Upskilling for more Creative Circular Economy (U-ECO)

Project

Oct 1

U-ECO was a KA2 Strategic Partnership co-funded by the Erasmus+ of the European Union. Led by SwIdeas in Sweden, the project also gathered partners from Belgium (European Association of Development Agencies - EURADA), Spain (an engineering and technological consultancy - Bioazul; Training Development and Integration – DEFOIN), Romania (Center for promoting lifelong learning – CPIP), and Poland (Association for the Regional Initiatives Development - ARID).

An innovative project, U-ECO focused on the process of transition towards a Circular Economy, addressing the need for a specific Circular Economy training that is able to boost employability, self-employment, and meet the new labor market demands. By identifying areas with more potential for growth as well as job profiles that will be demanded in the next decade, U-ECO aimed at supporting individuals in acquiring and developing the right skills and competences to meet the growing demands from the labor market. Additionally, U-ECO prioritized the goal of boosting self-employment in the Circular Economy context by supporting the setting up of, and access to, key upskilling pathways. Gathering a total of approximately 400 people, among entrepreneurs, stakeholders, and professionals, U-ECO designed and implemented a training strategy, inspired potential entrepreneurs with successful case studies and good practices, and created a manual for trainers.

U-ECO was an innovative project that focused on the transitional process towards establishing a Circular Economy. It addressed the urgency to provide specialized Circular Economy training that is capable of boosting employability and self-employment, as well as meeting the demands of the new labor market. Thus, by identifying the fields with more growth potential and pinpointing the professions of the next decade, U-ECO aimed to support individuals in acquiring the right skills and developing competences to meet the growing demands of the labor market. Moreover, U-ECO prioritized the promotion of self-employment in the Circular Economy context by endorsing the setting up and access to vital key upskilling approaches.
Our planet has limited natural resources that are incapable of sustaining the needs of a 9.7 billion world population by 2050, of which 3 billion will be middle-class consumers by 2030. the currently prevailing linear economy based on unlimited exponential growth and a take-make-dispose model is unsustainable, for it cannot guarantee the survival of many businesses or industries that are heavily dependent on non-renewable resources. thus, it is crucial that our societies rethink and redesign all the various levels of manufacturing. a circular economy has the potential to contribute to this important shift in the way we deal with our natural environments, produce, and consume products.

Project goals

Identify the current state of Circular Economy in the EU Zone

Identify fields with more growth potential and professions needed

Promote Circular Economy by highlighting the opportunities this model has to offer and underlining the risks linear economy has on our societ

Educate and introduce young adults to Circular Business Models, and empower them in the Circular Economy Context

Target groups

Professionals interested in learning about Circular Business Models

Entrepreneurs interested in stablishing businesses ina circular economy context

Project progress

Design and implementation of a training strategy based on the analysis of the current state of development and application of the CE in the partners’ countries, needed to detect which our baseline is and to trace the way forward.
Selection of successful case studies and good practices divided into 5 blocks connected to the areas previously identified with the aim of inspiring the potential entrepreneurs. The case studies will have a digital format.
The creation of a manual for trainers (in e-format).