Joint University And Small And Medium - Sized Enterprises (SME) Training (JUST)

The last Transnational partner meeting of the JUST project
Nova Gorica, Slovenia – June 6, 2024

The project partners of the JUST project met at FUDŠ in Nova Gorica and successfully conducted the final partner meeting. Partners from Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, and Belgium gathered, thus concluding a two-and-a-half-year project under the Erasmus+ Collaborative Partnerships program.
The meeting took place in a very positive atmosphere, emphasizing strong partnership and shared commitment to the project’s goals – strengthening entrepreneurial skills and promoting innovation in education. In addition, partners focused on exchanging experiences and best practices, which will contribute to further development of entrepreneurial education in their respective countries.

During the meeting, key achievements of the project were also discussed, among which the standout was the JUST project’s web platform – https://just-training.eu/index.php, tools for connecting higher education institutions and SMEs, pilot trainings, and the project’s final document with recommendations for stakeholders – the so-called Green Paper. These documents offer guidelines for enhancing entrepreneurial education and training and are crucial for achieving the project’s long-term goals.

The Multiplicative Event of the JUST Project
The Multiplicative Event of the JUST Project took place at FUDŠ premises in Ljubljana on Friday, May 17, 2024.

The event aimed to present the activities and outcomes of the JUST project and the opportunities the Erasmus+ programme offers. We continued with a lecture titled “How Artificial Intelligence Can Assist You at Work.” The event was highly successful, attracting significant interest from numerous representatives of learning bases where our students undertake internships. Their presence further enriched the exchange of knowledge and experiences, strengthening connections between the academic world and practical work environments.
The workshop was divided into four parts. In the first part, participants were introduced to AI tools, learning about how artificial intelligence works, its definitions, and various examples of AI tools. The second part focused on the drawbacks of AI tools, reviewing instances of poor practice and controversies surrounding their use. The third part cantered on “prompt engineering,” teaching attendees how to create effective prompts (questions and instructions) and sharing tips to streamline content creation. In the final, fourth part, we explored the application of AI across different fields, with the workshop tailored for mentors in media and communication, social management, as well as psycho-social counselling and support.

The event took place in a highly positive atmosphere, and participants gained valuable knowledge about artificial intelligence and practical advice for addressing challenges in the work environment. Additionally, new connections were forged, and existing ones deepened between academic knowledge and local organizations, further enhancing collaboration between FUDŠ and organizations from various sectors where our students intern or seek employment.

JUST project pilot training

The Test and Validation phase of Result 3 of the JUST project’s innovative training courses took place at FUDŠ premises in Ljubljana throughout November 2024. JUST, short for “Joint University and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Training,” is an EU co-funded initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration between universities and SMEs to address gaps in educational and employment opportunities for students. The project’s primary objective is to develop a comprehensive training curriculum using microcredentials, designed to create relevant and up-to-date study programs.

At its current stage, the project partners have developed an innovative curriculum available in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Italian, Slovenian, and Slovak). These courses are accessible free of charge on the project’s Open Educational Resource (OER) platform – https://just-training.eu/index.php.

At FUDŠ we pilot tested the following Training Courses:

• Smart working characteristics, tools and good practices which defines smart working, explores its principles and practices, and assists participants in setting up an effective smart working environment.
• Interacting safely in a digital setting which is covering the importance of cybersecurity practices and effective tools for safeguarding personal information in a digital environment.

Meeting of JUST project partners

Malaga, Spain – September 21, 2023 – Nine partner organizations from various European countries convened in Malaga to continue the development of the project JUST Joint University And Small And Medium – Sized Enterprises (SME) Training.

The purpose of the meeting was to review the current progress of project outcomes, assess the results already achieved, and plan future events and activities. The JUST project is designed to strengthen collaboration between universities and small to medium-sized enterprises, with the goal of improving the training for future workforces.

During the meeting, partners shared their experiences and challenges in implementing the projects. The emphasis was on finding ways to better connect the theory that students acquire at universities with the practical experiences brought by small and medium-sized enterprises. Partners discussed methods to improve the training of students and facilitate their transition into the job market.

At the meeting, partners also planned future events, including seminars, workshops, and educational programs to be conducted in the coming months as part of the JUST project. Through collective effort and dedication, the project is making progress toward its ultimate goals.

The JUST project is just one of the many initiatives by the European Union to enhance educational opportunities and promote collaboration between educational institutions and the business sector. The results of this project will benefit students, businesses, and society as a whole.

The first JUST partners’ meeting took place in Brussels on 7-8 September 2022. The partners, who have been working together since January, met in person for the first time and continued working on the project and planning future activities very successfully.

JUST kick-off meeting

On 15 February 2022, the project partners involved in the JUST project held the 1st meeting of the JUST Board of Directors and the project management team.

The meeting introduced the project partners, presented the project objectives, activities, and key deliverables, as well as the mutual commitments of the partnership for the successful implementation of the project.

The partners highlighted the project’s link to the mission of the participating organisations and expressed their enthusiasm for the successful implementation of the project. They made concrete proposals for the implementation of the activities.