Background of the project

EPISODE aims to empower continuing vocational education and training providers to enhance the resilience, digital readiness, and growth of social entrepreneurship, micro-businesses, MSMEs, and early-stage start-ups in Palestine, with a focus on producing public prosperity. This will be achieved by defining future skills needed for social entrepreneurs in the digital era, and aligning such skills to the local unique Palestinian context. The project will upskill teachers/trainers and mentors on innovative tools, online teaching techniques and pedagogies, cutting-edge technologies, and trends in digital social entrepreneurship, and it will involve them in co-creating a blended course on Digital Social Entrepreneurship. The course will be piloted with youth who aspire to become entrepreneurs, young entrepreneurs, and early startups, empowering them to use digital transformation tools and models in order to either expand and improve their operations, or to initiate a social enterprise.

The EPISODE approach will be available to the public and transferable in interested institutions and organizations that are willing to reinforce the capacity and attractiveness of continuing vocational education. Moreover, the project will provide an open online microlearning unit on Digital Social Entrepreneurship, that will be available to all interested organizations and learners in English and Arabic.

The specific objectives for the project are to:

• Anticipate the competencies needed by early and future social entrepreneurs to exploit digital transformation opportunities;
• Expose teachers/trainers and mentors to digital and innovative pedagogical approaches and trends in digital social entrepreneurship;
• Boost the digital and entrepreneurial skills and competencies of youth who aspire to become entrepreneurs, and early start-ups (founders and team members) with a focus on producing public prosperity

The project is funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union (Erasmus+ Capacity Building in the field of VET, project number 101092371). EPISODE lasts two years, from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.

The project is implemented by:

• UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union, Italy (coordinator)
• Birzeit University, Palestine,
• An-Najah National University, Palestine
• BuildPalestine, Palestine
• ALL DIGITAL, Belgium

Objectives of the ToT

The aim of the training of trainers (ToT) is to train teachers/trainers and mentors to digital and innovative pedagogical approaches and trends in digital social entrepreneurship.

The Training of Trainers includes: 

1. A series of online conversations on cutting-edge technologies and trends in digital social entrepreneurship 
2. An onsite training week abroad on innovative tools, techniques, and pedagogies in online teaching and mentoring
3. Co-designing a blended learning course on “Digital Social Entrepreneurship” addressing young people willing to open up their businesses or young entrepreneurs in the unique context of Palestine

Training of trainers’ deliverables

* The blended course on “Digital Social Entrepreneurship” will consist in 40 hours online and 100 hours onsite, addressing young people willing to open up their businesses or young entrepreneurs

Requirements

The contract will be awarded to the candidate showing the most relevant experience and knowledge in evaluation and the themes and educational sectors addressed by the project (VET and social entrepreneurship)

• A master’s degree or higher in digital transformation, entrepreneurship, or any other related fields
• Or At least 8 years of practical experience in social entrepreneurship, digital transformation, or other relevant fields 
• experience in business management 
• Availability and ability to travel outside of Palestine

Commitment period 

The contract shall be carried out during the eligibility period of the project

Assignment start date: 15. April. 2024

Assignment end date: 30. December. 2024

In case of an extension to the eligibility period of the project, the contract period is intended to be extended accordingly (without any budget changes).

Application procedure

• Interested applicants must submit a completed online application form.
• Deadline for application submission: 27th, March. 2023 
• Short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview 
• The final phase of the application procedure will include submitting an assignment assigned by the selection committee 

Contact 

Name: Rania Qasim 

Title: Head of Professional Development Unit- CCE

Email:  rqasim@birzeit.edu