EDUCATION – ERASMUS+
Circulo
Developing digital entrepreneurial training for adult educators
PROJECT AREA
Sustainability / Entrepreneurship / Green Skills
COUNTRIES
Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Ireland, Portugal, Spain
Partners and educators at Transnational Training Event in Aix-en-Provence, France – February 2023
Collaborative learning activity using Padlet during the CIRCULO training in France.
Once the resources were ready, the next step was to see them in action at the transnational training event. The three-day training event in France brought VET professionals from across Europe together to explore the circular economy through theory, case studies and practical group activities. All participants worked in groups to apply tools such as the Business Model Canvas and SWOT analysis, developing their own ideas for potential circular businesses. It was particularly rewarding to see how differently each group approached the challenge and the creative ideas that came out of the sessions.
PR4. CIRCULO MOOC platform
As the project moved towards its final stages, we focused on finalising the MOOC and the the learning content for the platform. The revised approach following the budget cut also shaped how we approached the development of the MOOC. With a more focused content structure for PR1, we looked for ways to make the digital learning experience more interactive and engaging. Using an AI-driven authoring tool, we developed interactive learning activities and introduced a clearer learning progression, supported by a badging system integrated into the platform. The result was a more cohesive, interactive learning experience.
Working with the developers, I coordinated the development and localisation of the MOOC, helping translate the new learning approach into the platform's structure and user experience.
Results
The project resulted in a digital pedagogy programme for VET professionals, young people and workers covering key competences in entrepreneurship, digital teaching and the circular economy, alongside practical resources and tools they could bring into their own educational practice. The international training activities provided opportunities to put the resources into practice, bringing together educators from across Europe and see how they could be used in real learning environments.
Train-the-Trainer programme and Tutor Handbook produced and localised
96 VET teachers and trainers completed the Train-the-Trainer programme
MOOC platform launched in 8 languages
eNetwork created for VET professionals to exchange resources and good practices
200+ VET professionals engaged through the CIRCULO eNetwork
Interactive modules and badging system integrated into the platform
2 international training activities delivered in France and Croatia
100+ stakeholders brought together at the final conference in Spain
CIRCULO Trello board
About the project
The CIRCULO project started with a simple idea: vocational education can play an important role in building a more sustainable future. Together with partners across Europe, we explored how circular economy principles, digital education and entrepreneurial thinking could be brought into vocational learning. The resources we developed were inspired by the European Green Deal and the European Skills Agenda. We used the EntreComp and DigCompEdu frameworks as reference points to shape the entrepreneurial and digital competences we wanted to address. From there, we developed practical resources and a digital learning platform for VET learners, young people and workers. Working across different countries and areas of expertise, we brought our ideas together to create innovative resources that would support learning for the green and digital transition.
My role
My role was to coordinate the different stages of the projects, from planning and developing the project outputs to the delivery of training activities. I coordinated the joint development of PR1 – Train-the-Trainer Manual, managing content development, design, and translation. In parallel, I led the development and localisation of PR4 – MOOC platform, working with developers to shape its visual design and architecture. Regular partner meetings kept everyone aligned as we tracked progress, addressed issues, and planned next steps. Key areas of responsibilities included:
Work Package Management
Risk Management
Output Development
Stakeholder Management
Workshop Facilitation
Keeping the project moving meant bringing together many different pieces of work and many different people. We started with defining the value proposition and learning outcomes that would shape the training modules, then turning them into a clear development plan for the teams involved. For the development, we worked with local target groups to test the materials, gather feedback and make improvements along the way.
Partway through the project, however, a budget cut meant that some of the original plans had to change. We had to rethink the scope of the work and find a way to make the most of the resources available while maintaining the value of the learning experience. Practically, that meant to rethink how PR1 – the Train-the-Trainer Programme – and PR4 – the MOOC platform would work together.
We went back to the drawing board and through a series of brainstorming sessions, we revisited the original plan, reallocated tasks, and aligned activities across work packages. This became an opportunity to rethink not just what we were producing, but how learners would experience it.