Abstract:

Traditional training models and teacher-centred approaches are ineffective in meeting the diverse needs of learners, particularly in the case of women who are mothers or women with lower skill levels. In response to these challenges, when designing training solutions, it is essential to begin by understanding the unique needs and characteristics of the target audience and adopt more flexible and accessible learning approaches. User mapping enables a deeper understanding of the perspective, needs, attitudes and expectations of end-users leading to the development of training programs that can be tailored to the needs of the audience, fostering a more meaningful and relevant learning experience. This paper explores the development of training programs under two different projects, each employing different approaches to address the unique goals, needs and contexts of their respective initiatives and target audiences. The first project, aimed to enhance the digital and/or entrepreneurship skills of young women who were inactive due to maternity leave and childcare responsibilities to improve their potential to re-enter into the labour market or start their own business. Over a span of two years, more than 1000 young mothers from seven European Union countries were trained to empower their digital and/or entrepreneurship skills. The training program demonstrated adaptability and flexibility by tailoring content, incorporating diverse learning methods (face-to-face and online lessons, homework assignments, individual projects resulting in the development of business models and websites), and providing holistic support to meet the unique needs of women. The focus on practical projects, networking, and real-world application contributed to the success of the initiative, fostering empowerment and creating tangible employment and entrepreneurial outcomes. The successful implementation of the project resulted in more than 180 participants securing employment, while over 170 businesses were launched. Furthermore, the project recognized the unique challenges faced by young mothers regarding childcare responsibilities and to ensure inclusivity and equal opportunities for attendance, free childcare services were provided throughout the training. The second project focused on the acquisition of basic competences such as literacy, numeracy and digital skills focused on business development tailored to the needs of low-skilled women. This project demonstrates a comprehensive and inclusive approach to addressing the needs of low-skilled women through a structured methodology involving a multiphase research approach, including literature reviews, in-depth analyses, surveys, and interviews, aimed at understanding the challenges, motivations, and methods to encourage entrepreneurship among low-skilled women. The project places a strong emphasis on inclusivity and co-designing by involving women entrepreneurs and adult education representatives in the preparation of resources. The project incorporates user-centric and multi-faced approaches including literature reviews, best practices and case studies, surveys, and interviews, aiming at understanding and identifying the real needs, challenges, motivations, and methods to encourage entrepreneurship among low-skilled women through a dedicated Toolkit that is the central resource of the project.

Keywords:

User-centered, Inclusivity, entrepreneurship, digital skills.