In addition, the project aims to promote ethical competencies (skills, knowledge, attitudes) related to CSR in higher education and business. The basis for this is the United Nations Strategic Development Goals (SDGs).

The third goal of the project is to create a network of companies interested in innovative training methods (including non-formal and informal education) related to CSR and the SDGs.

Despite the proximity of Flanders and the Netherlands, doing business across borders often remains quite a challenge, partly due to market, cultural and legal differences. Nevertheless, SMEs that manage to be internationally active fulfill an important role in constantly renewing and stimulating the economy. Small and medium-sized enterprises in the Scheldemond region experience doing business across borders as an opportunity but also as a challenge.

The project has the following goals:

1. to support, develop and improve networks between vocational and secondary schools with the labor market, so that teachers can improve their knowledge of the labor market and better respond to needs from the field;
2. commit to informal learning in companies, through economic discovery visits and thematic seminars in companies;
3. promote "in-company" seminars that pursue several goals: improving teachers' teaching skills, increasing their technical competencies, facilitating students' access to the labor market.

In the preparatory research phase (January-May 2018) of this ESF project, we want to explore the possible solutions for the substantial lack of qualified IT profiles given that many IT jobs have become structural shortage occupations.

The project's objective is to increase the degree of innovation in ICT trainings and to enhance the employment rate in the ICT sector through innovative and applied (in the form of dual and digital) learning programs. These trainings will differ from the already existing offer due to their innovative factor and the flexibility to respond quickly to the needs and innovations of the IT market. The integration and full-fledged development of dual learning in these programs seems crucial. How this can be done exactly and with which relevant national and international stakeholders will be further explored during the preparatory phase of this project.

The exact needs and opportunities of the foreseen potential target groups will be identified in consultation with partners in Belgium and abroad.

Expected output

We want to combine the expertise and experiences of partners on a national and international level with the aim to:

• Develop innovative ICT trainings with a substantial component of dual learning.
• Increase the number of well-trained employable IT graduates who can get hired immediately for bottleneck jobs.
• Establish new partnerships between ICT learning companies, training centers and schools.

In the project, researchers examined what the Belgian business landscape looks like and what opportunities and challenges Belgian entrepreneurs see for the near future. The Family Business Barometer shows in a scientifically based way the state of family businesses in Flanders. The barometer includes the responses of family businesses and non-family businesses. The following themes were included:

• State of the company: regarding employment, investments, finances
• Prospects and plans: regarding employment, investments, international activities, acquisitions
• Challenges/difficulties: now and in the future
• Evaluation of socio-economic environment
• Evaluation of policy measures

The specific objective of ENTRnet is to promote European cooperation between different adult education providers and relevant stakeholders on specific adult education topics, such as entrepreneurship. The project aims to mainstream entrepreneurship across Europe by creating a platform attractive to a wide range of actors and stakeholders.

The basis is Wiek's framework. Looking at how it can be made applicable to SMEs, family businesses, colleges and other relevant stakeholders.

The objective is threefold: to scientifically substantiate sustainable HRM, to objectify the effects of sustainable HRM policies, and third, to create a scientific methodology with tools tailored to the sectors involved that stimulate sustainable HRM thinking and action.