The durability of project results is ensured through the Joint Action Plan, which partners commit to using beyond the project lifetime as a reference framework for future initiatives, policy discussions and cooperation activities. The Action Plan is designed to be adaptable and scalable, allowing partners and stakeholders to progressively implement actions according to available resources and institutional priorities. Future challenges remain, particularly in scaling up employer engagement, securing long-term incentives and ensuring sustained institutional coordination. At the same time, ENGAGEMENT opens strong opportunities for transfer and reuse. The Joint Action Plan can be adopted by other regions, chambers of commerce, education providers and public authorities seeking to strengthen education–business cooperation, especially in IPA and enlargement contexts. ENGAGEMENT mainly contributes to EUSAIR Pillar 4 – Sustainable Tourism and Pillar 1 – Blue Growth (human capital dimension), with a medium to high level of contribution, by supporting skills development, employability and cooperation between education and economic actors. The project capitalised on previous initiatives such as HISTEK and HISTEK Plus, transforming accumulated knowledge into a concrete, actionable and shared output. The main capitalised solution is the Joint Action Plan, which provides a practical framework for future cooperation, policy alignment and project development across the South Adriatic area.

Project outputs: Joint Action Plan(EN)

Thematic information

SME and entrepreneurship

Priority: (VI-A_SA(I-A-M)_PA 1) A smarter South Adriatic programme area, by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation

Priority specific objective: RSO1.3. Enhancing sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs, including by productive investments

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 027 Innovation processes in SMEs (process, organisational, marketing, co-creation, user and demand driven innovation)

Partners (4)

Lead Partner: Dhoma e Tregtise dhe Industrise Tirane

Partner’s ID if not PIC: J62130004U

Address: Rruga Kavajes , 1001 Tirana, Albania

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Local public authority

Total budget: EUR 29 008.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 24 656.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 4 351.20

FONDAZIONE ITS “ANTONIO CUCCOVILLO"

Name: FONDAZIONE ITS “ANTONIO CUCCOVILLO"

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT07267740723 | presidente@pec.itsmeccatronicapuglia.it (EN)

Address: VIA DIVISIONE ACQUI , 70126 Bari, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Total budget: EUR 33 802.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 27 042.24

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 6 760.56

Ministarstvo ekonomskog razvoja i turizma

Name: Ministarstvo ekonomskog razvoja i turizma

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 11068715

Address: Rimski trg, , 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Total budget: EUR 12 749.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 10 836.65

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 1 912.35

Privredna komora Crne Gore

Name: Privredna komora Crne Gore

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 02019574

Address: Novaka Miloseva , 81000 Podgorica, Montenegro

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Total budget: EUR 8 243.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 7 006.55

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 85.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 1 236.45

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

FOUNDATION ITS “ANTONIO CUCCOVILLO"

SUPPORTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF BUSINESS & EDUCATION OF IT-AL-ME SMEs IN A CB PERSPECTIVE

Partners and Projects info

Ministry of economic development and tourism

SUPPORTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF BUSINESS & EDUCATION OF IT-AL-ME SMEs IN A CB PERSPECTIVE

Partners and Projects info

Chamber of Economy of Montenegro

SUPPORTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF BUSINESS & EDUCATION OF IT-AL-ME SMEs IN A CB PERSPECTIVE

Partners and Projects info

Dhoma e Tregtise dhe Industrise Tirane

SUPPORTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF BUSINESS & EDUCATION OF IT-AL-ME SMEs IN A CB PERSPECTIVE

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): SUPPORTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF BUSINESS & EDUCATION OF IT-AL-ME SMEs IN A CB PERSPECTIVE

