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The ESMERALD training curricula:

COVID micro and SMEs response toolkit

Evidence from the ESMERALD project transnational analysis (https://esmerald.eu/report.php) indicates that the European SMEs need innovative and appropriate training that takes account of renewed risks and enables them to face new challenges and reap the benefits of new opportunities.

The ESMERALD project partners carried out a detailed and very comprehensive report which highlighted:

• social, psychological, political, institutional and economic factors are important for resilience and maintaining the competitiveness of SMEs in the COVID-19 pandemic.
• remote work, public aid and flexible work arrangements were particularly important in the event of the COVID-19 outbreak;

• The development of new technologies in SMEs is a necessity

The main areas of the ESMERALD training material are (i) Online / digital marketing / cyber-security; (ii) E-commerce / Financing (iii) Digital Well-Being.

All partners of ESMERALD elaborated the training content, constituting the “COVID micro and SMEs response toolkit” (intellectual output 3) of the project, which tackle the following educations areas:

AreaTOPICDeveloped by:
1. Online / Digital Marketing / Cyber-SecurityMaintaining the new online clientele and accommodating the needs of digital and non-digital generationsSouth-East European Research Centre (SEERC)
Increasing the level of customer serviceSouth-East European Research Centre (SEERC)
Focusing on listening to customersSouth-East European Research Centre (SEERC)
Ways of building strong relationships with clients and meeting their various needsSouth-East European Research Centre (SEERC)
Implementing the omnichannel model and increasing convenienceInternet Web Solutions (IWS)
Increasing the level of security of online transactionsInternet Web Solutions (IWS)
EU Framework and Resources for Cybersecurity of SMEsInstitut de Haute Formation aux Politiques Communautaires (IHF)
Business models based on flexible organizational structures – implementation of new technologies, digitization strategyMercatus et Civis Foundation
   
2. E-Commerce / Financing  
Use of cloud computing solutionsInternet Web Solutions (IWS)
Development of new e-commerce / m-commerce channelsInternet Web Solutions (IWS)
Use of cashless solutionsCracow University of Economics (CUE)
Value proposition in post-pandemic business models: innovative approaches to marketingIDP European Consultants
3. Digital Well-Being  
Workload and the quality of work organizationSouth-East European Research Centre (SEERC)
Health and work-life balance disordersUniversity of Dubrovnik (UNIDU)
Psychological needs and mental well-beingUniversity of Dubrovnik (UNIDU)
   
4. Smart Work / Digital NomadsRemote work regulations and practice of using themCracow University of Economics (CUE)
Flexible solutions in working timeSouth-East European Research Centre (SEERC)
Special suspension of some social employer’s obligationCracow University of Economics (CUE)
State aid to co-finance the jobsCracow University of Economics (CUE)
Net-iquette in business contextsInstitut de Haute Formation aux Politiques Communautaires (IHF)
Work-Life Balance in Tele-Working SettingsIDP European Consultants
Available state aid for entrepreneurs – tailor-made solutions + where to find themMercatus et Civis Foundation
   

The full training curricula is available in multilanguage version and open-access format via the official Open Educational Resource Platform of ESMERALD: https://esmerald.eu/toolkit.php