On March 27, 2024, a multiplier event for the European project EmpowHERment LAB, conducted under the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, took place at the premises of the Public Open University Čakovec. The project brings together partner organizations from six European countries: the lead partner Public Open University Čakovec (Croatia) and partners Ljudska Univerza Lendava (Slovenia), SuperCode (Germany), Enjoy Sicily (Italy), Lava Legato (Netherlands), and Building Bridges (Spain). The EmpowHERment LAB project is primarily aimed at women at risk of social exclusion due to economic, geographical, cultural, or other difficulties. Its goals are to stimulate interest and active participation of disadvantaged women in developing digital skills, to promote the proper use of technologies for new learning methods, and to remove barriers for women in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The total value of the project amounts to EUR 168,627.00. The project implementation period is 26 months.
The EmpowHERment LAB project’s multiplier event focused on presenting the project, its activities to date, and on digital literacy as well as ICT and entrepreneurial skills among women. In the opening speech, Mario Zamuda, the principal of the Public Open University Čakovec, reflected on the period during which this project was written and implemented, marked by a sudden and accelerated transition to digital and online technologies. This was an additional incentive for the realization of project activities related to empowering women and developing their digital and entrepreneurial skills. The project received support at the multiplier event from the Mayor of Čakovec, Ljerka Cividini, who commented not only on the engagement of the Public Open University Čakovec as the first center for lifelong learning in Međimurje County but also on its international dimension through successful implementation of European projects. “Although the project is aimed at women, it is actually another step towards creating an effective system of lifelong education, especially in new technologies and jobs that increasingly dominate the creative industry today. What is particularly important for Čakovec is that we have such a public institution in our city that keeps up with the times and enables all of us to keep pace with the times. Thank you and congratulations to the team of POU Čakovec led by Principal Zamuda, I look forward to all the new activities and projects you will be implementing in the coming period,” said Mayor Cividini.
Andrea Štefić, the Erasmus+ coordinator at the Public Open University Čakovec, introduced the participants of the multiplier event to the Erasmus+ program of the European Union and the ways to participate in its Key Actions. Special attention was given to the projects in which POU Čakovec participates, providing a framework for understanding the EmpowHERment LAB project. Project associates Marta Mikac and Ivica Jeđud presented the project activities and results in more detail. Ivica Jeđud introduced a free online course available to everyone for enhancing digital skills in the domain of ICT and digital marketing, primarily aimed at women. The course is available in English and six other partner languages, consists of five learning modules accessible at any time, and upon successful completion of each module, a certificate is issued that can be later attached to a CV. Marta Mikac presented in more detail the methodological manual for educators, which contains instructions, advice, and tools for successful implementation of educational content developed as part of the EmpowHERment LAB project. The methodological manual is divided into six chapters – Women in the Domain of Technology and Entrepreneurship, Informal Educational Tools and Methodologies, Supporting Diverse Groups of Participants in Learning and Growth, Inclusive and Sustainable Education: Embracing Low-Tech and No-Tech Solutions, Statistical Data and Analysis, Creating an Online Course (Bootcamp); Overview of Methodology and Challenges – and provides practical and directly applicable methods for creating a stimulating, inclusive, and motivating educational environment for acquiring and developing ICT and marketing skills among women.
Participants of the multiplier event shared positive experiences of using digital skills and ICT in developing their own business firsthand with the leaders of the digital marketing agency Digiteca. Mateja Kocijan shared her experiences and the challenges they faced, repeatedly emphasizing that persistence, lifelong learning, and the adoption of digital tools and skills are crucial not only for starting a business like a digital marketing agency but also for life in the 21st century. Željka Novak and special guest Kamilica Basetica uniquely told the story of branding and presenting oneself in the digital world and how the Kamilica Basetica brand grew into a creative story and inspired the creation of a book. In conclusion, the leaders of the agency encouraged all participants of the multiplier event not to be afraid to take the first step in acquiring and developing digital skills and marketing, as this can open many doors in both personal and professional life.
The online course (bootcamp), methodological manual, and other materials created as part of the EmpowHERment LAB project are available in English and in six other partner languages for free on the online portal of the EmpowHERment LAB project.
We thank the representatives of Međimurje County, the City of Čakovec, the Croatian Employment Service – Regional Office Čakovec, the Craft and Trade Chamber of Međimurje County, the Public Institution for the Development of Međimurje County REDEA, the Teacher’s Faculty of the University of Zagreb – Čakovec Department, the Association for the Media Promotion of Culture, Heritage, Tradition, and Art Kultivator, GKP ČAKOM, and the representatives of primary and secondary schools of Međimurje County who attended the multiplier event for the support they expressed for the project, constructive discussion, sharing of experiences, and validation of our project results.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMPEU). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