Project acronym: ENGAGEMENT

Project ID: SA-0100223

Project start date: 2024-02-01

Project end date: 2025-05-31

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

HISTEK Project (EN) | The ENGAGEMENT project builds on HISTEK - High Specialized Technicians in Kets - which aimed at enhancing SMEs’ capacities of competitiveness, innovation and internationalisation, by creating a new CB Cluster SMEs/Training Organizations/Public Institutions sharing the best practice of the Italian ITS model (5th EQF) able to implement effective synergies between educational institutions and enterprises, in Albania and Montenegro, in order to support the future implementation of a new joint tertiary education course able to train high specialised technicians - a CB Higher Technician for 4.0 Maintenance profile - in line with SMEs needs and according to the Dual System. (EN), HISTEK Plus Project (EN) | The ENGAGEMENT project draws on the results of HISTEK Plus - High Specialized Technicians in KETs PLUS - Project (Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro Programme) a capitalization proposal of the results achieved by HISTEK, aimed at boosting the Cluster in order to promote the model, identifying new potential users, increasing the number of SMEs and Training Institutions interested in joining the network which will support the future joint implementation of the course, spreading awareness on the opportunities offered by innovative 5th level EQF pathways, thus improving the CB framework conditions in which the facilitators of competitiveness operate. (EN), Blueprint for the development of transition pathways (EN) | The project is in synergy with the activities carried out within the Industrial forum contributing to the Commission’s works on industrial ecosystems in the context of the recovery and their green and digital transformation, with a focus on CB and cross-system collaboration. It builds on the works of the Task Force 2-Support the development of transition pathways, embedded in a dedicated Blueprint, with reference to the 6th building block “Skills”. According to it, the lack of skilled workers is a challenge in several industrial ecosystems; reskilling and upskilling through VET can support businesses performance, competitiveness, research and innovation and is a central aspect of employment and social policy. (EN), Blueprint for sectoral cooperation on skills (EN) | This Blueprint is one of the key initiatives to create new strategic approaches and cooperation for concrete skills development solutions in the industrial ecosystems, and is one of the tools through which the Pact on Skills is implemented. Engagement project will make use of the new action, the Alliances for Innovation, the new tool aiming at boosting innovation through cooperation and flow of knowledge among higher education, vocational education and training and the socio-economic environment and also boosting the provision of new skills and addressing skills mismatches by designing and creating new curricula for higher education (HE) and vocational education and training (VET), supporting the development of a sense of initiative and entrepreneurial mind-sets in the EU. (EN), PNRR-National Recovery and Resilience Plan (EN) | Considering that the Engagement project will have the result of boosting the tertiary professional education system at CB level, it is in synergy with the italian PNRR, namely within Mission 4 “Education and Research”, Component M4C1 Strengthening the provision of education services. The goal of the related investment, by December 2025, is to increase the number of ITS (280 more), to increase from 11 thousand to 22 thousand the number of students enrolled in the ITS each year, and to strengthen their scientific and laboratory facilities, thanks also to technology 4.0, at the same time investing in instructor skills (see M4C1, Reform 1.2, Investment 1.5). (EN)

Relevant mentions and prizes:

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 83 802.80

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 69 542.24

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 82.98%

Co-financing sources:

IPA/IPA II/IPA III: Amount, EUR 69 542.24. Co-financing rate, 82.98%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

CB Capacity building seminar n. 1 Minutes including Co-defined Questionnaire
CB Capacity building seminar n. 2 Minutes including Co-defined Questionnaire
CB Capacity building seminar n. 3 Minutes including Co-defined Questionnaire
Data collection
Country Reports
Focus Group Tests
Joint Action Plan

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

Other Considering that the project aims at supporting a progressive opening to the SMEs approach to collaboration with training systems so that to obtain more attractive job offers for young people, with social benefits in terms of employment, it contributes to making the European Pillar of Social Rights’ principles concrete, especially the first, according to which everyone has the right to quality and inclusive education, training and life-long learning in order to maintain and acquire skills that enable them to participate fully in society and manage successful transitions in the labour market.
Other The project fits into the 2023 European Year of Skills COM(2022) 526 final, announced by President von der Leyen in her State of the European Union Address, which represents a unique opportunity to support European companies, and especially small and medium-sized enterprises, “grappling with a shortage of staff” by putting “more focus in our investment on professional education and upskilling”, by ensuring “better cooperation with companies”, by matching companies’ needs “with people’s aspirations” and skills sets with opportunities on the job market, especially for the green and digital transition and the economic recovery, and facilitating the“recognition of qualifications also of third country nationals”.
Other The proposal contributes to achieving the SDGs in particular Goal 4, Quality Education, Target 4.4 which provides, by 2030, to substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship. It also contributes to Goal 8, in particular Target 8.3 aiming at promoting development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalisation and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises; and Target 8.5 aiming to achieving full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Other Embedding the idea of “skills for jobs”, the project contributes to the objectives set out in the 2020 European Skills Agenda COM(2020)274 final, especially within its second building block which takes a comprehensive approach to up- and reskilling, that covers the whole value chain, and starts with reliable skills intelligence to deliver training relevant for the labour market, on the assumption that Individual companies should develop internal processes to identify skills gaps and measures to address upskilling of their own workforce.
Other The proposal is in line with the Council Recommendation of 24 November 2020 on vocational education and training (VET) for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience 2020/C 417/01, considering that that availability of skilled staff or experienced managers has become the most important problem for a quarter of EU’s micro, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) and that lack of skilled employees is the most important obstacle to new investment across the EU. Vocational education and training is particularly relevant for SMEs to make sure that their workforce has the skills needed.
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The project contributes in a transversal way to all the 4 EUSAIR Pillars, helping to promote economic and social prosperity and growth in the region by improving its attractiveness and competitiveness. In fact the Joint Action Plan will include recommendations to promote and support, through concrete actions, a progressive opening of the SME culture towards collaboration and engagement in CB educational systems, giving all Programme area the opportunity to improve, regardless the specific sector, and also developing transversal skills and know-how. This is also in line with one of the cross-cutting Strategy’s issues, namely “research, innovation and SMEs development”, aiming at boosting high-skilled employment, growth and competitiveness.
Other The project is aligned with the European Commission’s Communication COM(2020)14 final, especially in terms of EC ambition to find out “what skills we need”, considering SMEs major difficulties in finding experienced staff and managers, and that vocational education and training as well as apprenticeships can foster employability of young people and adults alike and meet the changing needs of businesses.
Other The project contributes to the strategy for SMEs outlined in COM(2020) 103 final, aiming at unleashing the power of Europe's SMEs of all kinds to lead both the sustainable and digital transitions, considering that SMEs are challenged by a lack of skilled employees, do not have the same resources as large companies to invest in their training, and that the skills shortage is particularly acute for digitalisation and new technologies, as 35% of the labour force have low or no digital skills. The project can further help address these challenges, facilitating access to training, and helping match the demand for talents from SMEs with labour market supply. It also fits in the framework of the Communication "Updating the 2020 New Industrial Strategy: Building a stronger Single Market for Europe’s recovery ", COM(2021)350 final.
Other The project contributes to the objectives set out in this EU Ministers Declaration, endorsed on 30 November 2020, which complements the vision and strategic objectives of the Council Recommendation on VET for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience with short-term actions to be completed by 2025. It is in line with the purposes related to resilience and excellence through quality, inclusive and flexible vocational education and training, establishing a culture of lifelong learning promoting sustainability through vocational educational and training, a European education and training area and an international dimension of vocational education and training.
Other The project contributes to the implementation of the Commission work programme 2023, “A Union standing firm and united” in particular concerning the priority “A Europe fit for digital age”, within which is highlighted that, in order to boost a workforce with the demanded skills and foster the competitiveness of European companies, in particular SMEs, and to realise the full potential of the digital and green transitions in a socially fair manner, 2023 will be the European Year of Skills, to deliver the necessary reskilling and upskilling of our workforce and attract the right skills to our continent. It will also contribute to the initiatives, mentioned in this work programme, aimed at implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights action plan.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 1.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR79) Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations: 1.0

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A IPA Italy Albania Montenegro (South Adriatic)

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2026-04

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

78 / 78 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

369 / 369 (100%)

Notes on the data

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SUPPORTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF BUSINESS & EDUCATION OF IT-AL-ME SMEs IN A CB PERSPECTIVE

Description

Thematic information

Partners (4)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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